Ricefield-Battlefield [antikvár]

Between Heaven and EarthIn the dark of December 5th, 1966 we finally flew over the Chinese-Vietnamese border. But ever since the end of September we had been living more in Vietnam than in Berlin. From the day we knew that we were going to Vietnam we dropped everything else and buried ourselves in the study of this far-off land, so near to our hearts in its history, its culture, its customs and habits. We wanted to know a little about it before we really got to know it.Apart from books and periodicals, we made use of people in gathering our information: Vietnamese living in the G.D.R. and Vietnam travellers from different countries. It was they who gave us practical advice, sometimes useful and always well meant:"Above all, very light clothing!""Sometimes it's damned cold down there at this time of the year!""Most important of all: raincoats.""And don't forget your sun glasses!""A remedy against mosquito bites!"The chemist took us for eccentrics, and the ready-to-wear store advised us to inquire after light raincoats in the spring.But those were, after all, only trifles compared to the remark made to us by a comrade who had lived in Vietnam for many years, and had only recently returned.9