Hello.

Today we have been walking walking walking... Claire arrived in time for some breakie, so we had that, both eastern and western available, its just like a vietnamese buffet and then continental, or you can have noodle soup or fried eggs. The bread is quite sweet and the coffee is nice too.

Looked at guide books and maps and decided on a rouge plan of action for our days in Ho Chi Minh. Today consisted of visiting Ben Tranh Market and just general shopping and walking about. The market is absolutely massive and hot! Im sure we didnt see most of it as it is so closely packed together you have to know what your looking for to go down some of the alises. We looked at souveiners and sweets and veg and fruit and meeeeeeeeeat and fish still swimming in boxes. There was glass and toiletries and snacks and herbs/spices and flours, as well as clothing and bedding and flowers. It was very busy with everyone bartering. We then left and went for frozen yoghurt, i had plain and apple flavours and Claire had blueberry and lemon at a place called Tutti Fruiti.

We walked down towards the dock area, people get progressively more poor the further you get, and it gets even more smelly! Loads of families sat on the pavement selling fruit, veg and fish. There are some really little clementines and lychees by the KG for 10,000VND (less than a $1) They are sold from 2 baskets hung over the shoulder of the vendor and they all wear the conical hats! Think we are going to buy fruit to take on the trains with us.

Finally found our way back to more sweet smelling streets and had a KFC, i know i didnt want to eat western food, but i was hungry and it was there. If you saw some of the things for sale and the places you would want an easy/safe meal too!

Claire needed to change travellers cheques, but there are only certain banks that do. We went on a bit of a wild goose chase, going bank after bank, and even one that wouldnt change them as it was the last day of the year!! Finally got to one that would, but because her signature on her passport doesnt match the travellers cheques (as her passport is a few years old) they wouldnt change them!

We walked back to the hotel for a rest and a freshen up before going out. I was feeling very rough by this time. I have a sore throat and a bit of a cold and i ache everywhere, dont know if it is the V.V. uncomfortable bed or a touch of something more sinister, but not nice. I fell asleep for a while and then we went out.

Decided on Pho24 just once more as we had a 10% off coupon, had beef noodle soup and spring rolls. With an Lipton Ice Tea thins time. It is cold and in a can and still which is a novelty! Ive really gotten to like it, i have to all over now.

After eating we went to a posh hotel to meet 2 of Claires friends from the last tour she was on, in a rooftop bar. But when we got there they were charging $26 to get in so we didnt bother. The streets we packed with people and taxis but most of all scooters!! Appartently there are 8 million in the city and i think they were all out!

There was a real festival atmosphere in the big park with lots of little stalls, making fish out of bamboo/banana leaves and painting pots for kids. It was lit up and looked lovely. We wondered around there for a bit, but we wanted a bar to sit in. There is a serious lack around our hotel, and crossing the road you took your life in your hands! More than normal!! So we ended up in one bar which was expensive, so Claire just had a drink, i was really very rough and the bar was packed, loud and smoky, so we didnt stay long. We bought party hats for the occasion and got laughed at over and over again by the locals! We even had our photos taken hehehe. Spend the rest of the evening in the park, it was really busy, but when the clock struck (if there had been a clock!!) nothing happened. No shouting (other than a group of english people) and nobody stopped and nothing happened. Not a single firework! So it was a bit of an anti climax, but not to worry. We made our way back and stopped up talking until about 2am. Not what we had expected for our New Year in Ho Chi Minh, but not all bad!