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Published: February 9th 2014
Hello, lovely friends and family, as well as random strangers with time on their hands!
China Southern airline worked very very well for the second year in a row. An hour late leaving Guangzhou on the second leg, which gave us time to correct the naff information re gate number given by Mr Helpful. Through Saigon immigration in record time, as the company we got our VOA letter from had also attached the immigration form, so we had filled this in in advance, saving having to queue twice. Not that there was a queue. There wasn't!
Nor was the taxi rank very busy, so we located the Vinasun man and got into a legit taxi who hardly overcharged us at all - just went dead slow in a few back streets to make the meter run longer, but no major detours so didn't arrive pissed off! Hotel fine - Graceful Saigon in Bui Vien - quiet room on the third floor at the BACK - much better than street side! We were super-excited and went out at midnight - everything was still rocking and rolling - and managed to score free drinks from a very drunk American as I
had with me my zippit bag, which is apparently his company! Didn't really believe him, but thank you very much for the free cocktails! Got back at 2 and the hotel had disappeared! At least the shutter was down and we had to ring the bell and get the poor man off the campbed in reception where he sleeps fully-clothed!
Today we marched off to the War Remnants Museum - so shocking, no less so for having see it before, everyone walking round in silence, and a Vietnamese mother patiently explaining to her small child. Then found our way back to Ben Tanh market for fresh coconut, after an epic fail at haggling for one in the street. Note to Sam - don't put your hand out and take anything until our jetlag-befuddled brains have done the maths! 150,000 for 2 is not the right price!
We found Sapaco Travel, which I'd spotted on a youtube clip and bought our tickets for Cambodia on Wednesday. About £14 each for very decent-looking buses and we don't have to change at the border, only in Phnom Penh. Pickup from hotel at 5.45. Oh joy! Then on to have our nails
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View from our hotel roomdone for less than £2, with me losing about 3 pints of blood at the same time - she cut me accidentally (I hope....) and my poor toe poured blood until she stopped it with some nail varnish remover. Back for a kip, and out soon for Sam's birthday treat - food tour of Saigon by night on the back of a scooter. Pics to follow. Then an early start for a day on the Mekong tomorrow. Never a dull moment......
lots of love to my girlies xxxxx
ps photos won't load - will add when more time!
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