Nov.16 Cu Chi Tunnels

The morning started off early as usual catching the bus off to the Cu Chi area. It was a joint 'Happy Tour' and TM Bros trip. The younger guide was only 22, but the older one (his big brother) was well over 50 and served with the South Vietnamese Army during the American War, alongside the Americans. He had a funny sense of humour, but I wonder how he really feels, guiding tourists back to the tunnels used by his former enemies.

There was a great set up throughout the jungle trail, showing the types of traps the Viet Cong used to use, they were just brutal traps, but I guess they accomplished the job. It couldve been worse, they couldve Napalmed entire villages of civilians and let Agent Orange linger and deform future populations. It makes the pitchfork leg breaking foot trap look like a happy ending compared to them.

There was an eerie feeling though, walking throught the Jungle, and actually hearing the gunshots and machine gun fire going off at the nearby rifle range. A few of us took some shots on the AK47, hopefully the only time in my life, super loud with a huge kickback into the shoulder. The tunnel itself has actually been widened for the 'big westerners', the originals are tight enough that even the small Vietnamese would have had to crawl through them snake like. As we descended some stairs then suddenly into the entrance of the tunnel, I had that cold sweat on again. The problem being a few others freaked out, and that worried me, if theyre in front of me in this tight little tunnel and they spaz out and need to get out, it gets ugly in there. I ducked in and started crawling but soon reversed out and had to take a few breathes and re assess. First of all, its the only time in my life Ill be here. Second of all, theres that macho thing to worry about. Third, suck it up.

So I went in again and made it the whole 50metres (felt like 500). It weaved, went up, down.. but as soon as I saw that small exit on the left I bee lined it out of there, then realized my shirt was dripping with sweat worse than my office shirt in July.