Chuc Mung Nam Moi

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As you can see my Vietnamese has developed nicely....that means Happy New
Year!

Hope you all enjoyed the last of 2004 whatever you did in your various locations
around the world!

We left Mui Ne and arrived in Saigon on the 30th. New Year's Eve here was
out of this world ! They closed off the street where our hotel is, and set
up food stalls and outdoor beer bars, Winner!

As the hours passed and the large crowd started getting into the swing of
things (beer induced) we noticed that family loads of locals were taking
trips past the street on motorbikes to look at us......they couldn't believe
the PArty that was going on!! There were hundreds of bikes clogging up the
streets and hundreds more on the paths just standing round for hours watching
us.....was like being in a zoo!
Midnight came and the party really got started. Many of the locals joined
in which was very cool. We headed for bed at about 4am.....overall a great
night, couldn't have wished for any better!!

I also spotted a new record of 5 on 1 bike (2 adults & 3 kids), I knew the
Vietnamese would come through with the goods.....still hopeful of seeing
6 though as they had space in the basket on the front of the bike for another
kid.....!

We went to see the War Remnants museum yesterday which was quite upsetting.
Loads of pictures of children who were burned and left deformed by the Agent
Orange gases thta the US sprayed everywhere to kill all the vegitation (hiding
places).
Also went to see the Unification Palace which was good.

We are off to Cambodia on Wednesday morning. Our Vietnam Visa expires that
day and it would take almost 2 weeks to get an extension so we have cancelled
our trips to Phu Quoc & Con Dao which is a shame......should really have
got the Visa extenions sorted out sooner, but I suppose it is a good excuse
to come back some time!! Vietnam has been great.


Phil

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