A TRIP TO THE MAUSOLEUM 31/05/09

Ho Chi Minh memorial - Hanoi

Uncle Ho's 'humble' stilted house

Changing of the guards

Well we survived it, though Western was told off on three separate occassions for having his hands reverentially clasped behind his back rather than down by his sides. Ells decision not to wear her bikini was also a good one. It was a curious experience, hundreds/thousands qeueing, a handful of Westerners, escorted by white uniformed guards, the queue moving slowly, we arrive at the mausoleum after about 20 minutes, inside its very cool, and is made of marble, before we know it, its over, we have passed by the father of the nation, who is lying with hands folded across his lower stomach, looking frighteningly fresh and clean, he is certainly not a dirty 'Ho', and we are outside again being directed to the Ho Chi Minh museum. This happens 5 times a week, between 8-11am, I am not sure that we have anyone in the UK that would bring the crowds out in such regular high numbers? Winston? The only similar experience for me, was 'The Last Post' commemorative service at Ypres.