Last Day Saigon
Trip Start
Jun 25, 2007
1
10
12
Trip End
Jul 24, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam
Monday, July 23, 2007
The weather all the way has been just ideal. The occasional hot day has been made bearable by airconditioned cars and hotel suites or swimming pools.
Yes we have been doing it the tough way but you know the saying "when the going gets tough the tough go shopping" which is where Karon is as I wtite this last blog
before heading home.
After our fantastic night at Nha Trang when we got cornered by a celebrating local who wanted to share a beer with us to
celebrate the first time both Australia and Vietnam had reached the quarters of the Asian cup which was a great experience.
Neither of us could understand the other. All he would do is hold up 3 fingers and slam his beer into mine and say "cheers". We did this many times in the
course of the fifteen minutes we shared together.
I was convinced that Vietnam had one by three goals.
On the walk back to the hotel some friendly girl said "hello" (almost everyone you pass here says hello and gives a big smile)
So seeming to understand some english I ventured to ask her with demonstartions of my feet to suggest I was discussion football she said
"no you have to catch a bus to HoiAn".. funny thing that apparently you can't walk the 400kms to Hoi an.
Anyway enough of these little personal encounters...
As it turned our Vietnam had lost by 3 goals but still enough to get to the quarter finals.
The next day we went on a fishing and snorkelling adventure in the bay at Nha Trang. It was somewhat disappointing as Karon was the only one to catch a fish,
A small groper which we insisted on returning to the sea as they will keep any tiddler... that's a bit sad, anyway that's their 'thing'.
The snorkelling was a bit of a disaster as well. The current was too strong for Karon to spend musch enjoyable time there
and I helped Phuocie (pronounced fur-kie for his friends) who was trying for the first time to master the use of goggles and snorkel.
He seemed to think everything should be done on his back facing the sky, must be a Northern Hemisphere thing. The reef, in my estimation, won't be there long sadly.
We then went to Dalat. This is a city in the mountains. Very different and very French calonial.
We had a great day seeing around the city sights with it's unique fusion of old and new.
We had a great visit with the elder of the Lat village. He sang us songs and told us about his life and the history of their village.
We then went on a cable car to the beautiful 'Bamboo' Pagoda. Quite a contrast. Old train rides through the valley.
All very exotic.
We are now in Saigon and have mostly done shopping at the Bin Thay markets as we have done the 'touristy' thing.
Heading home this arvo and will arrive early hours on Tuesday about 6.30??
Thanks John for your comments on the 'blog'. It would have been nice to share with Helen and some orphans whilst in Phnom Penh
but that's life.
See you all soon! Love to all xxx
