Blogs from Ho Chi Minh City, Southeast, Vietnam, Asia - page 235

Howdy avid followers! Hope everyone is well and that by the time you read this Mayo are crowned the new All Ireland champions. (Sorry Hels) We left Phu Quoc in low spirits, feeling as though going forward was futile as the best had already past. However we arrived in Can Tho (the main city in the Mekong Delta) and quickly booked a boat trip to see the floating markets, in order to keep ourselves active. The next day we arose very early (our boatman picked us up at 5:30 with a big bag of baguettes and bananas for our breakfast) soon we were seated in our little boat ready for a seven hour tour of the Mekong delta and some floating markets. Not long after we reached the first market...a frenzy of activity...all sorts of fruit ... read more

Back at the Go2 bar- sippin on a Saigon... My guide book referred to Saigon as quaint- and I'm not so sure- I have an incling to refer to this city as crazy or bipolar- which come up severely short- The best word I can conjure is adolescent- I will save you the barfy stages of life metaphor- suffice it to say-(I haven't met a teen that I could refer to as quaint) This city is every bit as involved in the business of brothels and the like- (as Cambodia and Thailand) except it is a lot less open and admitting of the fact- until you get in a taxi- Driving in Saigon This is incredibly disorienting- as there is no change in elevation-and every street has buildings four to five stories- so it all blurs ... read more

The last few days in Ho-Chi-Minh-City have been very educational and emotional. After visiting both the War Remnants Museum Reunification and the Cu Chi Tunnels I feel that I have a better understanding of the struggles faced by all men who fought in the Vietnam Conflict. The War Remnants Museum was filled with pictures and stories about what men and women faced on all sides of the conflict, and it was very moving to see the dedication that both the north and the south had for their cause. The Cu Chi Tunnels are where the Viet Cong lived for 5 years underground after the napalm campaign killed on the trees and plants. In addition to climbing through the tunnels, we ate a traditional meal of tapioca root and nuts (yuck!), saw the various kinds of traps ... read more

Back in Nam It occured to me today- that I can legitamately utter that phrase Sadly when entering Vietnam I had to depart with my tickle me elmo. He was keeping me company on my long journey from home- laughing at my stupid jokes- commiserating with me when I couldn't speak the native tongue- and elmo just laughed it off when I punched him, even took it well when I accidently ran him over. I will miss the soothing laugh. But as per my agreement on my Visa and entry into vietnam, along with my drugs and guns, I had to do away with "any children's toys that promoted unhealthy social development" Ah yes Vietnam. But alas, I have something to fill the void AS most cliche utterers will tell you (I'm no different) money doesn't ... read more

05/09/06 - 06/09/06 Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) From the moment entering the Immigration Hall in Vietnam in seeing the huge red flag and gold star, I couldn't help feeling a strange feeling of uncomfortable nervousness. Just the thought that I was in a country that I really couldn't be sure about if something went wrong. Of course the Visa in my passport read 'Socialist Republic of Vietnam' and the red of the flag just keeps screaming to your brain - Communist country! Roads were chaos after a small stint back on European soil and motorbikes were seen laden with TV's, fridges in fact anything far too big that you would possibly consider moving on 2 wheels. Our first trip, after settling into the town was out to the Cu Chi tunnels. We stopped beside ... read more