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Published: February 19th 2016
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Last night my Family Members rescued me from outside a brothel. In my defence, I didn't know it was, had just stopped to have a beer, choosing the back rather than front line to minimise the vendor attention. I'd been to the shop opposite An An Hotel, where I knew I could get DVDs, but they didn't have anything recent. Outside was another fire eating boy, again very young, rattling his tin. I said that it was very bad for him, the shop girl said he has no parents, but for sure he's run by the mafia who will be taking the money from him. So I wandered along the street to find a local place for a beer, and sat down. There were 3 'massage' girls outside, ignoring women but grabbing hold of any western men. The western men looked very happy about this, and some of them went inside with the girls. Outside was a mix of locals, the odd tourist (me, for example) and the family who owned it, kids and all. I hadn't realised just how many working girls there are here, I'm sure many more than the first time I was here 3 years ago, or
maybe I'm better at spotting them.
Then got a message to go out for food, so sat tight until Laura and Stuart came to rescue me. We walked to the quiet end of the street, then up towards the market (closed) and found a line of stall, variation on the pho theme. A few tourists eating there, the price was about £1.30 for a bowl. No English spoken, but they tried to help us, just look and point, without being exactly sure what you're getting. We had samesamesame, soup with noodles and pork. Not sure what dessert offerings there were, but it looked just like fruit bits on ice, so we didn't bother. Now for a drink. Walked back to Bui Vien and up up, the highest point, is a rooftop bar called The View, towards the quiet end! looks fun with lots of twinkly lights on different levels.It had been recommended by my buddy, Harry. You go into the reception area and they wave you towards the lift (very happy to see you), up you go to the 7th floor, then walk up to the 8th, shown to a table and use your torch to see the menu.
It is really pretty, great views of the Bitexco Tower and the building that changes colour all the time. Prices are pricey, 28,000 for a small beer, cocktails at around 100,000 and up, but it is so nice to sit there, not busy, above the sensory assault of the street. Definitely worth a visit.
Afterwards we walked back, Laura and Stuart are staying down the alley to the side of my hotel. Asked them to keep the noise down! They could only check into their room at 8pm! so hope to negotiate a discount, or move again.
This morning, message from Gill that her plane is delayed, they are trying to mend it, finally left 80 mins late, meaning she has less than an hour for transfer. Hopefully they will rush them through at Guangzhou. It should be OK, but will be straight from one plane to the next which will probably have boarded already, no time to pass go or collect £200! Hope she is not too stressed.
Packed yet again for a room change to a higher floor at the back, just as well as I noticed there's a leak in the bathroom from upstairs,
water dripping down from the light fitting. Best not turn the light on, then!
I made a plan to go and buy tickets for the water puppets, then onto the Reunification Palace. Never been there before as it didn't look too interesting, collection of old telephones etc, but hey ho! , why not! But the times said closed 11-1pm, so no point going right then as there wouldn't be enough time. Plan B, go and walk through the local market opposite the long distance bus station. Only one other westerner there, an Indian man now living in the USA, very chatty, staring at the really disgusting sight of frogs skinned alive and still crawling around. No picture of this! He was hoping (!?!) to see dogs and cats, but I said that's more in Hanoi. Took some pics, watched a group of women sorting knickers on the floor, one thought I might like to buy some (30p a pair) and picked a pair up to demonstrate the extreme stretchiness of them. How very dare she! Then I exited but got a bit lost, ended up in tinier and tinier alleys, thought I'd come to a dead end but no,
an old lady waved me through and I popped out on Bui Vien again. Right next to the coffee place Sam and I thought looked like a little oasis of cool. It is a little oasis of cool, nice IKEA comfy seats upstairs and you get a glass of iced, smoky tasting tea with your coffee. The menu looked a bit tricky but the English level was good and easily explained. Good wifi, the tea is topped up all the time and you can stay as long as you like!
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