[re-post from Tue, Feb04] Arrived in Kon Tum in Central Highlands of Viet Nam after a 5½ hour van packed ride, w people on top of me and me on top of others. Still, the ride was manageable because, thankfully, I avoided getting motion sickness on the LONG winding, bumpy road up into the mountains (unlike one other passenger :( ). Facebook is still problematic, though I was showed a backdoor that seems to work in a couple of cafés, only, with some limitations. Kon Tum is in a poorer, mountainous area near the Lao border. It is noted for “hill tribes” (ethnic minorities) living in the surrounding villages and also sits on the Ho Chi Minh trail. This whole region saw incredibly heavy US bombing over the course of several years of the American War. The minorities were enlisted by the CIA during the war to fight against the revolution and thus to this day there continues to be tensions between them and the central government. I wanted to go to some town that was poorer, small and not touristed. My thanks to friend, Linh, who suggested Kon Tum as my next stop. I am one of only a half dozen foreigners I’ve seen in the whole town! I’m glad I speak a slight bit of Vietnamese now to help get me what I need. I’m pretty much on my own here. This is what I wanted (so he says). Hah!
Posted on: Fri, 07 Feb 2014 02:14:37 +0000
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