h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I loved Da Lat. It was cool, clean, friendly, safe.

Although it was cool, it was the only place in Vietnam where I was sunburned. Obviously, it was so deceptively cool, that I took the sunshine for granted and walked around without the proper covering. No wonder the locals cover up so well.

We trudged all the way up the hill to the railway station, expecting more to see, I guess. We were disappointed. It is still active up there, so a train must go somewhere, even if just a short distance. But, as we couldn't translate any of the brochures or signs, easily, and the staff did not speak English, we didn't find out where we could go. We knew that the major line no longer existed.

I need more education about beggars. What DO you do? I gave food to a woman with a pathetic little baby hanging over one arm, and a begging hand held up to me. The woman obviously wanted money, not food, because the contemptuous look she gave me, said so. Possibly she is provided with enough food for her and the baby from the markets. Perhaps she wanted money for accommodation and other items, clothing? Perhaps I should have bought her child's clothing? She did not try to speak to us at all. No one else offered any explanation, although there were a dozen people looking on - selling food there. They gave little half smiles - I found these difficult to read.... I know that I am sounding so cynical and rude, here, perhaps. You say, why didn't you just give the woman money? Well, here is why:

A couple of nights before this, we had been eating dinner at an outdoor cafe in a larger city, and a woman crossed the street on a little roller board....she was crippled. She rolled herself along at full speed through the crazy traffic, with her hands. We gave her money - and she smiled and rolled along about three metres to the cigarette saleswoman who was sitting in the gutter and bought three cigarettes. She put two in her pocket and smoked one, right there. Smoked our money. Yes, this was a pleasure for her - but it was no necessity for life. I felt outraged. We laughed, but it put us off giving to the needy.

Now, also, though, at that same eatery, we saw a young Japanese tourist who was eating alone. A local came by: a man with a child on his back, and the man was begging. The Japanese man signalled for him to sit down, and he ordered him a plate of food. The child brightened up, sat on his father's knee and they both ate hungrily.

No conversation passed between these people. Now THAT was beautiful.
I have a lot to learn.