* I had previously stated that I was going to post a video of me climbing Mt. Kinabalu. Well it’s done, except I don’t know how to save it properly so I can load it to the internet. Anyone with any knowledge of Windows Movie Maker should help me out, this movie is great. I even made a video portraying my entire year in Thailand, so everyone will get two videos to watch. Somebody just needs to help me!
** As I went through my entire collection of pictures to make this comprehensive video, I came across some of my Vietnam pictures. I completely forgot to let everyone know that I went to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi. That was an experience. I can only offer everyone an outside picture of the place because they confiscate your cameras and phones before you enter the mausoleum (they are quite prompt in returning them immediately after leaving the mausoleum). The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex is quite large with a strong military presence. In addition to the mausoleum there is the presidential house, museum, and a plethora of other Ho Chi Minh artifacts. My main priority was to see Ho Chi Minh.
Tourists were ushered down a red carpet (subtle symbolism?) that continued throughout the entire mausoleum. Single file, we walked the halls until we reached a small room with six military guards in it. I took a right into this very solemn environment. Nobody was expressing any emotion whatsoever. There he was, Ho Chi Minh in a glass case right in front of me! His embalmed body entranced me. I slowly proceeded around the square encompassing his body. Still fixated by his body, I thought I was being respectful as I carefully walked along the red carpet. Apparently I was NOT respectful enough.
Out of no where a hand grabbed my arm; startled I looked up to see an armed (with a bayonet no less) Vietnamese soldier staring at me. I felt a lump in my throat and my hands started to sweat profusely. I had no idea what I did wrong (much like arguments with women). Silently, yet sternly, he straightened my posture and put my hands on my sides as if I were in the military. I was too afraid to move my body the rest of the walk around the body. I continued in my stiff, robotic position, not even moving my head to see Ho Chi Minh. Attempting not to be conspicuous to the rest of the guards, only my eyes moved as they followed HCM’s body through the rest of the room. A sigh of relief left my lips as I walked out. I can’t believe I forgot about this story because as I breathed that sigh of relief I knew I was going to blog about what just happened. I must have seen a pretty girl and my mind went awry.
