well, i escaped bangkok!!!!!! the peep show was more than a peep!!!!! my eyes are still burning and my stomach is still churning…very disturbing. with their kats, the women: 1) opened a coke bottle (not a twist cap), drank it and jumped around without spilling a drop and then squirted it back into the bottle; 2) held markers and drew pictures; 3) blew out the candles on a cake; 4) shot darts and popped balloons; 5) blew a horn; 6) pulled out ropes with razor blades attached; 7) smoked two cigs at one time; and 8) pulled out ropes with bells. the most disturbing was a sex act between a young girl and an old man…i left in the middle of that one…too much for even jerry springer. Now on to the good stuff. I arrived in Saigon and pretended to have a reservation at the rex hotel. they believed me and finally gave me a room. tomorrow i will be upgraded! the rex is heeheelarious. It used to be the officer’s quarters during the war before it was turned into a hotel. apparently the officers could go up to the roof bar and have a drink while watching a girlie show and/or bombs and guns flashing throughout the city. The hotel is slightly tacky, very vietnamese ambience with marvelously kitsch touches like hide lamp shades covered with gold etchings, pearls and glitter. Great carved wood furniture. I love it!!!!!! BUT the best is right outside is the ho chi minh square complete with a bronze statue of “uncle ho” holding a child. In the background is City Hall. Well, I was leaving the hotel to find a cyber cafe when to my surprise the street was fill with police and guards. Bill & Hillary were about to drive by enroute to City Hall. I stood by and waited two hours for their limos to roll by. I tried to snap photos, but i’m not sure if i got the car, the tail end, or just the fumes. it was very exciting!!!!!! Now back to my arrival. I got customs (which always makes me nervous) and they made me take my sunglasses off while they examined my papers. then i was told to step to the side, but without my glasses i couldn’t see and went the wrong way. they grabbed me and pulled me back and searched my bag. then they let me go. next picking up the luggage was another adventure. it has to be run through an x-ray machine before you can leave. i put my bags through, but forgot to throw in my purse, so i was pushed back again. when i finally got out of the airport and into a cab. the driver started hollering he wanted 20 US dollars. When i told him i only had dongs or travelers checks, he screamed for $280,000 dongs. thank god i can calculate in my head. the poor fool cheated himself by 2 US dollars. besides all that, i love it here. the atmosphere reminds me of the old nyc in a way. instead of crazy cab drivers its crazy motorbike riders. i was told by a local to follow her across the street b/c you never break speed or they’ll run you down. so now i just look down and walk at one speed. if you stop or run you’re dead! it’s a real hoot. tonight i’m going to hit apocalypse now (a bar) for a drink (thanks anne & chip for the suggestion) and eat dinner at the vietnam house ( i hear the waiters are gorgeous and to die for, and the place is filled with vietnamese antiques and traditional music. signed, the tourist