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Published: February 20th 2016
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Waiting at the airport for Gill was an experience in itself. Outside arrivals it was deceptively quiet to start, then as some flights from China, Gill's included, were due to arrive, the crowds started to gather. There were rows of orange plastic chairs with space for passengers between, but the people waiting kept filling all this space. The security guard was going nuts with his whistle but King Canute stood a better chance - as soon as his back was turned they all swarmed in again. I knew the flight was there but no sign of Gill. 1 1/2 hours after landing there she was, being swept along by the tide. Her case, however, was absent. My second family member with missing case in 4 months. I must have bad luggage karma.
The first flight had been nearly 2 hours late leaving due to something needing mending. Transfer time in Guangzhou was 2 hours. Go figure! She was also on the back of the plane and so had to wait for the second bus to the terminal. The only other 2 doing the same trip were on the first, but not as speedy. So after running through the terminal (being
told quick quick) all 3 arrived at the plane, flew on and the doors shut behind them. Gill made it, her case didn't. She filled in the form and was told it would be delivered to the hotel the next day, or to phone a number if it didn't arrive. Lucky we weren't planning to go to Phu Quoc today!
Taxi back to the hotel, her first ever sight of Asian traffic, Vietnamese style. No good at all commenting on individuL driving prowess- it would be a full time occupation. Quick change into some of my clothes (we are not the same size but she fitted in the ones too small for me and we went out to the Go2 Bar, loud pumpimg music behind us, marijuana smoking shisha next to us. Welcome to the backpacker scene!
In the morning after breakfast we went over the road to meet Laura and Stuart, my niece and husband, for a last coffee before negotiating for some xe oms (motorbike taxi) to take us to the Riverside Renaissance for Gill to lounge around the pool in the nice breeze and recover a bit. Not good at negotiaging, always pay too much
for 2, more expensive than a normal taxi but much more fun. We climbed on the back and they were quite leisurly. The pool was a bit busy, and since I was there 3 weeks ago they've changed the sunbeds, now fewer of them and 2 kind of 4-poster cabanas with helpful curtains to shield the sun, hence no sunburn. 350,000 for the day, but apart from the 2 cabanas, hardly any shade. They've taken away the parasols and it was roasty hot, so be careful of you go and expect to have to take refuge on the chairs sometimes. Also ther is low-level building work going on, so there aren't as many beds as there used to be. Go up and check there's room before you pay! Very breezy, all good, including sneaking our own lunch, except for the Chinese lady who came to swim in the afternoon and spat into the drain at the side, where the water goes back into the pool. Ignored it the first time, the second I was furious and Oi!ed her very loudly and said Not in the pool! She didn't like this a bit, said it not in pool, it in my
mouth. I said don't do it. It's really bad! On the way out I dobbed her to the staff, she saw me and screeched, I left them to deal with it! Samesame at the New World, they think it is acceptable.
Out we go, me in high dudgeon, walked 5 minutes to the ticket office for the Bitexco Tower. 200,000 to go in, which I have to say is a bloody BARGAIN compared to The Shard. One side was hazy (over the river) and the other beautifully clear. You can easily pick out the major buildings. Took a few photos (the glare wasn't too bad), took us about half an hour. Then walked back through the fume-filled bus station and then we did GCSE Road Crossing, with an accompaniment of oh my Godding from Gill. A-level tomorrow!
We hardly dared ask about the case when we got back, it had been on our minds all day, what if it doesn't show up? Need to replace stuff. I checked on skyscanner and there were 3 China Southern flights from Guangzhou today, so we had a fighting chance. Have to say, Gill was remarkably calm about it, rattling around in
my bikini top, I'd have been hysterical! The guy on reception said yes, case from airport in room, checked with the door guy, confirmed, but we didn't dare believe it and could hardly bring ourselves to open the door. We did and tadaaaaaaa!, there it was. Sooooo relieved, we can now relax and enjoy ourselves.
We went out for a pre-dinner drink at The View- Gill loves high buildings and was quite mesmerised by the lights. Very blowy at the top, and please stop staring at the different combinations, older western men/one woman with young Vietnamese all over them. We had dinner in the upstairs place where Sam and I had sat in the high stools and decided they pinched compared to when we first arrived, not boding well weight wise! Excellent veggie food, very fresh and well cooked. Yum!
So it was a really lovely day, waiting for jet lag to set in as we speak.......
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Shonz
Shona Travels the World
No Luggage - I've been there!
I know the stress of landing in Saigon without my luggage! I was there in November 2010 and my luggage didn't make the connection in KL. Luckily for me it arrived that night! Silly me forgot to pack extra clothes in my carry-on like I usually do.