Still on Vietnam: Hamburger Hill(ish)

Let's talk analogy today.

I was in the coastal town of Vung Tau, where Typhoon Durian hit some weeks ago. As I mentioned in my previous post, it claimed some 40 lives for the short time that it hit. Our guide told us that it came at 4am, which was a good thing, since most people were indoors. It stayed for just a few short hours, but caused a fair bit of damage. We could still see quite a few houses with their rooftops blown off, but I couldn't get no clear pictures, since the bus was on the move.

But I digress.

Overlooking the town is a giant statue of Christ on a hill. Or for the army guys, a knoll. I'd say it's a little bit higher than Bukit Timah hill, but not as steep. It was built by Viet Catholics in the 1970s (Vietnam is 12% Catholic, demographics fans).




Anyway, it's a long, winding road to the top. Mommy gave up about three-quarters of the way through, but I was determined that day. You walk and you walk and you walk and then you come to the final staircase:




And appropriately enough, there are two angels by the side of this particular staircase:




So you take a little walk up, and you get closer. And finally, you see Him in all His glory:



(That's my father by the side there.)

In fact, if you go closer and scale the little staircase at the base of the statue, you can actually touch the feet of Christ.

So what's the point of this story?

Well, graven images aside, I realised that I climbed a mountain to reach Christ that day. In reality, it's really not all that difficult to come to Him. If we find ourselves scaling mountains, running through valleys, and what not, it's not because He places obstacles between us and Him. We simply didn't know, or didn't want to know, the simplest path to Him. And yet somehow, when we have finally reached Him, and seen Him face to face, we know it's worth it. And you can only fall silent before the glory of God.

Apocalypse Then: A Trip to the Nam, 14-18 Dec 06

Tiếng chào! (Viet for hello, linguistics fans) Yes, it's me again, the irregular blog updater. 8 days since I returned, and Christmas is already here, and I'm only just getting round to talking about Vietnam.


But to elaborate: I was in Ho Chi Minh (the artiste formerly known as Saigon) for 5 days with my parents. Best word I can use to describe it: untouched. It reminds me a lot of Malaysia, with its little stalls and shops, and street vendors every few metres. People there are terribly creative, resourceful and polite. And they all want to come to Singapore! And the traffic discipline they have! No lane markings whatsoever, and they still manage to turn and swerve and duck and dodge as one.


But it looks as though the untouched-ness won't be there for long, given the number of trade deals they have been signing of late. The Viets seem to be an amazingly resilient people, though. 30 years after the war, and there is so little bitterness on their part. Maybe it's got to do with 60% of their population being 25 and below. But whatever it is, they truly have moved on, and they are on their way up.


Enough for now: here are some pics out of the many I have, to tell more of the story. Will talk more about it, if anyone is interested in hearing what I have to say =P


In the meantime: have a blessed Christmas! Rejoice, for a saviour is come to us!


Traffic in HCM: and its not even rush hour!




The view from my hotel room




The ubiquitous ao dai




At the Cu Chi tunnel: Firing an AK-47, the weapon of choice for today's insurgent/jihadist/rebel/terrorist/freedom fighter




Giang, the pretty, pretty Viet girl I met. Mmmmm....=P




A ride down the Saigon river. No Colonel Kurtz though




At the War Remnants Museum, formerly known as the American War Crimes Museum. Gosh, what could it have been about




Trees flattened by Typhoon Durian in Vung Thao, a coastal town. Seems it came in the dead of night and killed 40 people in a few hours



At the Notre Dame cathedral