[This is posted on 14.02.2013 extracted from original hotmail email]
Spent the better half of today at town call Cu Chi. It is the main site where the guerrillas set-up came to fight against the Americans during the war. It's not really that far from the city - less than a 100km. But the wonderful road conditions and the traffic made the journey last nearly 1.5 hours one way.
Anyway, they showed us a sample of all the booby traps that the guerrillas used and it was really gruesome. Then there is the usual patriotic video telling u how good the Vietnamese people in Cu Chii were as opposed to those despicable invaders, the Americans. Good thing no one in our tour group were Americans.
After this, they took us to some of the original trenches. We walked along one of the dugouts. Then they showed us the hidden doorways to the underground tunnels and it sure was hidden. And so wonderfully narrow that only small Vietnamese people could pass through. Three people in our group of fifteen could.
Next, we proceed to a normal tunnel that has been cleared for tourists. It was about 100 m long and we had to walk through its enclosed, claustrophobic atmosphere. Hot, sweaty, stuffy and no room to stand up straight. It went down in three stages: 3 m, 5m and 8m. No stairs or anything fancy. U just drop from one to the next and then climb back up using your hands and the tunnel is so narrow that there is room for only one person. In addition, u have to walk like a duck all hunched up. There is one part where we almost have to crawl.
Once that is over, it was to a shooting range where we got to try the old weaponry for a price of course. And to end everything, they took us through a list of the usual hideouts like Meeting rooms, clinic and kitchen.
My legs are now feeling a bit like jelly. I will probably walk to a market after this and then head back to the hotel for a rest.
That's it for Day 4. I may try to get a tour to Mekong Delta tomorrow.
Monday, February 26, 2001
Sunday, February 25, 2001
Backpacking Vietnam Day 3 ... HCMC/ Saigon
[This is posted on 14.02.2013 and copied from original hotmail email]
Interesting Facts:
1. Working in Govt organisations means u have off days each week like Sundays and in some places, part or full Saturdays as well.
2. Working in private (locally owned) concerns means u work 7 days a week and u get 1 off day a month. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? And some establishments don't even tell u how much u are gonna get until the end of your first month of work. Wow! So much for planning your $$$. However, most local concerns do provide u with sleeping space like 10 people to a room and two meals a day. So the salary is enough for coffee n breakfast only. If u want some clothes, do a side job.
Ok. On to today's attractions:
1. Visited another park whereby the local kids have their activities like their version of boy scouts, girl guides, st john, etc. Adults were busy with the usual exercises and there are even dance classes. Kinda cute in a quaint way, of course.
2. Fine Arts Museum - building was grand but the works are so-so. Saw a few nice pieces but the rest were kinda boring until level 3 where they have some real antique statues n vases n some bronze pieces. These are cool some dating back to b4 10th century.
3. Ho Chi Minh Museum - again, the building was cool but the rest of the stuff were just too patriotic for my taste. They take it to the limit n then some. Anyway, most of the stuff are just photos n paintings and the words are mainly in Vietnamese. How exciting ... not!
4. Zoo - it's quite huge actually n they have a decent collection of
animals. The only problem was with maintenance. Almost no maintenance. Scum even choked one of the rivers until nothing could move. U throw in a can, it's like throwing into custard or something. Paint is also peeling off a lot of places. The strange thing was that the zoo incorporates an amusement park with all sorts of rides. Another quaint feature is the addition of eating n drinking places. Nothing like our modern ones where it is all owned by the zoo. Here it's more like small kopi tiams.
5. Central Boulevard - strolled through here to see some of the grandest buildings around with lots of 4/5-star hotels and some trendy cafes. Also, souvenir shopping would be a nightmare here since the variety is so unbelievably wide. Countless shops with all sorts of knick-knacks abound. I would be buying some if only I am going home. Otherwise, it would be a chore to drag them everywhere with me.
Ok lah. That's long enough for today. It's 10:30pm and time for my dinner n bed. Tomorrow I have booked a half day tour to the Chu Chi Tunnels where the actual war was. It's now a reconstructed tourist area as well.
Interesting Facts:
1. Working in Govt organisations means u have off days each week like Sundays and in some places, part or full Saturdays as well.
2. Working in private (locally owned) concerns means u work 7 days a week and u get 1 off day a month. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? And some establishments don't even tell u how much u are gonna get until the end of your first month of work. Wow! So much for planning your $$$. However, most local concerns do provide u with sleeping space like 10 people to a room and two meals a day. So the salary is enough for coffee n breakfast only. If u want some clothes, do a side job.
Ok. On to today's attractions:
1. Visited another park whereby the local kids have their activities like their version of boy scouts, girl guides, st john, etc. Adults were busy with the usual exercises and there are even dance classes. Kinda cute in a quaint way, of course.
2. Fine Arts Museum - building was grand but the works are so-so. Saw a few nice pieces but the rest were kinda boring until level 3 where they have some real antique statues n vases n some bronze pieces. These are cool some dating back to b4 10th century.
3. Ho Chi Minh Museum - again, the building was cool but the rest of the stuff were just too patriotic for my taste. They take it to the limit n then some. Anyway, most of the stuff are just photos n paintings and the words are mainly in Vietnamese. How exciting ... not!
4. Zoo - it's quite huge actually n they have a decent collection of
animals. The only problem was with maintenance. Almost no maintenance. Scum even choked one of the rivers until nothing could move. U throw in a can, it's like throwing into custard or something. Paint is also peeling off a lot of places. The strange thing was that the zoo incorporates an amusement park with all sorts of rides. Another quaint feature is the addition of eating n drinking places. Nothing like our modern ones where it is all owned by the zoo. Here it's more like small kopi tiams.
5. Central Boulevard - strolled through here to see some of the grandest buildings around with lots of 4/5-star hotels and some trendy cafes. Also, souvenir shopping would be a nightmare here since the variety is so unbelievably wide. Countless shops with all sorts of knick-knacks abound. I would be buying some if only I am going home. Otherwise, it would be a chore to drag them everywhere with me.
Ok lah. That's long enough for today. It's 10:30pm and time for my dinner n bed. Tomorrow I have booked a half day tour to the Chu Chi Tunnels where the actual war was. It's now a reconstructed tourist area as well.
Backpacking Vietnam Day 2 Part 2 ... HCMC/ Saigon
[Posted on 14.02.2013 from an original hotmail email blog]
Allright. Saturday night was local fiesta night.
First, I went out with a small group from another hotel to sample what the "cheap" local fare was like. Apparently, what I had on the first night was considered a rip-off but it was damn delicious so what the heck, eh? Anyway for VD20,000 (2 pax); it was quite a huge meal of rice, vegie n pork soup, broccoli n intestines, chicken n ginger, some strange fruit starters, raw salad, bean sprout n mushroom salad. As u can see from the list, most of the things I can's eat thanks to my gout problem. So I had a bit of chicken, a bit of bean sprouts n the soup. Anyway, it didn't taste good.
The good bit of news is that mybest buddy, Tom finally found me (yes Jit he checked his email n called me up n he looked so much healthier now than when he was onboard. Home cooking does wonders). We went to this other place where the food was magnificent for about VD50,000 (for 2 pax). We had fried chicken wings (8 pcs), kangkung with garlic (very nice), raw salad, pickled salad (I didn't touch this), the usual "paper" wrap, stir fried egg with some vegie (yummy!), a crispy rice flake with fish ball like covering (this is unique n totally delicious) and to finish everything, we had an order of beehoon (just steamed) with roast pork and some garnishing of shallots, peanuts, etc (and this is another wonderful dish). Of course, we didn't finish all the dishes but since the entire price of eveerything was like USD5 - what the heck!
More sightseeing today! Heh heh! This is turning out to be a great vacation so far.
Allright. Saturday night was local fiesta night.
First, I went out with a small group from another hotel to sample what the "cheap" local fare was like. Apparently, what I had on the first night was considered a rip-off but it was damn delicious so what the heck, eh? Anyway for VD20,000 (2 pax); it was quite a huge meal of rice, vegie n pork soup, broccoli n intestines, chicken n ginger, some strange fruit starters, raw salad, bean sprout n mushroom salad. As u can see from the list, most of the things I can's eat thanks to my gout problem. So I had a bit of chicken, a bit of bean sprouts n the soup. Anyway, it didn't taste good.
The good bit of news is that mybest buddy, Tom finally found me (yes Jit he checked his email n called me up n he looked so much healthier now than when he was onboard. Home cooking does wonders). We went to this other place where the food was magnificent for about VD50,000 (for 2 pax). We had fried chicken wings (8 pcs), kangkung with garlic (very nice), raw salad, pickled salad (I didn't touch this), the usual "paper" wrap, stir fried egg with some vegie (yummy!), a crispy rice flake with fish ball like covering (this is unique n totally delicious) and to finish everything, we had an order of beehoon (just steamed) with roast pork and some garnishing of shallots, peanuts, etc (and this is another wonderful dish). Of course, we didn't finish all the dishes but since the entire price of eveerything was like USD5 - what the heck!
More sightseeing today! Heh heh! This is turning out to be a great vacation so far.
Saturday, February 24, 2001
Backpacking Vietnam Day 2 ... HCMC/ Saigon
[I copied this off my old hotmail account way back when ... I used to email these out to a list of subscribers ... posted on 14.02.2013 from an original email blog]
Early this morning, I went for a leisurely stroll to the fruit and bicycle markets to see all sorts of strange-looking fruits. About the only thing I recognised is dragon fruit, some huge mango, jambu air and of course, durian. Yeah! They have old smelly here too.
Then I went to the Saigon River for a walk. Some of the nicest 5-Star Hotels in colonial style buildings are located here. After that, it's a quick motorcycle ride to this "roundabout" where lovers come at night to pak to. In the morning, it's a popular place for coffee n ciggies. It's like every man here smokes. The whole roundabout is filled with deck chairs. We sat down, lit Ho Chi Minh's fave ciggy - 555 (I know. The "ah pek" cigarette) and enjoyed a couple of local coffee. Not too bad to idle some time.
After that, it was lunch. Local sandwich. A foot long affair with all sorts of ham, fish, bacon, etc stuffed itside. I thought the bread was gonna be pure murder since it looked like three-day old bread but it was surprisingly delicious and for only USD0.40.
Then we went to see Notre Dame Cathedral. Yes there is one here by that name and it was really grand. After that, we took a ride to the Military Museum. The exhibits are the usual but what was interesting was what they had to sell there: GI's dog tags. I dared not purchase them. Imagine they belong to some poor dead people and are being hawked off at USD1.50 each. There are two sections - one original and one re-produced. I bought an original peace badge given by the government to those who supported them. At least, that is from someone alive. Ugh!
There were some really cool lighters though.
Aside from that, I also dropped by Unification Palace. Hugh sprawling grounds with old historical rooms where the North and South finally came to live at peace with each other after all the foreign powers like the French n the USA were kicked off. We also dropped by to see some traditional long houses, etc.
Ok lah. Dinner time. Wonder what my guide will provide tonight.
Early this morning, I went for a leisurely stroll to the fruit and bicycle markets to see all sorts of strange-looking fruits. About the only thing I recognised is dragon fruit, some huge mango, jambu air and of course, durian. Yeah! They have old smelly here too.
Then I went to the Saigon River for a walk. Some of the nicest 5-Star Hotels in colonial style buildings are located here. After that, it's a quick motorcycle ride to this "roundabout" where lovers come at night to pak to. In the morning, it's a popular place for coffee n ciggies. It's like every man here smokes. The whole roundabout is filled with deck chairs. We sat down, lit Ho Chi Minh's fave ciggy - 555 (I know. The "ah pek" cigarette) and enjoyed a couple of local coffee. Not too bad to idle some time.
After that, it was lunch. Local sandwich. A foot long affair with all sorts of ham, fish, bacon, etc stuffed itside. I thought the bread was gonna be pure murder since it looked like three-day old bread but it was surprisingly delicious and for only USD0.40.
Then we went to see Notre Dame Cathedral. Yes there is one here by that name and it was really grand. After that, we took a ride to the Military Museum. The exhibits are the usual but what was interesting was what they had to sell there: GI's dog tags. I dared not purchase them. Imagine they belong to some poor dead people and are being hawked off at USD1.50 each. There are two sections - one original and one re-produced. I bought an original peace badge given by the government to those who supported them. At least, that is from someone alive. Ugh!
There were some really cool lighters though.
Aside from that, I also dropped by Unification Palace. Hugh sprawling grounds with old historical rooms where the North and South finally came to live at peace with each other after all the foreign powers like the French n the USA were kicked off. We also dropped by to see some traditional long houses, etc.
Ok lah. Dinner time. Wonder what my guide will provide tonight.
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