Sunday, 2 October 2011

Medicine, Heal Thyself

Here are some traditional medicines commonly (or uncommonly) used in Vietnam. I particularly like the ore of mercury (whose life's work is to cure sadness) which was a crumbly, sparkling pile of cherry red, that also happened to smell of cherries though not taste of them. I smelt the others but can't really describe their scents without using words from a language either long forgotten or yet to be invented, that neither you, nor I, nor the medicines would understand. All I can say is that I smoked, snorted and swallowed everything you see here (and more), and that, as a result, I feel pretty damn chipper right now.