Wednesday 28th April - Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City - Today our bus journey was supposed to be about 6 or 7 hours - it turned into an 11-hour one instead but we weren't too bothered. We're both reading a couple of good books - Derek has Frank Skinner's autobiog and Sue has a book on the Cuchi tunnels history in Vietnam (which we're going to on Friday). Anyway, only one real incident of note today - We met Karsten and Merete from Denmark again - it was a real pleasent surprise when we pulled in at lunch time on the bus for some food and saw this guy with a beard - we thought 'Is it Jesus we see before us ?!' - but not fear it was Karsten!! We (Karsten actually!) got the beers in and had 40 minutes of chat during which time we agreed that we'll be off to Denmark next summer for a week or two holidays courtesy of Karsten and Merete (If you're reading this Karsten and Merete - thanks very much !!) Had a great Mexican meal tonight washed down with beer and pleny of wine for 5 pounds.
Thursday 29th April - Ho Chi Minh City - Today Sue woke up not feeling very well. We went for breakfast but it did not appeal to her. When she did eat it later she was ill so we think she's got a tummy bug. She's been resting in the hotel today but don't worry she's hopeful that she'll be able to make the journey to the Cu Chi tunnels tomorrow. Meanwhile Derek has spent most of the afternoon finally loading up some photos from our adventures over the last 3 weeks or so. He'll be off for some Mexican again tonight and Sue will be staying in but have no fear she is being pampered (and she's got cable TV to watch the National Geographic channel, Sports Channel Gold, etc.)! Ho Chi Minh City itself is very like Hanoi but more frenetic perhaps. There were some blokes pedalling around last night with bells ringing - we found out later that they are probably 'rent boys' so they won't be taking us for a ride anywhere - trust us!
Friday 30th April - Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) fomerly known as Saigon! Sue's feeling better today so up bright and early to go on our trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels (where the Viet Con lived and fought the USA in underground tunnels). We had been waiting in the agents office for about ten minutes when he decided to inform us that we were unable to go on the trip because it had been overbooked. There were another couple there who were in the same position. We insisted that in that case they should pay for a taxi to take the four of us there. Eventually the 'boss' appeared who informed us that the trip wasn't running because the Government had decided at 7pm last night to close all public and tourist attractions as the day was a national holiday (which it is - 29 years since Independence) and therefore the Cu Chi Tunnels was closed. 'This is a f-----g Communist Country you know' he said! One of the other couple went off to check if the Tunnels were closed with another agent who confirmed they were. So what could we do. We went back to our hotel and relayed our story to the manager who said this was nonsence and phoned the Cu Chi Tunnels on our behalf and you've guessed it they were open! We returned to the travel agent but the 'boss' was nowhere to be seen and surprisingly enough was no longer contactable. By this time it was too late to get on another trip so we missed out! Our visa runs out tomorrow and we have to move on. We ended up visiting the Ho Chi Minh and The War Remnants Museum instead. The War Remnants Museum was very interesting. It's unbelievable what went on in the war and how the Viet Cong lived and out witted the Americans in their tunnels. Maybe we haven't been to the right places but we don't think much of HCMC, all the other places we have been to in Vietnam were far nicer. Today a lady went down the road on a moped with a tray of drinks on an upturned hand. We saw 'Roast Beast' on the menu (don't know what kind of beast') and every hotel bathroom has a plastic comb in it. A bit like the ones Linda and I used to carry in our back jeans pocket in 1978!
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