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OK so after a little confusion here I am writing our second blog of Vietnam. I have been struck by a gruesome cough/cold thingy which is not allowing me to sleep to well but I'm still surviving although fairly tired.
In Can Tho I left you the night before our very early morning. At 5.30am we were picked up and taken to the river where our little stand up rowing boat was (it had a motor too otherwise the trip would have taken a week). After getting on and trying not to rock the boat too much we headed off into the sunrise. It was beautiful! We headed to our first floating market these are like nothing Ive seen before the stalls are boats and the customers are boats, all in the middle of the river. Firstly we went to a large floating market. All the boats were selling fruit and vegetables and you could tell who sold what by a stick on each boat which had what they sold tied to it. This floating market the customers could sail from boat to boat. The next one was like a boat rugby scrum, all the boats were very close together you could not use the engines and our boat lady had to row and pull us through all the boats. This market also had a clothes shop boat. After our visits to the floating markets we headed for a stunning trip down the canals which were so peaceful and we got to see lots of everyday life along the shores. Trips to the floating markets can be done on large tourist boats and on the smaller ones, the latter obviously being pricier. But the latter is better as the big boats cant really get into the market and do not go along the canals.
We got a bus from Can Tho to HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon) which was probably the best bus journey we've had. Smooth, got a free cold towel and bottle of water. In HCMC we got to our hotel and went exploring, we are staying in the backpacker area in the centre. We had an Indian which was really good- an odd place to have it I know.
Now we have taken HCMC slow there are a few reasons for this which I will cover. Our first full day we got up a little late and went to explore the river front, large market and get our bearings. In the market there is one alleyway that I have dubbed t-shirt alley as it is full of Vietnamese women shouting 'you buy my t shirt' and grabbing your arm. I have never stopped to look at their t shirts as it is a little scary. We had to sit out the rain by the Saigon River which was great fun; just by the ferry port watching all the moto drivers - 'moto moto' shouting and scurrying to get all the passengers.
Our second day saw us regress to children and go to the Zoo and Botanical Gardens. At the zoo we were spat at by an orangutan, watched otters on a hunt of a lizard (which had strayed in and was killed and eaten) and was growled at by a white tiger while it played with a rock in its pool. The Rhinos ignored us and strange bird took a dislike to Janec. After the zoo we went to the history museum which had lots of stuff from prehistoric Vietnam.
We met Janecs cousin, Andrew, who lives in HCMC and he took us to a very very good burger place. We haven't had a burger since the UK and these were the best I think Ive ever had. We also went to Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office which seems to be a major tourist attraction; I think because it looks like a Post Office did 100 years ago. You have to glue the envelopes shut with the bowl of paste glue which is provided. A storm then came the worst ever so we hid in a coffee shop. When the storm had stopped we walked home but most of the pavements were flooded with rain water which came up to your ankles but some places people were walking it was above the knee. When we got home we had a very warm shower and disinfected.
Yesterday we went to the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace; obviously all about the Vietnam War. It was very moving as the museum had lots of photos and paintings. It told the story from a different perspective.
We have booked tickets to go to Nha Trang tomorrow, we are hoping it can be nice for a bit but we'll see. So today we went to the supermarket to get some food for the journey and we are going to a market this afternoon on the scout for warm clothes after a tip from Andrew.
Overall HCMC has been great fun; Janec now loves Pho (noodle soup Vietnamese style, which here you get in fast food type outlets). While typing this Janec as just realised he is all about the food - he is!! It is not a city which is pedestrian friendly; motorbikes ride on the pavement and park there too so you are walking in the road (similar to the rest of SE Asia), but the roads here are a bit more crazy. You have to just pick a line go for it, don't stop or make sudden movements so the bikes can go round you; so I think the main achievement is being alive. Also there is not public transport, it is either cyclos (impractical for two and only good for going down the road), motos (but I like my life) and taxis (I want to get there before Im old); so walking is the way.
Nha Trang tomorrow. Wish us luck for the weather so we can see the beach.
Love and hugs
Ruth and Janec xxxxx
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