Hue, Viet Nam: A Beautiful Way

Hai Van Mountain Pass

Along the Perfume River

Pagoda built under the Nguyen Dynasty

Along the Perfume River

Thien Mu Pagoda built in 1601

Hue served as the political capital of Viet Nam from 1802 to 1945 and has been one of its cultural, religious and educational centers. It is a small and quiet city know for its architecture, and in 1993 was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site.

Thien Mu Pagoda is Hue's most preserved monument standing on the riverbank with its seven-floored tower. It was built in 1601 by Nguyen Hoang, the governor of Hue. The monastery is the oldest in Hue.

There was considerable fighting in this region during the Viet Nam War. I remember reading about Hue often in the papers.

Hoi An, China Beach and Danang- Old Names: New References

Selling sweets for the Lunar New Year

Beauty abounds in all corners!!

Danang has a new meaning to me

China Beach

Hoi An's ancient bridge- over 700  years old

View from the hotel in Hoi An

Ruins of My Son, former center of Cham Kingdom

Ruins of My Son 2, former center of Cham Kingdom

Charming Hoi An is an old city 30 kilometers south of Danang. originally a horbor for tne Cham city at My Son, the town became a trading port for Chinese, Japanese and European traders, reaching its peak in the 17th century.

The average temperature in central Viet Nam is around 26 degrees Celsius, although it gets cooler in December and January. There are two main seasons- dry season from February to August and rainy season which starts in September.

China Beach, Danang- these places were associated with war- not lovely places to swim and relax. not flowers and peace. it's a disconnect  to reorient your thinking and conjure up new images. Viet Nam is a beautiful country with lovely, peaceful, friendly people.

The Man teiV War from the Other Perspective # 2

 

Visiting Viet Nam was an interesting experience for me who lived through the Viet Nam War. I was opposed to the war and thought, especially in the later years, we should get out. It was very difficult to watch the movie at the War Remnant Museum which honored war heroes for killing so many Americans. Remembering they were mostly our young boys hurt and I was crying by the time the movie was over. The part of the Museum dedicated to journalists was also very moving. Many were killed during the war as well.

The Cu Chi Tunnels, 120 miles underground, used by the Viet Cong forces to fight the French and the Americans show the tenacity of the Viet Nam fighters during the war.

The Viet Nam people suffered a lot during the war as did the Cambodians who were both bombed excessively. They have decided to forgive and forget. The north and south have moved forward and created a unified country,  not without some issues, but Ho Chi Minh was a dedicated leader who had his people's best interests at heart. I really believe he did what he thought was best for his country and might have become more democratic or capitalistic if he had lived longer. He choose communism partly because they were the only people who helped him.

 

The Man teiV War from the Other Perspective #1

Cu Chin Tunnels

Norman coming out of tunnel into hospital

War Remnants Museum

Watching a movie depicting the war from the Viet Nam's side

The iconic picture I remember being in the newspaper during the war

Sam Castan, Look Magazine Editor and Photographer, 5.12.35 Brooklyn, NY - 5.21.66 An Khe, Viet Nam

Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon

Known to most as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is a city of contrasts. The pace is frenetic, yet the wide streets and open spaces help it to retain an air of calm. Classic French architecture competes for attention with brand new high rise buildings. The port hosts vast tankers and cruise ships while tiny sampans dart around them on the Saigon River.

Sidewalks, designed for strolls, are now lined with food stalls and cafes that spill into the streets.  Art galleries pop up now and again with contemporary as well as traditional styles. The villas left by the French have been converted into the city's best restaurants and the wide tree-lined streets are abuzz with motor bikes.

From top: Wide Boulevards, Main Post Office, Motor Bikes,  Modern Buildings, photos taken by Linda Dubin Garfield

Aboriginal Art from Australia- Part 2

Canopy LV, by Brian Branchflower, born 1939 Brighton, England

Piltati, by Eileen Yaritja Stevens, born 1919 South Australia

 Possum Dreaming, Clifford Tjapaltjarri born c1932 Northern Territory, died 2002 Alice Springs, NT

 

The artists use pattern and design to tell their narrative. Dots were used to cover secret ceremonies, expressing their culture and their landscape. Limited colors when supplies were not available, various materials depending on where they lived, but always abstract, often aerial views and creative approaches to expressive visual storytelling of their people. I find it mesmerizing and delightful.

These three paintings are from the Art Museum collection in Perth, Western Australia

Aboriginal Art from Australia

Sand Dunes, 1999 by Eubena Nampitjin born c 1921 in Tjinjadpi, Western Australia

Kimberley Landscape, 1987 by Paddy Jaminya, born 1912 in Warmuri Kimberley, Western Australia, Died 1995

KirriWirri, 2007 by Daniel Walbidi, born 1983 in Broome, Western Australia

These three examples of aboriginal art from the Art Museum in Perth show how fresh and creative and abstract the style is. The color and pattern, the simplicity and complexity of design is sophisticated and elegant. I love these and have several more to show you in my next post.