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We started out early again (6am) and got on our bus with the locals for our 5 hour trip to Ho Chi Minh City. Within 10 minutes, under the hum of Cambodian gossip I was asleep.
When we arrived in Saigon, which is how it is still known by the South Vietnamese, the first thing I noticed was just how busy the place is. Thousands of scooters tussle for free space on every road you see. If there is no room on the road, no problem, they just pavement. With most of the day to ourselves we went to the War Remnants Museum to see the exhibitions on the 'American War'. After seeing the weapons and vechiles used by the US Army during the war we experienced a sight as uncomfortatbale as those in Phnom Penh. Photos of mutilated bodies from bombs and grenades dropped by the US and the effects of Agent Orange. This was a chemical used by the US Army to destroy vegetation in areas of conflict in Vietnam. It caused horrendous mutations and cancers and eventually severe diseases in later generations. After the museum we hit the Reunification Palace. This was the presidential palace in Saigon before communist tanks crashed through the gates in 1975. After this it was drinks, some food, more drinks then bed.
Saigon. s***, im still in Saigon. Ha, i've been waiting over 10 years to say that. If you dont know what that quote is from you are a loser! On our second day we visited the Cu Chi Tunnels which were excellent. This was the tunnel system built by the Viet Cong and used with their gorilla warfare tactics to fight the US. At its height it stretched for more than 200km and parts are now open to the public. Crouching through tunnels about 1m high and 50cm wide with bats flying around your head was one of the best experiences ever, and it didnt stop there. At the end of the tour we were able to purchase bullets ($1 per round) to fire from an M-16 or AK-47. I chose the Ak and I have never felt more manly in my life. Having so much power in your hands is so exhilarating and a little frightening. It was a great day. During the afternoon we did a little bit of shopping and in the evening we boarded our overnight sleeper bus to Nha Trang.
The sleeper bus was so surreal. Three rows of narrow bunk beds streching the length of the bus. They weren't the most comfortable things in the world but it was a lot better than spending 10 hours on a normal bus and I got a decent amonout of sleep.
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