Walkabout
Trip Start
Mar 14, 2006
1
90
374
Trip End
Mar 15, 2007
Saigon,
Vietnam
Monday, June 12, 2006
Hearing plenty of recommendations from other peeps on heading north as I cruised south through the country I paid a visit to the war remnants museum. Formerly known as the war crimes museum, the small exhibit pulls no punches about the American / Vietnam War even if it is another one sided take on the whole thing.
From one aspect of the war to another I wandered down to and around the Revolution Palace where the south finally surrendered to the north in 1975 with the North Vietnamese army crashing through the gates in dramatic style which I could have done with today since the palace grounds themselves appeared closed
Notre Dam Cathedral
. A short hop from here was the Notre Dame Cathedral which closely resembled its Parisian namesake even if the street side scenery was some what different, think little plastic stools and steaming bowls of noodles rather than fancy coffee shop décor and overpriced croissants.
Feeling glad I had visited the Cathedral as I would need all the help from above I could get as I crossed the insane roads of Saigon facing down the torrent of motorbikes coming at you, hoping you will make it to the other side without the annoying inconvenience of dying.
Figuring I'd not risked my life enough for one day I stopped for some decidedly dodgy looking chicken curry with rice at a street side eatery but it's always good to challenge your immune system, as long as it doesn't lose!
Saw, or at least heard, another of Vietnam's peculiar traits in the form of a lorry with a "Santa Claus is coming to town" reversing jingle to add to the "So here it is this is Christmas" and "Jingle Bells" ones I've heard up to now elsewhere in the country.
