Blogs from Ho Chi Minh City, Southeast, Vietnam, Asia - page 262

Hi Everyone Well we arrived safely at Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) airport and were greeted by our friends Roy and Lisa who we were staying with for the next 9 nights (lucky them!). We were also greeted by around 100 taxi drivers circling us like vultures! This city was a real eye opener - from the traffic to the poverty. We were very grateful to have a very comfortable place to stay with Roy and Lisa as I dare say the hostels would have been a little 'rough'! After a quick settle in our wonderful tour guides Mimi, Lisa and Roy from "More On Tours" helped us to explore the neighbourhood. We quickly realised that there were not many white people around the area, regardless, people were very friendly. Rachael also discovered that the shopping ... read more

No, I haven't made a pilgrimage around the Indochinese sub-continent, getting to know the poor, swimming across the Mekong to a leper colony, and learning the ways of communism in my pre-revolutionary youth... yet... I'm in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City since its 'liberation' in 1975), city of Motorbikes. There are 6 million people in this city and an estimated 5 million registered motorbikes or scooters. At all hours, the streets are like rivers of bikes riding 4 or 5 abreast in each direction, with a few crazy taxis, buses and private cars floating along. To cross the road here, you don't wait for a break, you just walk across, preferably not looking, as the traffic magically (the drivers here use 'the force', not their targetting computers) avoids you. I've been here 5 days now, staying ... read more

Time has passed quickly Seven weeks in Viet Nam Time to see Thailand. Well, that haiku pretty much sums it up...well sort of. It is amazing how quickly time is passing before my eyes. I can't believe that I'll actually be saying goodbye to Viet Nam. Sort of weird considering I've been calling it "home" for the last 7 weeks. But sometimes you just have to say goodbye, right? Besides, I'll be saying Hello! to Thailand. Needless to say but I'll say it anyway, I'm getting excited! Well, except for the part where I have to pack up my bags as soon as I make this blog entry when I head back to my hotel. Hmm, maybe this will be the World's largest blog entry for me. haha. Packing up shouldn't be that bad. I think ... read more

Another hot day Walking, shopping and eating Where is the aircon? Okay, I popped into an internet cafe over 1.5 hours ago to escape the heat and my weakening willpower to not buy anything. I have spent most of my morning wandering the shops and markets since I don't really feel like walking thru a museum today. Plus I can only eat so much! lol Okay, so I can eat a lot...haha I just wanted to make a quick entry before heading out for a bite to eat and then who knows what. All is well and I look forward to touring the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Cao Dai Temple tomorrow. Should be an all day event. I will have to report on some of my "observations" here in Viet Nam in my next entry ... read more

Going for a walk. Reunification hall On the agenda. This is gonna be a short entry but just wanted to let the parents know that I'm a-okay! I started out about 9AM this morning to check out the Reunification Hall and ended up meeting some people from Atlanta, Georgia. The conversation started with Jean making a comment about my gray pants (remember the 3/4 length pants you found at Gaylans that were made in Vietnam Anita??) Anyway, we started chatting and I have ended up spending the day with Jean, her neighbour Tom and friend Ken plus their tour guide. Anyway, I'm using the free internet at the Spring Hotel (not where I'm staying!) so I really shouldn't stay on here too long. :) I'll be taking a day trip out to the Me Kong Delta ... read more