Asian Ho Chi Minh City

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... with racism towards the Vetnamese. His name was Larry, a good traditional vietnamese name.

We chatted for a bit, then he asked me if I wanted to go to his house to meet his family and tell them all about Australia. I thought OK, why not, so we jumped in a taxi and drove to his house (he paid), which was a VERY nice mediteranian villa. His brother and mother were there and they made me up some chicken pho + rice and some eggplant thing fried with egg. So far so ...

... 5 hours and only cost $5!


PICTURES:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Jonny.D .Lawrence/20091110HoChiMinhCity?authkey =Gv1sRgCPyA6Y3L_eH2kQE&feat=directl ink

... talks and videos we were taken to a firing range where it was possible to shoot the type of weapons used in the war for a few dollars.

We finally got into the tunnels about 1 hour in and for tourists the entrances had been given steps and the tunnels lit. Despite this, the tunnels were still terrifying. Several people had to leave due to claustrophobia and even for someone who is not scared of confined spaces, it was still scary. The tunnel was no more than about 4 ...

... and humidity 88%.

Most evenings we ate at local restaurants across the road and always got a friendly warm welcome. Seaford is the main food on the menu. excellent, and the local speciality is fish sauce.

Our first day
This was a bit overcast but no rain. We spent it around the pool and walking along the beach. Being experiences travellers, and now aclimatised to the sun we knew how to handle these conditions. Using our experience we applied a little sun cream ...

... over by street vendors and parked motorbikes. We grabbed a snack and stumbled upon a Dutch guy that we met on the bus, who was sitting at a Beer Hoi stand with a Vietnamese man. We joined them for a couple beers, but it was difficult for me to enjoy the scenery as my eyes were starting to throb and I found it difficult to stand the bright lights and smoke wafting from Tom's cigarettes (although it was nice to have someone to travel with, I could do without Tom's chain smoking). I ...

Vietnam's great!
The further south we travel, the more this country grows on us. We think this is mostly due to the food, which is amazing. Here we are in Ho Chi Minh, still known as Saigon to its residents. Suprisingly, its hot and sweaty. But not as hot and sweaty as our journey here. We arrived by train from Hoian. Hard sleeper class. Top bunk. That's level 3, with approx 80 cm head space. Hhhhmmmm. The better tickets had sold out, despite us being the most organised ...

... hot and claustrophobic and at one point I had to lie down and slide down a section as it was getting smaller and was on a slant as well. At this point I was starting to hope for the end of the tunnel soon!

There was also the chance (for a price of course) to shoot some guns (rifles, machine guns...). I declined this offer as I'm not sure it would have added to my experience at all and also I fired a gun in ...

... around here for the remainder of the time left, we decided to stay saving the tuk tuk fare which is only $20(riiiip off) but its a saving. Plus i feel a bit dodge, I dont think it was the food we had just eaten but i have been bit for the first time this trip and as we know i always feel ill after the first bite! :) Prevention is better than cure so you know me self medicating, Ive whapped on the Odomos and Anthisan taken headache tablets and anti-histimines so hopefully thatll help ...