Before I continue on with a description of the remainder of our tour, let me take a step back and explain what the tunnels of Cu Chi supposedly are. Andy was very aware of them, but I had not heard of them. Basically the tunnel system was reportedly used by the Viet Cong to house 16,000 people at one time or another during the Vietnam War. Since the area is near Saigon and relatively close to the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and Cambodia, the tunnels were dug in order to hide from the French originally and then the later the Americans and South Vietnamese military. The trail system was multiple levels deep and housed everything from strategic war rooms to kitchens to places where weapons could be manufactured (actually remanufactured taking the left-over shells from the Americans.) As a side note, the reason I say “supposedly” is because the guide mentioned they are really not sure if these are the tunnels used by the Viet Cong or if the government dug them for tourist reasons. It is conceivable that they are real, but nobody knew the whole system, only small parts of it, so nobody will avouched for their authenticity.

Eighty-five percent of the 4.7M people on the island live in government-owned high rise apartments. They purchase them from the government and virtually everyone is ensured a roof over their heads. If someone is poor, they have apartments that cost $30 – $50 a month to rent. There are no unemployment checks for the 1.5% who are unemployed but the government will find jobs for those who are able to work. The government does not give out free money but instead will give those in need cheap rent or food. Rent in Singapore is the seventh highest in the world. Every five years, the government paints and renovates the flats so almost no buildings in Singapore appear run down. Most Singaporeans do not eat at home and prefer to eat out. Their kitchen is more of a showcase than having any sort of practical use.

As we motored down the river to the lake we were boarded by some kids in a small boat. They were selling sodas. After we said we did not want any, they jumped back into their little boat and went off to sell to other tourists. We passed a floating school on the way out to the lake. David explained that half the money we pay goes to the school. We finally made it to the lake. It was rather impressive because you could not see the other side. There were also many floating “homes” lined up near the shore. We went up and down the rows and finally ended up at a floating restaurant/gift shop. David said he wanted us to see the crocodiles. As soon as we got off a little girl came up to us with a python draped over her neck. She kept saying “one dollar”, “one dollar”. Alecia was a little freaked by the situation. We made our way over to the crocodile area and took a couple pictures. On the way back to the car we saw a lot of school kids who were commuting back to their floating homes in small little boats.

I am reading an interesting book that comes highly recommended by two separate close friends called “Eat Pray Love.” It is about a woman’s year-long journey recovering from her divorce through Italy, India and Indonesia. I believe it is getting a lot of press in the U.S. right now. I just finished the “Pray” section where she is living in an ashram in India for four months finding God.