Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Ho Chi Minh city, Saigon, whatever, it's mental. Ha ha ha! The traffic is nuts, there's too much going on and it's sweaty. So sweaty.
Scooters everywhere. Too much traffic? No problem, drive down the pavement. Too many people in your way? No problem, just lean on your horn until the issue is resolved. Route blocked? No probs! Just swerve into the millions of scooters coming the other way. I've been laughing out loud all day. It has to be seen to be believed.
I thought that I don't look too much like a bewildered backpacker. I mean, I'm not rocking the temple trouser and bum bag combo and I least aim to brush my hair once a day. But alas, no. Many, many Vietnamese people have helped me across the street today. Which is probably for the best as I'm still alive.
I've been to the war museum today. It's as graphic and awful as you'd imagine. Some of the stuff that happened, you just can't get your head around. And I guess we'll never understand unless faced with a kill or be killed situation. But that does not justify the horrors. There's an exhibit on the effects of agent orange in the museum. One of them is being born with no eyes. I saw a few people with no eyes in the central Highlands and I wondered if it was a product of the war.
I wonder about prostitution here in saigon as well. I've been a lot of white men with Vietnamese women. If all was equal, and prostitution wasn't involved you'd surely see a few western women with Vietnamese men. No? Maybe I'm a closed minded, stereotyping bigot...although obvs I don't think so...
Saigon is a stop over kind of place. All the travellers I've met are either on the way north in Vietnam, going home or on the way to Cambodia, which is what I'm doing in the morning. But first some Mexican food and a sauvignon blanc. Don't judge me! I've been eating Asian food and drinking Asian drinks for over a month. I need a burrito.
- comments
Bernadette The photos are just amazing Ray! I had no idea Vietnam was so beautiful. The waterfalls are simply stunning. I loved reading all about your adventures with Mr Bin. What a star! Hope Cambodia is going to be just as exciting. Safe journey. Xx
Will I saw many western men and beautiful Vietnamese women "couples" in Saigon but never made the connection. Doh! Enjoy the rest of your trip!