Ho Chi Minh City & Phnom Penh
Early February, 2011
Now that I been living in Thailand for the past half year, I just felt obligated and committed to organize & document a
continuation of our clockwise trail around the Eurasia peninsula. The 10,000 Kilometer journey from Moscow to Hong
Kong (actually Sanya) didn't end too far from the starting point of our sequel. The next leg of the journey would track
us across four very diverse countries, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. A documentary with a probable
DVD release is in the works, so I will not try to expose much literally, but just portait some photos I captured when I
wasn't holding a video camera in my hands.
continuation of our clockwise trail around the Eurasia peninsula. The 10,000 Kilometer journey from Moscow to Hong
Kong (actually Sanya) didn't end too far from the starting point of our sequel. The next leg of the journey would track
us across four very diverse countries, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. A documentary with a probable
DVD release is in the works, so I will not try to expose much literally, but just portait some photos I captured when I
wasn't holding a video camera in my hands.
After visiting North Korea and having absorbed the endless communist Propaganda which pretty much holds the
identity of the structure of its cities, it was fascinating to confront some socialist Vietnamese proselytism. From my
last two times visiting North & South Vietnam, it just now shocked me the most seeing all the Propaganda after
having been within the most extreme utilized communistic advertised state, the DPRK. It felt suspenseful being
surrounded by red again, even though I don't stand behind the concepts of socialism, since its an unrealistic
ideology, it somehow feels exhilarating.
identity of the structure of its cities, it was fascinating to confront some socialist Vietnamese proselytism. From my
last two times visiting North & South Vietnam, it just now shocked me the most seeing all the Propaganda after
having been within the most extreme utilized communistic advertised state, the DPRK. It felt suspenseful being
surrounded by red again, even though I don't stand behind the concepts of socialism, since its an unrealistic
ideology, it somehow feels exhilarating.
Vietnam used to be called Nam Việt. Vietnamese people originate from the Canton province (modern day Hong
Kong & Quangdong). The word Nam meaning South and Việt representing the people. After gaining Independence
from China around the eight century, Vietnam was untouched for a while until the French colonized around the mid
18th Century. Soon after independence once again, communism was spreading down south the Asian peninsula,
and of course America, tried to prevent the red-scare which resulted in a decade of unnecessary casualties without
an exit strategy. One of the top three most pointless wars fought by the Americans. They tried to prevent Socialism,
didn't quite work, check the four photos above, Propaganda is prospering.
Kong & Quangdong). The word Nam meaning South and Việt representing the people. After gaining Independence
from China around the eight century, Vietnam was untouched for a while until the French colonized around the mid
18th Century. Soon after independence once again, communism was spreading down south the Asian peninsula,
and of course America, tried to prevent the red-scare which resulted in a decade of unnecessary casualties without
an exit strategy. One of the top three most pointless wars fought by the Americans. They tried to prevent Socialism,
didn't quite work, check the four photos above, Propaganda is prospering.
Driving motorcycles in Ho Chi Minh is a necessity & an adventure. We set sail down to the Mekong Delta, around
two to three hours of driving in complete chaos was quite nerve whacking. Everyone was on point and focused on
the surrounding traffic and luckily we were able to escape any accidents. But on the road back we did witness a
crash, an older women was not moving, covered in blood surrounded by spectators. Quite shocking and sad, but
that's life in a country where almost half the population over the age of eight-teen owns a motorcycle.
two to three hours of driving in complete chaos was quite nerve whacking. Everyone was on point and focused on
the surrounding traffic and luckily we were able to escape any accidents. But on the road back we did witness a
crash, an older women was not moving, covered in blood surrounded by spectators. Quite shocking and sad, but
that's life in a country where almost half the population over the age of eight-teen owns a motorcycle.
Kenny Reed.
The crew consisted of (from left to right) John Tanner, Laurence Keefe, Brian Kelley, Kenny Reed, Dan Zvereff,
Casey Rigney, Geng Jakkarin, Denny Pham, Kirill Korobkov and myself.
Casey Rigney, Geng Jakkarin, Denny Pham, Kirill Korobkov and myself.
The famously known Conical Hat originates from central Vietnam.
Dan Zvereff olling pipes while motorcycles move in, on the coast of Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Miraculix of the East!
Siesta is not just an Italian tradition...
After a good week of filming in Vietnam, we headed west to the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, where Golden
Retrievers are not as welcomed as Brian Kelley from Upstate New York...
Retrievers are not as welcomed as Brian Kelley from Upstate New York...
Smiling is also not allowed... By that I don't mean within the entire country, but only at the Pol Pot Genocide Museum,
which is entirely acceptable regarding what the Cambodian population went through during its dark years in the late
1970s. Pol Pot's goal was to establish agrarian socialism within the Kingdom, which would dissolve modern ideas &
technology and set Cambodia back to its roots, an ancient civilization. During his three years of cleansing, he
murdered 1/4 of the Cambodian people, and was finally stopped by Vietnam in 1979 when he attacked villages on
Vietnamese grounds out of paranoia. Without the Vietnamese interference, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge could still possible
be in full effect today, similar to what North Korea is going through for the past half a century.
which is entirely acceptable regarding what the Cambodian population went through during its dark years in the late
1970s. Pol Pot's goal was to establish agrarian socialism within the Kingdom, which would dissolve modern ideas &
technology and set Cambodia back to its roots, an ancient civilization. During his three years of cleansing, he
murdered 1/4 of the Cambodian people, and was finally stopped by Vietnam in 1979 when he attacked villages on
Vietnamese grounds out of paranoia. Without the Vietnamese interference, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge could still possible
be in full effect today, similar to what North Korea is going through for the past half a century.
Mister Tanner & Keefe, the British captains on an abandoned Khmer Rouge airplane.
The rules to survive within the interrogation camps.
Dan Zvereff... got a headshot.
More about this in the upcoming documentary!
Having been in Ho Chi Minh already with Michael Mackrodt, Dany Hamard & friends while filming for Translations &
returning after three years felt very thrilling. Riding mopeds through the chaotic streets or Saigon, taking row boats
around the Mekong Delta and just absorbing the Vietnamese lifestyle during its Chinese New Year was something I
wanted to experience once again. Also wanted to document the journey in a more detail perspective, than how I did
three years ago when I mainly focused on the skateboard tricks instead of filming behind the scenes.
returning after three years felt very thrilling. Riding mopeds through the chaotic streets or Saigon, taking row boats
around the Mekong Delta and just absorbing the Vietnamese lifestyle during its Chinese New Year was something I
wanted to experience once again. Also wanted to document the journey in a more detail perspective, than how I did
three years ago when I mainly focused on the skateboard tricks instead of filming behind the scenes.
