Saigon..... Sugar!

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So, I'm now in Saigon. We arrived from Cantho via the bus (a last minute decision to pile on the bus 15 minutes before it left). We arrived in Phau Ngu Lao, Saigon's Khao Sahn Road. A decision was taken to grab a beer after the trip, and 5 hours later we were still there, having met a german man called Wolfgan, some Kiwi's, a german girl, a Scot and a girl from Dorset who is emigrating to New Zealand. It was a great night, particularly due to the fact that one of the Kiwi's was also 6' 6". This caused us to immediately bond over the experience of being a tall guy in South East Asia.

The next day, we wandered throughout Saigon to get to what was once called the War Crimes Museum, or War Atrocities Museum. It is the Vietnamese museum about the war (the American War, as it is called here). I found it very powerful, and quite hard going. It is reassuring to find Vietnam so welcoming to westerners, after losing two million people to an "intervention". The museum had lots of American hardware parked in the yard, including tanks, helicopters and jets. The consequences of Agent Orange are horrific, and may last for generations more. Still, I felt very fortunate that I'll probably never have to experience war first hand.

Thankfully, Saigon (or Ho Chi Mihn City) has recovered from the war, and is a fantasticly bustling place. The trafic is truly like nothing I have ever seen before, with hundreds of thousands of motorbikes and what appears to be a handful of road traffic rules. At night it is a neon wonderland, full of bustling markets, giant hotels and shops.

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Photos

Rush Hour
Really, really crazy rush hour traffic.

The War Crimes Museum
Like other war museums, only not.

Comments

[Mum]

Mum and Dad
Hello, Adam: We're really enjoying your blog and it has been printed off and sent regularly to Granma. It has entertained her very much and she said that it reads just like your character. Granny and Granda are also getting copies. We see now that you've a huge fan club following your exploits. Will you be turning this into book form?! Take good care of yourself. Love Mum and dad. (PS Dad asks why "Saigon....sugar!")

[alana]

hey Adam, sorry to hear about your camera.....yeah sure.....you left it on the bus..yup...nobody can find it anywhere...right.... So glad you are having a fantastic time, am so proud of you cuz. There is no way i could up and go like that, good on ya! The pictures are amazing, oh to be on a beach that looked like the pics now. Lovely......nothing would make it more perfect than if i had a plate of mice and some scorpion wine to wash it down with. Looking forward to your next entry. Take care, love alana