Xin chao!!
Hard to describe this city....but highly stressful sums it up!!
The flight to Singapore wasn't too bad. I got chatting to a guy called Chris who was flying to Singapore... made the time go quicker to talk to someone. Being small and near the window I had my body in all sorts of contortions to try and get some sleep. Failed. At the bugdet terminal in Singapore I had to pick up my bag and go through customs...then check-in for my next flight 2 hours later and wait another 2 hours to board. 1hr 40 mins later I was in Vietnam! Had to get my Visa which was a bit of a wait but nothing crazy. Picked up my bag and headed straight outside. Was on the lookout for something to eat but nothing much around. Taxi drivers pounced and I asked to get to District 1 for 100000dong but they laughed (this was what lonely planet quoted!!). So they pointed me to the bus. For 6000d the bus dropped me off very close to De Tham. The main backpacker area. A girl got talking to me, possible trying to better her english, and she told the bus driver to look after me and tell me when to get off. It was very nice of her...ou know, warm fuzzy. Anyway walked along a street a bit looking for Mama Cuc's which lonely planet suggests. Some guys were telling me to come into their hostel and there it was...Mama cuc's! Got a room for US$16 with breakfast and dinner included. So many stairs! Got settled in and laid down to rest...for a few hours!!
Decided to head down for the inclusive dinner. Got chatting to an American guy Matt who had seen parts of Cambodia and Thailand already. Awesome guy. Dinner came and it was noodles in soup with some spring roll things on the side. Pretty damn good! Got talking to 3 English girls and guy (James, Charlotte and Elizabeth)...again really nice people! They had also seen a bit of Cambodia and Thailand so it was great to hear their stories. We decided to head out for a beer.
Ventured out about 9pm and walked down...a street...to...a bar...(I'm really good with names!). This bar was set up for westeners...so had a BGI beer or two for 35000d each. Amazing. Decided to head off to anoter bar so sat down at GO2 (?) and had a few more beers! Had some awesome discussions, you know, about politics, healthcare and education! No joke, it's really interesting to compare between different countries. So several beers later we headed back to hostel which was locked! And to bed at 2am. Nice one :)
Got up this morning a little bit worse for wear...thank you panadol. After breakfast (bread roll with really runny jam?) I met Matt and we headed off for a walk. Made it to Ben Thanh markets- huge- and then found our way to a restaurant (enter name here later!). Amazing choice of food and I'd seen this place on a cooking show a few days previous. So fancy and good service and food for all of $7...meal, drinks and coffee! Might try and get back there tmrw with Contiki! Said goodbye to Matt and wandered off without a map and without any intention of going anywhere in particular! Weather SO humid and hot but sunny which is nice. Thought it would be raining more. After some frozen yoghurt I ended up here...writing this to bore anyone who could be bothered reading it!
So hard to explain what this city is like. The motorbikes and scooters are incredible. 1000s of them and the traffic is chaotic but there is some beautiful flow to it that makes it work. You just cross the roads avoiding cars and buses but the other traffic has to avoid you! Not sure I could live here...it seems very stressful and the heat gets to you but I guess like anywhere it's a way of life for them and they just get on with it! They seem very happy and lovely people. So for my first stop I've had lots of fun and experiences...can't wait to see the rest of Vietnam!
Love to all and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD!!!! xx
