Ho Chi Minh City

After flights to Perth - Singapore - Ho Chi Minh City, i arrived ! Small delays mostly due to strong headwinds (200km/h) but had plenty of time anyway! A long night waiting at airports, but managed to sleep a bit on the plane. There were people spread out all over floor sleeping in Singapore.
Stupid man at the visa section of the airport charged me $20 extra for my visa because i didn't have US dollars!
Caught the bus from the airport to the town (cheapest option - and easy, although the driver didn't speak English so this Perth guy and i managed to work out when to get off). It was insane right from the word go. It certainly lived up to the expectations i had from reading about the traffic! A nightmare, but so entertaining at the same time (from a bus where you are in a lot better position than on a motorbike).
I've seen two indicators been used today! There were these parents walking their (about 2 yr old kid) while the tiny thing pedalled on his mini bike with trainer wheels across a major intersection. I managed to master the technique of crossing the road - just go! Its good to go at the same time as someone else for a start. The motorbikes usually swerve around you and the cars are a bit slower.
I went to theBen Thanh marketsand relaxed in this central park thing.. Ironically, with the lack of road rules, there are some pretty pathetic general rules (well maybe it only applies to foreigners!). I was leaning back on my backpack on this bench, semi laying down, and this official looking guy (cop?) came up and said "you" and pointed upwards. Pfft.. Felt like i was at school being told what to do!
Went to the hotel that I'm staying at - Luan Vu Guesthouse (hard to find), they have a late checkout so i went on the net for a bit and relaxed. I had the best shower of my life! Had been hiking around the city with my backpack on trying to adjust to the humidity! The room is good. Pretty small but clean and a high roof makes up for the lack of window.
Went for a wander around, got a cyclo (where ya sit at the front and a poor vietnamese man pedals you - poor guy when a heavy westerner like me directs you uphill!) and saw Reunification Palace and the Notre Dame Basilica which weren't too bad. The architecture is french influenced and many colonial buildings contrast with the shack like structures that fill the street! Look forward to seeing more in other places in Vietnam.
Walked to a hindu temple where i was given incense and all this stuff on the entry. It was really bright and colourful, and pretty cool, but as i walked out the stupid people wanted money for it.. Argh . She wanted 200 000 dong (about $14) which is stupid when every other place charges $1-$3 to visit. I told her i had no more money after i gave her 50 000, and she cant do that, and blah blah, so then i ran away. Thought someone might come after me - she had a massive pile of notes in her hand though. I'd rather give that money to someone on the street missing a leg or something!
Came back to the hotel and had a two hour nap then went out and had a yummy veg thai curry for tea (not sure about a lot of the meat in asian countries!) and walked the streets. People aren't too bad at harrassing to sell stuff, it's not as bad as bali - there are heaps more locals around. But if ya sit to rest then people automatically think you need a ride! If only i wasnt female/blonde/young/australian i would probably get ignored! But anyway I'll write more when i get around to it! I've updated from hand journal to internet blog. wooowww..
Bye :)

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