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Published: January 5th 2007
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Erica and I
Looking rather drunk on New Years Eve Crossing the border was a lot less stressful than last time and the journey wasn't bad either. We arrived in the City in the afternoon and the bus dropped us off practically outside the hotel we had booked. Our first day (Friday) was rather boring, we had something to eat with Adam who we met on the way here before going our separate ways and we had another early night.
On Saturday we had a walk around and visited Dan Sinh (a military market) where they sell all kinds of things, from army style clothing and accessories to local dresses. We visited Phung Son Tu Pagoda before heading to see the Notre Dame Cathedral (due to the French history here there is allot of French contributes, including great baguettes). We visited yet another market on the way back, Cho Ben Thanh, and yes we did buy some more things (markets will be the death of me!).
In the evening we met up with Adam again and also with Mike and Jon that we had met in China. It was a good night but not a late one as we were saving ourselves for tomorrow night!
On New Years Eve
On a day trip
On the Mekong Delta with Mike (AKA Borat!!) we went to the Cu Chi Tunnels which are about 70km from Saigon (I have been waiting to do this since first researching Vietnam). We had an excellent guide called Khanh who was in his sixties and really funny. There are 2 tunnels, it was first started by the Viet Minh in 1948 and later expanded by the Viet Cong and rooms were made for sleeping quarters, hospitals and schools. They are built of many different levels which are over 200km long. The tunnels are extremely small, the original being just 80cms and the secret entrances just 22cm x 30cm. The tunnel that is open to the public has been made bigger for westerners; however it is still a tight squeeze. I managed to fit in one of the secret entrances, but there was a girl who was in denial of her size and wanted to try, she was blatantly told NO! (It made us laugh). We also got to see some of the weapons used in the tunnel to prevent the enemy from intruding, nasty! We then visited the War Remnants Museum which mainly consisted of photographs, some rather shocking. There were several deformed neonates in jars due to Agent Orange, a chemical bomb which is still causing children to be born with terrible deformities.
In the evening we had arranged to meet with the guys at 6pm and Mike and Jon were also meeting with a girl they had met a few weeks ago. However she arrived late with no accommodation booked and disrupted our whole evening. To make matters worse I think she would have preferred to just have been with Jon as she spent most of the night ignoring everyone else, how rude! Not being one to bite my tongue I told her what I though (rather politely actually). We didn't end up eating till after 10pm and in the process lost Adam. We just made it to a bar to see in the New Year, but didn't manage to get a drink. Unfortunately we have found a lot of girls to be rude, but I suppose I have always got on better with boys, no bitchiness.
I got up at 7am on New Years Day (despite not getting in until 4am) to ring Michael and send him my love before going back to bed, we finally got up at midday. We all got together (minus Adam) and hired a DVD player so we could watch Borat the movie (which is quite appropriate as Mike has grown his hair and has a moustache, he looks like Borat's double). We only left the room to get something to eat before going back to play cards, luckily we all seemed to get on today.
On Tuesday Erica and I spent the day sorting our things out, like sending photos and all the souvenirs we have bought since Hong Kong home, believe me there was a few.. We met up with everyone in the evening (again no Adam) and went out for a meal before going bowling. I hadn't done it in years and it was great fun. We played two games, I came third in the first game and then first in the second game, with 120 points... not that I am one to boast!!
On Wednesday we went on a day trip to the Mekong Delta (south of Saigon). We visited a few Islands (although I cannot remember all the names) and found Adam on one of them, none of us knew where he was staying in Saigon so we were all relieved to find out that he was safe and sound. We got to visit a coconut candy shop, where we learnt how it is made and got to sample the different varieties, very tasty. We also got to try honey tea and honey wine, which was lovely despite it attracting lots of bees. We also got the opportunity to hold a python, I was a little nervous when it started curling itself around my neck, I wasn't sure whether they constrict or not... but I lived to tell the tale.
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