19 March 2008

Taking my first leave for the year. Yea..

10.15am: @ the toilet and mom was rushing me. Arghh...went to T3 and realised that I should go to Budget Terminal ( what was I thinking?). Took the shutter bus and gosh, it was like a warehouse! And the colour scheme sucks!

11.15am: Writing. Waiting for time to pass.

12.20pm: Waiting to board the plane and stood near a group of moms talking about their (what else?) children and studies. And OMG! The EL they used! I always tell parents that if they cannot speak standard EL, then forget it. Just don't speak Singlish to them and keep to CL. It's so difficult to have pupils speak StdEL once they have Singlish ingrained in them. Think interlanguage...

3pm (Vietnamese time): Reached. You have taxi-drivers coming up to you and offer their services. One of them reached me and asked for 300,000D which I eventually asked,haggled and settled for 170,000D (this is not good enough. 150,000D would be good).

Reached guesthouse - Hotel Hong Loi, 47 Bui Vien Str, US$8 w/o aircon (which C termed it as hotel) - and then quickly went to buy a map. Damn, it was so complicated and in the end, I just roamed and reached Ben Thanh Market. Had their version of Chendol (15,000D) and bought 2 pairs of clogs @ US$10.

C came back from his day trip and we had dinner at the Night Market (outside Ben Thanh Market). Nothing impressive (97,000D).

20 March 2008

1 Day Mekong Delta US$8

6.30am: On the streets. Wanted to try the street food but better not risk. I still had a few more days here! So in the end, I settled for a strawberry shake and watched the Vietnamese go about their daily biz. The shake was beri nice! (10,000D)

8am: Started on our trip. The ride was quite serene and the water erm...unclear. We reached the coconut candy 'factory' and bought 2 packs (40,000D) which C devoured them at a speed that was quite alarming. I have not met a guy who can consume sweets at such a fast rate!

I loved the boat ride. Made me think of Taman Negara only that this was slower and more tranquil. By the time we reached the city, it was 6ish.

8pm: We decided to have dinner @ Ngon Restaurant - 138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia after the recommendation from C's guide/notes. I like it. This place was patronised by locals and tourists alike and the food was scrumptious. Price is all right, considering the ambience and all.

Ended the night with some night city scenes.

21 March 2008

Cu Chi Tunnel (half day) US$5

8am: Set off to Cu Chi Tunnel. Some of the travellers were late and by the time we truly set off, it was 10am. *_*

11.15am: Went to a place where the handicapped did their craft. Their craft was rather impressive!

12pm: Reached destination. AT LAST. My guide could not really explain a lot and it was rather boring except the part which we could go through the tunnel. Then a Swedish guy came up to me and offered to help me take pics. We chatted and continued throughout our bus ride back to the city. Thankfully, I had him else it would be very very boring.

2.30pm: Went to War Remnants Museum. Rather depressing but not as bad as the one in Nanjing. So I wasn't very affected by it. Then an sms came in. Yahoo...details about my PB! Whoah! I was so happy!

4.30pm: Walked around the area and initially I wanted to go to the History museum and maybe could meet David there. But well, I spent quite long in the War Remants and I reckoned by the time I reached there, I wouldn't be able to spend much time there. So went to Notre Dame Cathedral and General Post Office and to the bookstore again to buy the pics. Wonderful pictures taken and I was so impressed by it that I know I had to get the DSLR.

By 5.30pm, I was tired so I settled for Highlands Coffee joint where I had my first meal of the day. Coffee - 22,000D and mango & green tea cake - 35,000D.

Proceeded to the streets again and was not in a shopping mode for clothes and went to look at the oil paintings instead.

By the time I reached the guesthouse, I had a splitting headache and a stomach cramp. Sigh!

22 March 2008

I was to leave for the airport at 11.30am. So I could actually do some stuff in the morning.

6am: Woke up and tune in to MTV. I need some music to stay sane.

7am: Went to Ben Thanh market to have my breakfast. Saw some noodles that I have not seen before and tried it. Not bad. 15,000D.

8.05am: Need my regular coffee break. Went to look for this chain of coffee joint - Trung Nguyen @ the corner of Thu Khoa Huan. Opened the door and there before you sat men who looked up and viewed you. Scary. ASked for menu. "No menu," said the waitress. Ok then. Coffee! It was smoky inside. After one hour of passive smoking, I was out.

9am: Proceeded to Fine Art Museum @ 97A Pho Duc Chinh Str (10,000D). Hardly impressive. I was out after 45 minutes.

So I decided to do the local thingy and went for a motorbike ride (5,000D) and went for a Vietnamese Traditional massage @Hotel 265, 265 De Tham, Pham Ngu Lao. It is my practice to have one before I leave the city/country. It was erm...quite torturous. I was trampled on and hit on the head. I came out of the place, feeling bruised :p US$9.

11.30am: Left for airport. Taxi driver drove recklessly and fast. I wanted to tell him that I was not in a hurry....

HCM City doesn't leave me with much lasting impression. Hmm...