Last night we took our lives in our hands going to and from a restaurant in a tuk tuk! Scary. Traffic is frightening here. The food was good and very inexpensive.
Southeast Asia has been a real adventure.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Heading home tomorrow early flight
pNice day in Bangkok. Went to the floating market. Came home and had a late lunch at Next2 on Chao Phraya River. Fun watching the city bus boat, large barges and small boats carrying people from one side to the other. In a taxi on the way home we went by the demonstration and our driver was eager to tell us about the demonstrators, which he supports. Other than wanting the Prime Minister to resign. I don't know what the issues are. I have seen people with yellow t shirts with Pop Corn War. Our driver explained it and I googled it to understand what he was telling me. Too much to explain here.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Siagon Airport
Such a mass of humanity-Middle Eastern ladies covered from head to toe and ladies in short shorts and high heels. Security was very lax. We were watching to see if we had to take off our shoes and decided no, then they made two girls take off their shoes and Ron said, "I guess not unless the shoes are portential weapons". I didn't even take my cell or I Pad out of my backpack purse. The usual duty free shopping opportunities are endless, nothing less appealing to me that shopping in an airport. Lots of Chinese with huge boxes of what might be TVs or other electronics on their way home.
Had a big fancy farewell dinner last night. Course after course of Vietnamese food. Viking made it easy, all the tips were suggested to us before hand. Kong must have done well, everyone loved him. He sang to us on the bus on the way home. Now he spends two weeks at home in Saigon before he leaves for another Viking Tour. Several people in our tour were on their way to China with Viking.
We are in a Priority Lounge, courtesy of our American Express card. WiFi, food, drinks, newspapers comfortable chairs, nice bathrooms and sometimes showers.
The food in Vietnam has been fantastic, some standouts: red very flavorable watermelon, bread (legacy of the French), noodle soup (Pho) lots of fruit that we had never seen. Negatives-scary traffic, unsafe tap water (even in the nicest hotels), litter. Positives: polite, gracious people, absolute belief and respect for education, hardworking.
Last Day in Siagon
Great sightseeing today! Remember the pictures of the US helicopter picking up people off of the roof of what was discribed as the US Embassy just as the North Vietnamese entered the city? ( April 30, 1975) Turns out it was the CIA building.
We saw the Post Office built by the French. Lovely building but it reminded me of a lovely old train station. Lots of very high end shopping, not what I expected from a communist country. The neighborhood where we had dinner last night was amazing. I don't recall ever seeing bigger (and more garish houses ). Our guide told us they belonged to government workers. He preceded to tell us that policemen are very well paid. Lots of graft and corruption here! Yet they can't afford public education and Heath care! Lots of high end cars, while the vast majority are riding motor scooters. Someone asked Kong why the children were not in helmets, and he replied that they did not make them that small.
We went in two Temples and toured Chinatown. Turns out that the Chinese that settled in Vietnam are great business people, just like everyplace I've ever been. Ron went on a small tour to explore tunnels built by the North Vietnamese during the war. I went shopping for a little while, kind of overwhelming! When he gets back I will download the photos from today.
We fly back to Bangkok for a couple of days and then head home. Great trip and we can recommend Viking, especially for a third world country. The 25 people in our group have been fun and interesting. They have all done a lot of traveling and lived all over the world. Lots of them older than we are, one guy 81, and he does everything. The majority are from the US, then England and Canada. Our bus broke down in China town and we all got off and walked cheerfully to the next sight, nobody made any fuss. Our guide made a call and a new bus was dispatched. The buses are another thing, fussy little curtains, super ac, coolers of ice water and cold towels. The hotels have been Sofitel and very lovely. When we have sent out our laundry it comes back the same day wrapped in tissue paper in a wicker basket.
Last night on the boat
We said good bye to the crew, watched a Vietnamese opera, dance and traditional music and another great dinner
March 26
Left the ship for the hour and a half bus trip to Saigon. Checked into another lovely Sofitel. Took bus for a city orientation, lunch of Pho, yummy. This is a typical Saigon Pho restaurant with a picture of Bill and Chelsea Clinton having Pho in the restaurant. We visited the re-unification Palace, and a lacquer workshop. Some of the people on the tour bought so much stuff they had it mailed home! Nothing really appealed to us. Had a relaxing restaurant and went to a very classy restaurant for a wonderful dinner.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)