Chapter 7; Southeast Asia, Vibrant Vietnam

Wednesday 16th December 2015

I woke up three hours later and I was hanging like washing on a line. Still full of booze, I needed time to dry out. But there was no time. We had to rapidly eat breakfast and then we were in a minibus to take us to the bus station. The journey took longer than anticipated as we had to wait for just under two hours at the boarder crossing to get into Vietnam. Their processing method was quite absurd and old fashioned, and it definitely wasn’t agreeing with me as relapse kicked in. But I survived it and managed to sleep on the bus for a while. The bus put on movies for entertainment, including one called No Escape. It was about a family trying to get themselves out

of Cambodia because there were people out to kill them. Nice and cheerful! Ha. Hungover and depressed….

Eventually we got dropped off and we thanked the lovely bus attendant who had been in charge of the journey. He had even made helpful announcements along the way. Our hostel was a couple of streets down. I just about made it accross the street, as vespas were everywhere and the vehicles in Vietnam don’t really believe in the traffic light system. It was something that we were going to get adjusted to. Duc, our sweet receptionist who kept laughing at mumma every five minutes, checked us in to our wonderful room. It had the most remarkable mirror, which enabled you to see everything in the room as a reflection, as well as the real thing. I shall let your imagination run with that one….

We were starving so we took a walk down to the Backpacker area. I scooped out a cheap menu. The guy who helped out on the

restaurant also claimed that the place had ‘fucking cheap beer!’ and because of that we were sold. His name was Mr Tanz, and at first I laughed at his jokes and was relieved for his friendliness. However, he started to ask about our hostel and how much we paid for it. He also claimed that he was a tour guide. So of course, like most of the guys out there, they want your money. Thanks but no thanks Mr Tanz. We carefully made sure that he didn’t spot us every time we walked down that road.
Before sleep wanted to take over we drank our free beer that the host provided in the lobby /dining area. Yep, free beer. Amazing!

Thursday 17th December 2015

On our first day of Saigon we did what we usually do on our first day in a fresh place, and that was to slowly stroll. There were many sights that were accessible via foot to see, including the famous post office, the Notre Damn, the Mekong river, shopping malls, and backpacker road once again, but in full. This backpacker area is packed full of the typical cheap bars and restaurants, and you can find some perfect spots for people and street watching. I could sit there timelessly, to see a similar traveller step along in awe, or a local pushing a cart filled with various objects or eats.

Friday 18th December 2015

We began with the famous and forbidding War Museum. This is a top attraction on the list when in Saigon. It’s only 15.000VDN to enter and it consists of two floors that displays alot of information and images of the war. The imagery is disturbing, especially the section that describes the agent orange. But like I may have said before, one has to see the harsh reality and the truth of the past, to make us more awake and aware in the present. We have to learn, to maximise our appreciation on our lives in the now.

Saturday 19th December 2015

Saigon art museum, a little haven that cleared our heads of all the horror from the war museum. Only 10.000VDN and it showed various vietamese artists’ works. The art building itself is beautiful,

and it wasn’t busy when we were there, resulting to us being able to see the works in detail and at a leisurely pace.

http://www.vietnam-guide.com/ho-chi-minh-city/war-remnants-museum.htm

https://www.vietnamonline.com/attraction/fine-arts-museum-ho-chi-minh-city.html

Sunday 2oth December 2015

We began the day by running in the park area and using the apparatus. To run again was a hype; I had downloaded Scar Symmetry on my phone beforehand and it pushed me to run that little bit harder. Adrenaline kicked in and so did my love for metal. Whilst we were using one of the apparatus, a group of students rushed up to me and asked if they could record me speaking some Vietnamese for their project. I agreed and felt like a fool when I couldn’t speak the whole two sentences straight, but I had fun at the same time and it seemed to light up the students day. As soon as they had ran off, another two girl students approached and asked us to help us with their project. We had to answer questions about England and what we thought about Vietnam. Pictures were

taken and further videos were recorded. The girls were incredibly sweet. Once they had finished we had to quickly march back to the hostel otherwise we would have missed breakfast.
For the remainder of the day we visited the zoo and yet again ate down backpacker road. The zoo was decent, and worth a visit if you can accept the fact that it’s a third world country so it’s not going to be the best. It’s one of the oldest zoos, and some parts really could do with a refurbish. We still enjoyed the experience however, especially the white tiger cub. It was gorgeous and I wanted to cuddle it. For dinner I ate pad thai. That was the fifth pad thai and it won’t be the last!

http://www.adventurefaktory.com/saigon-cafes-shelter-coffee-tea/

http://www.vietnam-guide.com/ho-chi-minh-city/zoo-botanical-garden.htm

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Monday 21st December 2015

We were down for breakfast first thing and waited outside to be collected for our Cu Chi tunnels trip. Whilst we hung around we conversed with an American couple, who were also leaving the hostel at that time, but for another reason. They were getting prepared to go on a five day motorcycle tour up to Nha Trang. I would love to do something similar. To hold on and watch the open road, whilst the wind whips your hair and sends shivers down your spine. Our guide turned up with his clipboard and led the way down the alley to the main road, where the bus was perched. We wished the couple all the best for their upcoming adventure.
Our tour guides nick name was Jimmy, and he attempted to keep us entertained by telling jokes on the bus journey. His facial expressions and his broken English made him even funnier, and he was a brilliant guide to have for the tunnels. His powerful vocal chords overrode the other guides who were using speakers, and I’ll always hear his echo of ‘this way, Jimmy’s group this way’ within the roots of my mind. Our tour group was made up of a big sum of people, which made the tour slightly more difficult, due to some of the actions that they took. But it is something that has to be expected. Jimmy´s words and ways overrode the irritation, and his speech about his father stung my heart. His father had survived the Vietnam war and now has one leg.
We saw all of the key elements that sums up the tunnels, including the booby traps that were used, uniforms that were worn, tunnel entrances and the tanks that were driven. There was also a shooting range, and my favourite part of the trip was when we were given the chance to go into a real tunnel and experience what it would have been like for a soldier. The crawling was fun, but when you think of how it must have been back during the war time….how the soliders stayed down in those tunnels for 26 days straight….I had no words but only emotion.

The tour ended at 3pm, and when we were back in Saigon city we grabbed a nice bit of western grub for a change, then returned to our pad.

http://cuchitunnelsvietnam.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI997ShcfH4AIVjud3Ch0xDAk2EAAYAiAAEgIYW_D_BwE

Tuesday 22nd December 2015

The highlight of the day was the nighttime. When the sun said farewell, the lights came to life, transforming the city into an immense rainbow, splurging out on almost every spot. The lights for the holiday brought out the spirit of it, and as we walked down the strip where the independence palace is located, watching the local children run around in mini santa outfits and the clicks of cameras being heard every ten seconds…well, Xmas touched me.

Like a soft kiss on the cheek or the stroke on skin. And a small caress is all I want, because I already have the biggest gift that I could ask for this year. To be sharing a passion of mine that I love, with somebody that I love.

Wednesday 23rd December 2015

We took in Chinatown. It was a fairly long walk there and back, but you know us. The cream in our iced coffee when we sat down for a rest tasted like a dream. Chinatown was like all the other

Chinatowns, but it was still wonderful to see. We ate early again and I had pad thai. I told you that I would eat it again. After dinner/late lunch we strolled into the shopping district so mum could purchase some presents. We also brought each other little presents for Xmas. I had to give in eventually to mummas request of gift exchange. But I am incredibly happy with my book that I recieved, and I’m very humbled. I could not believe that it was the eve of Xmas eve.

http://www.vietnam-guide.com/ho-chi-minh-city/chinatown.htm