Hot, Humid & Here!

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Yes we are here in HCMC (Saigon) - we had a "rocky" start with a 2 hour delay with our flight leaving Melbourne....but no real worries. We arrived here in the dark but as soon as we landed we felt the temperature change, not sure what it was, but I know if we knew we would probably have felt hotter! It was also raining and has been on and off all day but that hasn't spoilt any of our plans. We started today by meeting our iexplore travel rep and tour guide along with his driver in the hotel foyer at 8.30am. We headed off amongst the trillions and trillions of scooter riders to the outskirts of HCMC and a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels. The traffic was like nothing we have ever seen and no amount of pre-warning from those that have travelled here could prepare us for what we saw - amazing. You have to be 18 to ride here but they all looked like they were 12. You get your license by showing the tester that you can ride safely in a figure 8 but you can bribe the tester. Helmet Law only came in Dec '07 but if you are under 14 yrs of age you don't have to wear one which is interesting when we saw Mum, Dad and 2 little kids on the one scooter
(Rob has pics to prove it but we can't upload from his camera here-sorry). We had a yummy lunch- every thing served in bowls made from real coconuts & pineapples again Rob has the photos! but don't despair I took my fair share today and have uploaded a couple here. Could write heaps more but our time is limited here in the business centre of our hotel - the lovely girl at reception gave us a free time 'cos we took a torn $20 AUD for her - we paid her dong for it but she would get in to trouble for accepting it here they only accept clean crisp notes we didn't want the poor thing losing what little wage she gets - anyway our tummys are calling for more so we will sign off until next time.

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Comments

[Veronica]

Sounds like a good start to your travels. It is freezing down here, might even be more snow tomorrow. Love the "car park"!

[Pam]

I agree with your comments on the traffic! You really have to LIVE it! Or should I say "experience" it..... I think you're lucky to live THROUGH it!!!!!