Good morning vietnam!

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Sorry about the title but couldn't resist.

Well we are finally in Vietnam! Our main destination for the trip to asia. We got the bus from Phnom Penh and travelled direct to the city. Bus was run by Capitol Tours and was very well organised with a few toilet stops and all the passport stuff sorted by the guide on the bus. All this for 12 dollars each. Took about 6 hours in total but flying would have costed nearly 250 bucks so good saving made! (see Anna, we can budget!)

We then proceeded to blow the saving by staying in the Majestic hotel on the river front which was absolutely lovely. (sorry Anna!) Total luxury at a reasonable price. We've moved to the travellers area tonight (24 dollars per night) but great and plenty of activity going on around us.

PP didn't grow on us very much and are glad to be back in a big vibrant city. It's the usual mixture of heat, motorbikes and constant "do you wan a motobike sir" but enjoying immensly.

Food is fantastic and seem to spend most of our times scoffing our way around the place, which won't do much for the weightloss plan.

We've done some of the main sites except temples as feeling abit templed out after the last week or so. Very interesting place, especially as you get the other side of the vietnam war. "the victors write the history books" is an apt expression but there is alot of truth in it. What the US did here in the name of imperialism/anti-communism is a travesty and is even more poignant considering what is happening in Iraq at the moment.
We also went to see the reunification palace (former south vietnamese presidents palace). It's like stepping back into the sixties as they left it mostly as it was when it was built and decorated. Pretty bizarre. Here again we were "re-educated" as to what really went on during the war!

Kate is currently suffering with a whole list of ailments!
Mouth ulcers, cough, sore throat, diarrhoea and aching legs(!) to name a few but shes soldiering on through!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think she's convinced shes got either Dengue fever or early onset SARS! (James I'm sure you'll put us right being the resident micro specialist.)

We've decided we've seen enough and are moving on to Mui Ne Beach tomorrow for a little R&R from the travelling. We've booked into the Blue Ocean Beach resort for a couple of nights to soak up the sun and sip a few G&Ts by the beach (notwithstanding any incoming Typhoons which is currently the season for)

Wish us luck, Mark and Kate

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Photos

Chopsticks!!
Author number 2 struggling with those blasted wooden sticks!!!

Notre Dame
French colonial architecture is all over the city.

Yum Yum
A regiment of live crabs just waiting to be eaten! The markets are great and full of fresh produce. Why can't we have it like this at home. I blame Tesco's.

Learning fast!
Kate has progressed to stage two, wooden stick use! It's on to soups and noodles!

fastfood vietnam style
Our first bowl of Pho, Vietnamese noodle soup at Pho 2000. President Clinton stopped here for a bowl in 2000. He's suitably plastered all over the walls.

Watch out there's Mopeds about.
The lifeblood of the city roads. Makes for interesting road-crossing, but we've got it down to a fine art.

Comments

[Becca]

Poorly sick!!
Hey Kate, 2 weeks without beeing poorly is pretty good for you.....not sure they have any prebiotics to help the old bowels out there though. Much calmer here now that general paperwork emergencies are organised!! E-mail on the way xx

[Lynne and co.]

Hi you two
Great blog-enjoying it immensely-great chopstick technique Kate !! Take care and enjoy yourselves much love Lynne and co

[vani]

Yo, dudes!
Love the pics! been fab reading the blog as been wondering what you've been up to. Life here seems to pale in comparison but Norway was great ( will stop going on about it soon- promise). How's the honeymoon gonna beat this trip? Missin you loads but the pics help me feel closer... Hope you feel better soon, Kate- watch the chilli on those ulcers- yowch!! Love ya, The Vanster ( feel I need a new nickname)

[alice]

noodle head
it all looks so wonderous! The noodles look like delicious worms and that photo of you looking drunk is outrageous kate, i am so proud! we too have been enjoying authentic soup in Benin, leek and potato cuppa soup from a lebanese supermarket made with hepatitus water ,heated with our new water-heating tongs purchased from a man for 3 British pounds. such a watery treat! you both have lovely brown, shining faces and Kate, a good spattering of freckles. love to you both from Al and Christof too x x x x

[anna]

hello markus and katus, kate what are you doing with those chopsticks? your blog is fab but spare a thought to our other poor little sister who is surviving on cuppa soup while you two feast like kings on all these delicious food items! missing you heaps at home and keep going to ring you, have to say though, you are being very dedicated to your blog (well mark you are!) stay safe worms anna xxxxxxxxx