I believe we can have just about anything we want in life..we just have to have priorities I've always wanted to experience the freedom of a boat but I had to go to the Philippines so I could afford one. 

I just returned from watching a neighborhood basketball game way out  here in the boondocks of the Philippines. Basketball, for some reason, has taken on an almost "national sport" status here. In every "barangay" (village) there is a public basketball court. This morning I heard a racket not too far from my back yard. It came from where I knew the heighborhood basket ball court was, and since this was Saturday, I figured it must be an offical game, as opposed to the normal scraps among the neighborhood boys during the weekdays. I grabbed a plastic chair, a bottle of water and trapsed through the banana trees to the court, and sure enough, a basketball game was in full progress. At one end of the court was a pair of loud speakers belting out, in the Cebuano language, a blow by blow commentary of the action. I was somewhat surprised when I first got there and sat my plastic chair on the sidelines that all the children moved out of my way, giving me a good view. I did recognise Aton (short for Jonathon)  and his brother John-John, who are the boys of our neighbor and who come over to my house for help with their homework and to watch a scary movie once in a while. I was amazed how the players could dribble that ball on the gravel surface. Twice, the game had to stop while a motor scooter and a car passed down the middle of the court/field on their way to their homes farther up the road. Everyone took the interruption in stride. I saw Athon and John-John smile when they saw me watching and cheering them on. After the game they both came up to me and said "Mano po" meaning they wanted to put the back of my hand to their forehead, a sign of respect to older people. Athough our team ,"The Po-o Lakers, lost by a few points, I consider all the players winners for being such good sports.

Bud in Vietnam 1971                                                                                                      Bud in Vietnam 2010

Vietnam Veteran, Bud Brown recently returned after an emotional trip to Vietnam after an absence of almost 40 years.

"I left Vietnam in 1971 and promised myself that one day I'd return," Brown said."I just didn't think it would take this long."

Brown, who was a U.S. Naval Advisor and speaks Vietnamese says he was amazed at how things had changed, mostly, the abundance of scooters in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. "When I left, peole mostly got around on biicycles and cyclos (which are two wheeled bicycles the carry passengers on a little seat between the two front wheels.)  Now it's almost all cars and scooters. What was the same? "The people are still very friendly,"Brown said. "Everywhere I went, college students would asked if they could practice their English with me."

During his ten day stay in Ho Ch Minh City (called Saigon by the locals), Brown visited several University classrooms, bought souveniers at the world famous Ben Thanh Market, lit insense and at several Chinese temples, visited the War Remnants Memorial and took the tour at the Cu Chi Tunnels, where the Viet Cong hid and lived during the massive American bombings "The tours were very emotional for me", Brown said, especially the War Remnants Museum, that had lots of  photos of the atrocities that happened at that time."

"I was surprised that my Vietnamese came back so easily after all these years,"  Brown said. Since it was so helpful to me I decided to create a website where Americans and others could learn Vietnamese. It's called Vietnamese101.info. Knowing Vietnamese opened up a lot of doors for me that, I'm sure, would have been closed if I had not been able to speak the language."Brown said."I really waant to go back again, but this time I won't wait so long."

This is the slideshow I just uploaded to YouTube. I used several photos from my latest trip to the Philippines. I want people to know where they can can information if they want to learn Tagalog.

 ” I would like to thank DirecTravelAsia for arranging my accomodations for my ten day stay in Saigon, Vietnam. The hotel that I stayed in was execllent and, from the time I arrived till the time I left, I felt very comfortable. I would highly recommend DiredTravelAsia to arrange tours or just accomodations for anyone wanting to travel to Vietnam or Southeast Asia.
Sincerely,"
Bud Brown

Well I have just returned from two months in the Philippines and ten days in Vietnam. If you know me you know I took tons of photos and videos. I will edit the videos and organize the photos then post them here and on YouTube.  Thanks for following me in my adventures. By the way, that two month adventure was just an appitizer for things to come!

I'm sitting in the airport in Korea on my way back to the States. I can't believe that I just finished a two month trip to the Philippines, including a ten day side trip to Vietnam. As soon as I get home I'm going to post my photos and videos. I really learned a lot about the local people and also improved my Tagalog, Cebuano and Vietnamese language skills. That's really the best way to learn a language, I feel, is to be on the ground hearing and speaking with the local people.

I am presently in HCM City, Vietnam,  after an absense of 39 years. Some things are the same and some things are different.

Same:

• Still takes the same method to cross the street. Just step out and slowly and steadily walk to the other side, letting all the vehicles go around you.
• People are still friendly and helpful.

Different:

• Not many bicycles on the street. Seems they have been replaced by scooters.
• Most everyone in the city has a cell (mobile) phone
• No more "cyclos" (bicycles with the front two wheels). Only for tourist transportation.

Will keep you updated.

I believe I have have found the world's biggest shoe. Check out this video and see if you agree!