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Published: July 21st 2014
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Friday we were up early to head off to see the Chu Chi tunnels and a visit to Tay Ninh to see the Great Cao Dai See, which means way of the Highest Power. This is a place of pilgrimage for quite a few South Vietnamese people and for those interested in Cao Dai See religion. It's a monotheistic religion, officially established in the city of Tây Ninh in southern Vietnam, in 1926.The symbol of the faith is the Left Eye of God, representing the Yang
The bus picked us up,around 8.30am and had to stop,off at a couple more hotels to,pick up more people and we had a full bus of around 50 people. The first part of the journey took about 2.30 hours with the usual bathroom stop,on the way.
We got to the temple around noon time prayer service. We could walk around the outside if the building but not across the front which was cordoned off. We had to remove our shoes which is usual for temples and could wander around inside whilst the service was taking place. The building inside and out was beautifully decorated with dragons and other religious
images. Cao Dai draws upon ethical precepts from Confucianism, occult practices from Taoism, theories of karma and rebirth from Buddhism, and a hierarchical organization (including a pope) from Roman Catholicism. Its pantheon of saints includes such diverse figures as the Buddha, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Pericles, Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo, and Sun Yat-sen.
On the ground floor were the majority of the worshippers, they were mainly dressed in long white robes, but a few were also wearing red, yellow and blue. They sat in formal rows and were chanting and bowing at the appropriate times. Were were also allowed to go upstairs and take photos. Up there we saw more worshippers and also a small group of ladies singing and a small band of musicians playing the instruments. It was all very serene and calming. We were not allowed to talk and when we left the building we had to walk all the way around to get back to the other side.
During the service it had rained and the floor was a wet and a bit sloppy in bear feet. Also the temple had a number of small gardens surrounding
it. After the ceremony we headed for lunch and then off to the Chu Chi tunnels. We headed back towards HCMC and it took us about 1.50hours to get there.
The tunnels of Củ Chi are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located in the Củ Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The Củ Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968.
The tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces, and helped to counter the growing American military effort.
We had a tour round the complex where we could see exactly how big or should I say small the tunnels were. The tour started off with an old
black and white film which showed how the local villagers lived worked and fought the American army. Our tour guide then gave us a brief over view on the map of the areas the Chu Chi tunnels covered and where the American bases were located and the geography of the area. There was also a model mock up,of how the tunnels were dug. There were 3 different levels and the tunnels twisted and turned so that if the American army gained access and shot any bullets they wouldn't go far.
The tunnels had air vents disguised amongst the vegetation above ground and had a water supply and waste area. There were many narrow entry points to the tunnels to allow the 20k or so people using the tunnels to gain access quickly.
The Chu Chi people were very resourceful and clever. They used unspent bullets and bombs in their own warfare on the Americans. They stripped dead soldiers of their personal and army belongings including their uniforms. They used them near air holes to put off sniffer dogs and make them think GIs were there.
The VC also built many different
kinds of traps to snare GI soldiers when they were on patrol. The trap were used to maim and kill in very nasty and painful and twisted ways.
We were able to go down into the tunnels which have been made bigger to accommodate tourists. There is an 'escape route' every 20 meters or so. I did go down but my claustrophobia got the better of me and I bottled it :-(
After visiting the tunnels we returned back to HCMC and had a quick change before heading out for the evening. Many of the bars and restaurants in the area we were staying in (back packer central lol) put large pieces of Lino and matting out on the street and provide low tables and cushions to sit on so you can eat and drink outside sitting on the pavement.
The back packer area in the evening is crazy especially when people are sitting all over the pavements.when you are walking around you have to avoid mopeds, taxis, street hawkers and restaurant, bar and massage places trying to get you to go in and patronise their establishment lol.
We found a bar selling 2 for 1 cocktails so sat down and ordered. Ellie had brought a pack of cards so we had a couple of games of rummy. On the table next to us two English girls sat down and a little while later 3 young guys asked if the would move up so they could sit down. It wasn't long before we all got chatting, introduced ourselves and ended up playing cards and generally have a good time. I bailed about 12.30am but Ellie being more hard core than I rolled in around 4am! Oh to be young again lol.
Xxx
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