Vietnam, me love you long time. All day, all night, me love you long time.{...} Dropping acid on the Mekong Delta, smoking grass through a rifle barrel, flying on a helicopter with opera blasting out of loudspeakers, tracer-fire and paddy-field scenery, the smell of napalm in the morning. Long time.
The quote reflects a deeply ironic and surreal experience of Vietnam, intertwining love with the chaotic backdrop of war and drug culture. The phrase "me love you long time" evokes a playful yet dark commentary on the relationships formed against the backdrop of conflict. The vivid imagery evokes a sense of heightened reality, where personal emotions clash with the harshness of the environment, from the Mekong Delta to the sound of helicopters.
Through these experiences, the author, Alex Garland, paints a picture of a place that is both alluring and dangerous. The contrast between the tranquil beauty of the paddy fields and the violence of warfare creates a striking tension. This paradoxical love for Vietnam captures the essence of a journey marked by both passion and despair, underlining the complexities of attachment in a world riddled with conflict.
