Loverboy (imported) wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:28 pm Thank you for your kind offer.

It's not in my plan to travel to Vietnam in the near future, but should I ever have a chance to go there, I will remember your offer. Would be nice to live with the Vietnamese people, and not at the hotel. When I travel to a foreign country what I like most is to meet with, and know the locals.

So again... thanks pal! :thank you:

Loverboy

Dear Loverboy,

You know that I love you and I feel no need to hide that at the board. Your idea about a visit to a foreign country,....you didn't need to tell me, I know you!!!

Let me reward you and the readers with an insight in the situation around me here in Vietnam

There are a lot of Cambodian children hanging around as beggars in Saigon.

They carry a plastic bowl with them, which they offer you, to spend them a little money. Even for 1000 dong (0,06USD) they bow like a clasp knife.....

Yesterday I was waiting at a goldshop near the market for Ph**** and Ph* to return as one young Cambodian boy beged me from outside for a gift.

I gave him a sign to come in and take some money, but he was not allowed to come into the shop (I can understand the owner very well) The owner wanted to take that money from me, to hand it over to the boy, something I refused. I got up and went outside to meet him. As he offered me his bowl, I held the money back, and it was me who made a nice bow for the young boy.

The bowl was gone and I could hand him the money directly in his hands.

I have never met a tourist who understood the bowl and even if I ask my Vietnamese friends, they don't understand it.

Those people are in big need for some money to survive, it is a hard job for them, and with throwing down maybe 1000 or 2000dong you wil never earn their respect. I fact they hate what they are doing and they disrespect you.

The bowl is there so you can throw away that little waste, and because they need it badly, they take it out. But they will not allow you to hand that little fee directly to them.

As I offered him my respect, before handing him the money, the bowl was gone and he turned red in his face. The message traveled faster over the market as we could finish our deal at the shop. Two Cambodian families came to see their friend, as they knew this could only be one certain person who came back. I have been sleeping with them on the street several years ago, and I know and understand their live. They helped me out as I was in big need for any help.

Maybe you visit my place one day in the future, and if they know that you are my friend, they offer you no bowl. Maybe they take you by your hand and look at you with a pair of hungry eyes. Then it is up to you, because they respect you and trust on your kind-hearted nature. They will not even ask.

And you can go around safely, visit Vietnam/Saigon as no other tourist can do.

I love you

Jean