Motorbikes, Museums and Massages
Trip Start
Apr 01, 2008
1
2
20
Trip End
Jul 24, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Arose bright and early this morning to a breakfast of pho which we basically hoovered as hadn't really eaten since leaving sydney airport the day before (gotta love no frills jetstar). Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, and noodles one of my favourite foods, so it's a great combo and I could quickly get used to it! It was 8 in the morning and the city was already well and truly alive and kicking... in fact, it still is, and I don't think it ever stops!
Decided to walk around the city today and stopped off at many spots including areas of architectural and historical significance
Breakfast best meal of the Day!
. But first stop of course incorporated shopping, and was Ben Tranh markets where Paddy was quickly the proud ownerr of some 'Armani' sunglasses thanks to his 'bargaining skills', and I was brought in as his unwilling accomplice and acquired some Fandisci (apparently Fendi?!) sunglasses... however I'm thoroughly convinced we were ripped off and that paddy caved too early! It's hard to say no though, especially when they're stroking your cheeks and cuddling into you (these tactics were employed on me later in the day and resulted in a sandals purchase).But the most harrowing and impacting sightseeing of the day was definitely the War Remnants Museum and the the Reunification Palace. The museum was particularly brutal and graphic, and I took some pretty morbid photographs. It's nearly inconceivable what atrocities occured as a result of 'following order's and 'fighting for freedom and democracy'. The palace impressed me because of it's historical significance - it's a symbolic building for the liberation of South Vietnam and it just felt amazing for me to be there. Both were quite anti-American but that was to be expected and I'm not sure if you can ever get a completely unbiased view of a war fullstop, but especially when it's told by the victor or the defeated...
Anyhow, the humidity here is incredible and I'm constantly glowing (aka sweating) and constantly thirsty. We were well and truly exhausted by the end of this and we rewarded ourselves with some massages. Ahem. Well that was an experience! First time i've ever been straddled by a 35kg woman, massaged with her knees, and (what felt like) walked on with her hands! After the initial awkwardness, things did become a bit more 'normal' and I managed to relax and enjoy it
Saigon's electrical infrastructure.Reassuring
! Other first impressions? There are no rubbish bins anywhere - so being a tidy kiwi is difficult! People here will eat anything and under any conditions. Things are extremely cheap and it's quite ridiculous to be bargaining over 5,000 dong (about 35 cents) but you find yourself doing it nonetheless. There seems to be a lot of people doing nothing... seriously, they just kinda sit around... doing nothing, just looking and contemplating life it seems! . But I'm still loving it! Most people are very friendly but I can also be pretty good at playing blind and deaf whenever we get launched at by die-hard street vendors.
We are off to Dalat tomorrow and Paddy is convinced that we will be bikies by the end of this excursion. It's a 6 hr bus ride but should be worth it from what I've read and heard. I will admit, my head is stuck too much in a Lonely Planet sometimes (several near death hit and run experiences as a result) and screaming tourist, so trying to wean myself off it...
Trouble with photos on this computer but will attempt to update next time round.
Comments
Of HCM
Thanz for yuor useful infos.
I am heading there tomorrow for my weekend break.
Guess I'll be cooked there.
Cheerz/GeorgeBuddy