Landing in Nam on bomb proof tarmac

Trip Start Oct 20, 2007
1
7
27
Trip End ??? ??, 2008


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Flag of Vietnam  ,
Thursday, November 1, 2007

So after catching the bus back to the airport (very impressive departure area/huge hangar!) i proceeded through and spent my last few dollars on a bottle of water. Unfortunatly this used up all remnants of my HK money (i usually keep at least a coin). going to the gates (a straight line with moving pathways) i took the harder option and took the train! no jokes - they had an underground tube to go this relatively short distance!?
The flight was quite un-eventful, although now flying with United Airlines (instead to the japanese ANA) i was surprised to find smaller seats and no personal tv, let alone movies or games - standard for the japanese (who lets admit are generally smaller than the av. american?). Food was also a fork and knife affair and i found myself rather missing the chopstick! luckily i think i wont need to miss them for too long in Vietnam.
So having replied to the Red Sun Hotel's email asking for me to confirm my time and give me a cheap pickup - i was rather surprised to not find them waiting ( i later found out that reply to thier emails dosent work!?), so slightly tired and bewildered (not wanting to miss them and pay for two taxis) i eventually jumped in one with a guy insisting he knew my hotel. Needless to say after getting in the cab, a walk from the terminal, he insisted i pay then and we go past a better hotel first....my fuse was lit and i was not taking his chat! He relented and started out, then pausing at the carpark exit insisting on the money now to pay to get out - again he soon found out that i was NOT caring for such stupid chat and told him to pay it and i'd pay when we arrived at my hotel. Then in the middle of the crazy street heading in the general direction of the area (district 1) he suggested we go to this other hotel...then realising he was just burning my fuse faster (and i'm a very chilled traveller!) he paused bang in the middle of the street (although there appears to be no lane system here anyway) and asked for a map...yeah brilliant. anyway ultimatly we got there and already paying three times the going rate i didnt feel bad about taking three us dollars off the price!
The hotel seems nice - i have for less money than my cell (at almost half the price)- free internet, a three person room with huge window (even if it is looking straight into anothers window two metres away across the street) and breakfast with the other guests. - nice. even my fellow room mates have shrunk in size from growing crotches to tiny speck like things that i can live with!
After meeting a nice taiwanese Roger over fried eggs this morning, i'm trying to figure out my itnerary and shall head into town shortly to try my luck on the russian roulette of Vietnam that is crossing the roads. Staying here at the Red Sun tonight again, but will stay on another night if i dont find better accom (apparently always cheaper deals found in person) or a trip out of town. Indeed i really want to get my scuba course done! so enough rambling chat, to the streets i go - i'm feeling lucky! haha
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