Blogs from Ho Chi Minh City, Southeast, Vietnam, Asia - page 250

There is a huge Australian population here in HCMC, and each year they celebrate in style by renting The Saigon Water Park and inviting thousands of their closest friends to an open-bar, non-stop food party. I think I love it here I didn't manage to find the Vegemite (apparently it was hidden and only the auzzies could have it). Either way, I'm definitely going back next year!!!!... read more

Only for target practice mind you. Don't worry - I am not about to be a new female recruit for the Viet Cong, but I am not a bad aim really. Well, we are in Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon) in Vietnam at present. Saigon is pretty cool although not in temperature - its the hottest place in this crazy country. On arrival, I woke up on the bus to hear the driver saying "step out slowly, walk straight on, do not stop and do not look behind you". He was not giving us a run down on tactical crime avoidance techniques but rather instructions on how to cross the road. I thought to myself that I have been doing this for many years since primary school but as soon as I stepped off the ... read more

ok - we are in south india right now - bangalore to be exact and came across this old blog we never published. We will of course be posting more from india and we still have to post about thailand but there is always tomorrow...... We've been wandering the streets and alleyways of Ho Chi Minh City for the past two weeks and we have grown quite attached to this city. The heat controls the day. By mid-day you really shouldn't be doing anything except lazing in a cafe drinking ca phe su da (iced coffee with condensed milk) or tra da (iced tea) or cold Saigon beer. Any real exertion is met with bad consequences. We tried to walk to a market that is in Cholon (china town area) a ways away from Central Saigon ... read more

Today is Thursday morning at 9:00. We arrived yesterday. No problem with the flights. We walked out of the Saigon airport to a blast furnace of heat and a sea of vietnamese faces. The way the airport is laid out you feel like you are on a red carpet at the Oscars. You walk out to a blocked out square of sidewalk with all those waiting for passengers ringing this space waiting. I don't have a lot of time right now to right and this computer is very slow so I'll just give you first impressions. Traffic Traffic Traffic. I've decided the only way to describe it is organized kaos. For those of you that have been to New York and seen all the cabs weaving in and out, multiply that by at least a factor ... read more

Never before have I seen so purely the role of the photographer. The visit to the War Remnants Museum completely moved me. It didn't so much give me a new perspective, as brought to light something I've always known, but never had been open enough to see at this level. Coming to Vietnam enabled me to fully comprehend that which I've always known in my soul: it is our duty to create. God made us intelligent beings. Not only do we all create in our own way, artistic mediums cover a wide spectrum from my vantage point, but we must create in order to survive, to live freely, to live fully. Our development as infants is dependant upon creative phantasies. Those who suffered through the creation of my master's thesis know my strong affinity for the ... read more