Epco Hotel Ho Chi Minh City

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... t have mattered. A young vietnamese guy named Hom was sitting nearby and asked if I wanted someone to show me around, so I organised to meet him the next day and go for a ride around the city, and then to a Vietnamese pool hall. Was getting on midnight and I was a bit tired after 13 hours travel, so called it a night and went back to the hotel.


Successful first day, and the next day was completely mental.

... us $10 for a meal and a drink each, which compared to anywhere is quite expensive.

The restaurant next to th hotel, puts the killing fields film on every night at 1830. Watch the film gave us a guideline of what had happened in Cambodia 30 years ago. It prepared us for tomorrow when we were visiting the sites relating to history. Apart from the film jumping, 4 power cuts and sound problems the film have us enough idea about the history and war in Cambodia.

... still go into the temple as they get loads of tourists there everyday so are used to people not complying to the dress code. We hadn't thought the day through properly and didn't think of the fact that we were visiting a temple and therefore would need suitable clothes, and so we didn't enter the temple out of respect, and now know for future reference!

We walked around the grounds and took photos of the beautiful building and the surrounding gardens while ...

... finished my breakfast and asked me the usual stuff about my family, school and life. She even got me to teach her English!

A rickshaw driver asked me if I wanted a tour of the city for 3 hours and I thought 'why not?' and sat down in his rickshaw. He took me to the Vietnam war museum and told me that he'd be waiting for me in one hour. I reluctantly strolled in for $1 and immediately became captivated by the exhibitions.

The more time ...

... and it was closed. So he offered to let them play at his house and he’d be the dealer. Apparently one of the old ladies won $80,000 dollars, but only tipped $400, whereas she was supposed to tip 5%.
He went upstairs to get the blackjack table ready, I offered to help him clean, but he wouldn’t allow it. I found that odd, but blew it off. I stayed downstairs talking to his cousin. After 5 minutes he invited us both up to the room. He began by explaining basic ...

... that it cost an additional $11 and was OPTIONAL. Of course, I had not booked this "scenic" boat ride, as I wanted to save money. Apparently the boat ride is a scam, because there is no bus back. After lunch, the guide pulled me aside and said he would cut the price in half if I wanted to take the boat, as everyone else had booked the boat and I was the only person riding the bus. I told him that I'd rather take the bus.. Just before our departure from the Mekong, he pulled me aside ...

... any accidents with just a roundabout as their traffic light. Notre Dame Cathedral- We just checked the outside of this building out... there was an adorable bride and groom doing all kinds of fun poses outside the church as we passed by. Reunification Palace- This building represented the South Vietnamese and was taken over by northern vietnamese soldiers in 1975 and handed over as sign of resignation. The building is really cool with ...

... and I paid, again.

After the train trip of death from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang I decided I'd get a super cheap flight to Hanoi instead of taking a 15 hour train ride. No worries. I landed at Hanoi airport and went to get a shuttle bus to the hostel. Shuttle buses are a heap cheaper than taxi's, and I didn't want a rigged metred taxi, and being on my own I didnt want to get held at knife point either. So, a lady approached me saying "shuttle bus?" I had a map, with where I needed to be ...

... but had forgotten about it) on exit so we all had to get money out of the ATM again! Needless to say, the budget boys were very dismayed [Rich: Tom was in fact the original budget boy. However, once Andy arrived, Tom suddenly stopped talking about his budget to appear 'cool' [Tom: Bah! I was bored of it by the start of Malaysia]. I was only a budget boy because I was often heard saying "You guys can have lunch, but I can't afford it"].

On arrival at KL's Low Cost Carrier ...