Saigon wasn’t built or planned for 10 million (back in the 50’s, its population was 1 million).
And certainly not when scooters are on fire as happened lately.
Raging hot. World in flame. Flashback of Monk Thich Quang Duc protesting dictatorship (Tunesian’s style).
I fight for my jogging lane, negotiating between the sidewalk and the drainage.
It’s a busy street (CMTT). Any time of the day. Even at 3 am when seafoods merchants divide their catch.
Even in the alleys, you will find more shops: alteration, general stores, beauty salon etc…
People live in boxy homes. But not cardboard boxes (rainy season has just started ).
No evidence of homelessness as much as in Skid Row or S. Central LA.
More room in the alley, little space in the streets.
Mexicans would feel at home here, hearing loud music from retail stores.
Fashion stores, sweet-cake and coffee shops (western-style cappuccino, espresso, smoothies).
The Filippino band found their new home at the Hard Rock Cafe. The Pitch Black got a bright future . Not bad for kids from Barangay, near Bataan (where Vietnamese and Cambodian made their stop on the way to America back in the early 80’s). As of this edit, I heard they were disbanded.
When I am back to the US, jogging on the trail of a deserted golf course, I will miss all this.
Little elbow room, yet lots of heart.
Nuong nhau ma song (relying on each other to make it through).
There was always one more bowl and a pair of chopsticks back when I was growing up. Anh xoi com chua a? Have you eaten today?
Thang Nguyen 555 