Apologies for the long lapse in posts. Aaron and I have both been… ill. I hesitate to say more, because I’m afraid with the panic we’ll be quarantined when we do finally make it back to the States. They closed school for two weeks in Hanoi. Everyone is wearing masks. Restaurants have signs telling Chinese people they won’t be served. It’s bananas. Not to mention the news cycle you guys are probably being exposed to. Both of us have had several loved ones calling us, worried sick we’re going to end up hospitalized–or worse.
Here’s what we know so far: 1) it’s worse than the flu, 2) it’s a lot worse than the flu for people over 60, and 3) it’s not nearly as bad, and maybe even slightly better than the flu for younger people. And it’s everywhere over here. It’s both worse and better than you think. Because the numbers you’re reading make it seem like it’s somewhat uncommon, but also extremely deadly. In actuality, it’s freakin’ everywhere, but not that deadly. They don’t test people for it, because then they’d have to report that it’s everywhere and tourism would drop. But the people who are dying from it are either old or have weakened immune systems. Every now and then a healthy 21-year-old dies from it, but every now and then a healthy 21-year-old dies from the flu or strep also.
Whether what Aaron and I had was it is hard to tell. We had a pretty nasty cold with some very specific symptoms. But we’re ok now. We holed up in a hotel room for a little over a week, partly because we needed to, partly because we didn’t want to get other people sick, and partly because we didn’t want an angry mob after us. We watched movies and played video games and ordered in. We rested. And now, we’re all better. Better than we even were before we were sick. We needed that rest.
Here are some pictures from Hue, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City, which I will probably never get around to doing posts for. I don’t remember them well, and I was too busy feeling crummy to write about them while I was sick. I apologize. In Hue, we visited the Imperial Enclosure, Khai Dinh’s Tomb, and the Thien Mu Pagoda. In Danang, we went to the Museum of Cham Sculpture before gorging ourselves on some truly bomb tacos at Taco Ngon. In Ho Chi Minh City (most of the locals also call it “Saigon”) we ran into the Aussies from our cruise on Halong Bay. After a farewell breakfast with them (they were flying out that day) we cut through the central market and made our way to the War Remnants Museum. This museum had exhibits on Agent Orange and war crimes committed by the US, and it was fair in its portrayal of resistance and protest in the US. We’re in Siem Reap now, and I should have my first post about this fascinating city up tomorrow. Aaron and I are both loving it.
I’m looking forward to the rest of our adventure. And now, I’m ready for it.
Hanoimoon 