A Park that is not a Park

Every morning we take our dog to the park. This no ordinary park and getting the dog there is not how you would think. It is early in the morning, around 6.00am, when you would think most people would be asleep, getting the coffee or commuting to work. Not In Hanoi. Getting to the park requires me to carry our dog Liu Ce almost the entire way simply because it is too dangerous to put her down and the variety of smells for a dog is like beef, chicken and pork on crack. It's too much. When I get to the park at this hour it is full of life. It is all about exercise of every kind. It really should be a scene for a movie. As we start to walk, all paths are packed with people walking, strolling and exercising while they walk. On virtually every spot of grass is some exercise class with anywhere from 20 to 200 people. Every class has a different kind of music blasting from speakers. You have your jazz, your pop, high energy, disco, you name it. Also, there are dancing classes to Tango, Vietnamese, Waltz...all playing at the same time. Oh, there is also a meditation class with there own music that somehow works itself in. Amongst all this, are various groups that do not want to join the groups, but instead creat there own with self flagellation, slapping, smacking of almost every body part...men and women. There is also an area with exercise machines for older folks and an exercise area similar to Venice Beach for the young muscle guys. It's all too much. There are also little open cafés that sell drinks, coffee and make soup and some food for those that want to relax and watch it all. By the way, the famous Vietnamese soup Pho is not for dinner. It is only for breakfast...only. There are no eggs, bacon or pancakes here. I cooked up what what I thought was bacon and it was unseasoned/unsalted, thinly sliced, very fatty pieces of pork, like a pork chop. As much as I truly enjoy the park in the morning, I cannot take Liu Ce there at that time of morning anymore. It is too difficult, too packed, too crazy for both of us. To add to the chaos, few park people put there dogs on leashes and Liu Ce and I will have none of it...none. At 6.00 am I need some piece dammit. There is not enough coffee to put up with all of that. Besides my day ahead is stressful enough without the Vietnamese circus to start my day. In all seriousness, it is an incredible thing that so many people, that early in the morning all go and exercise. It is something we should all learn from. Of course it could never happen in the U.S. Because we have rules, needed permits, licensing and too many people getting pissed off because there personal space is being violated. Perhaps when school is over I will go join the meditation class or the Jazzer-size girls.