vietcong tom/sammiad
Got into Ho Chi Minh last night in the pouring rain, and got charged the obligatory 1 time rip off rate for new tourists for the taxi into the city centre. Found our hotel, no air con, so went out into backpackers district for a little explore. Got lost pretty fast, but found a bar with deckchairs out front, so we just watched everything go by for a while.
After Japan, Vietnam, like with Dehli after London, is a massive smash in the face with a big ol' culture stick. What first hits you is the humidity, Joel and I are constantly sweating, and i think my jeans are going to remain at the bottom of the bag for the next two months. But it stops me from actually worrying about how sweaty i am, because everyone is in their own puddle of salt. Bikes are everywhere, more bikers (no leather) than pedestrians, recently the police have announced a crackdown on us walkers, which means if you get hit by something, you almost always get the blame. Especially when drunk. That hasnt happened yet.
our hotel
This morning we visited two of the biggest tourist hot spots, the Reunification Palace, and the War Remnants museum. The former was pretty drab, perhaps because we know nothing of Vietnam's history, and the tour guides all spoke no english, but even the building itself, sparsely furnished with dulling 60's/70's tables and chairs was increidbly repetitive, room after room exactly the same. Perhaps if you really knew what went on there, you could get more into it. Perhaps. We spent a lot longer in the remnants museum, where there was masses of excellent photographs taken in the Vietnam war, by photographers working with the Americans, South Vietnam and North Vietnam, so you could see each army without having a bias. Although some other parts of it were a bit more one sided, with a huge illustration of an American flag, cut up with barbed wire.
some bowls
Sorry for the lack of pictures, will try and get them up soon. ish. I feel much safer getting my fatty camera out in Japan, where everyone over 10 has one anyway.
Tomorrow, the water park just outside of town looks likely, and the day after, a trip to the Cu Chi tunnels, to shoot off some AK's, and crawl through tiny underground holes. Typical Teenage Boys dream. Yay!
joel after 90m of PAIN (tunnels)
4 comments:
Blimey.
Sounds so different. Careful on those roads you walkers.
Lucy has just come in from her 10 mile hike with the Duke of Edinburgh (not the best company I believe.
Have fun
Take care
Dad (T's)
hi tom
think you must be suffering from culture shift shock - reckon this is your first blog with no mention of food, I have a whole book given to me on Vietnamese food and can't wait to hear your take on it. Deckchairs in front of pub doesn't sound too bad, but don't like sound of standing in own puddle of salty sweat. Can't imagine what you wearing if no jeans, boxers!
Doesn't sound particularly Mother comforting stuff - AKs, mad bikers, but hey, isn't life just a big adventure anyway.
We doing lovely things, like cleaning and cleaning, and cleaning.... even walking with Duke of Edinburgh might be more fun.
Joel - could you please try to make sure Tom retains all limbs, and I'll buy you a little dog and a big beer on your return to the UK.
anonymous aka Laura
Tom, is it my imagination or are you turning more oriental by the week, or maybe just squinting in the sunshine! Don't imagine crawling underground does much for the "standing in own puddle of sweat" problem, or perhaps you just fell down a manhole, not sure what you're doing in those pics, but great to see the dayglo watch is still going strong.
Joel, you look outstanding, in the most literal sense. Does your europeanness attract lots of attention. Tom are people confused, do they try and speak to you?
love Toms mum
x
Tom's getting all the stares. Mostly because he's a handsome boy (a waitress even told him last night).
Often people shout 'You look like Vietnam!' at him. It's fun.
Post a Comment