I was in Hanoi, Vietnam this weekend. It was quite an interesting trip that I made with my friends Justin and Sanna. Hanoi is a city of motorscooters, motorcycles, and mopeds; crossing the street means stepping from the curb and walking ever so slowly so that the sea of traffic can slowly move out of your way. Justin and I discovered the magic of bia hoi on the street with a bunch of older Vietnamese, but his wife was a little more afraid than we were. We visited Ho Chi Minh’s masoleum where he is still preserved in a Lenin like state. We also saw Fidel Castro leaving the opera house; he was in town for a special visit that coincided with our visit. We took a visit to a pagoda about an hour away where we spent another hour on a rowboat and then a two hour hike up a mountain. On the trail, a Vietnamese teenager was interested in one of the pins on my bag, so now his a future fan of The Trouble with Sweeney : Dear Life. We saw the famous water puppets with traditional music; I was so impressed I bought a dan bao for myself. It was a very different trip and very exciting.
In btv news, both The Trouble with Sweeney and Unwed Sailor are preparing for their US tours. Be sure to check them out while they rock the states. Denison just got back from his UK dates, but I haven’t heard how they went. Some of my friends did go see him play with My Morning Jacket. I’m sure that was a great show.
I heard that the two Reels of White Softly Flow shows went well, the show with Saxon Shore a long jam. I am envious that I keep missing. I’ll be back boys, sooner than soon.
I’m leaving Singapore soon for Amsterdam for a special meeting of the bdfc. Then on for a week in France and my return to the US. Hopefully all of the piles of snow will be gone.
That’s all the news for now. In the year of the goat, hanoi rocks.
:::scott:::