It's busy, it's noisy, it's hot, it's sticky and it's smelly... welcome to Vietnam!
But it's all about the experience right?! Well, we're gradually getting used to the incessant honking and beeping of motorbikes, and seeing our lives flash before our eyes every time we cross the road! But actually, despite of this (perhaps because of this!) we are loving Vietnam :)
Our stay in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) was brief but fabulous. Our little hotel was in Disrict 1, the backpacker district. Think; crazy maze of narrow alleys, tall thin 6 story buildings, lots of neon lights, lanterns, fairy lights, food stalls, spas, buzzing restaurants and bars... motorcycles zooming past... all the time... continuous streams of people trying to sell you something, anything! "Mr Mr!" "Miss Miss come in please" "You buy something?"... tempting no?!
We've had some amazing food whilst we've been here. A few restaurants run an initiative to help street children and families to get off the streets - offering them work, training and a place to stay... we went to a couple of these and the food, and service was really super, and obviously we felt like we were supporting a good cause (even if a 3 course meal for 2 was only £10!)
Deeeeelicious juices, and check out the bamboo straw and bottle stop! Yum.
Vietnamese coffee and creme brûlée - also very yummy!
Cocktails? What? How did that get in there? ;) hehe. This place was 'Kat heaven' with fairy lights, lanterns, cocktails... AND even a revolving crown. Genius!
We met up with Simon, Andy Dunne's brother who is also traveling the world, and happened to be in Ho Chi Minh at the same time... more excellent food in District 1... and he made us exceedingly jealous of his impending expedition to the largest discovered cave in the world! It's the first ever public expedition there, so it will be absolutely amazing we're sure. If only Alex could have fitted in his backpack he'd be off!
Sandwiched between two beards ;)
Thank you to Natalie and Alex for our wedding pressie to the Cu Chi tunnels which we did whilst we were here...
This isn't an entrance to the tunnels, just a breathing hole to pop up so they could tell what direction they were travelling! Of course, this just had to be done...
We saw some rather nasty traps...
Ouchy!
Then of course, we got to have a go, not in the traps... in the tunnels! The tunnels actually went down 3 levels, we just went into the first level... apparently they stopped letting people in any further after someone stopped breathing (mmmm thanks for telling us that before we went in to the tunnels!)... anyhooo we gave it a whirl...
Was a bit of a squeeze!
Looks big here, but actually...
...yeah, not for the faint hearted!
I went along about 20m, which felt like forever I can tell you, it zig zagged all over the place to confuse the enemy from above... Alex carried on until the end 100m later...
On the way out we got to see some everyday 'typically one sided point of view' videos, as you do...
It was an exhausting day clambering through tunnels, and then stopping on the way back at the War Remnants Museum, where there are some very moving photos from the Vietnam war, with one room dedicated to Agent Orange and the effects it has caused, and still causes, 3rd generation. There was only so many tragically upsetting images of babies and foetuses I could take, apparently there are even ones in jars...
...a swift drink beckoned afterwards!
On a side note, Alex also had the opportunity to fire an AK47 at the Cu Chi tunnels (err thanks Natalie!), I was designated photographer. Woh the shots are loud!
No animals were harmed in shooting this AK47 (mainly as Alex missed the target, by miles!) hehe!
x x x
Man traps, tunnels, shooting, war, Agent Orange, dead babies, aborted foetuses all in a hot, smelly, noisy, city Hmmm - Certainly an unusual way to spend a honeymoon! Perhaps the food and drinks balance the scales somewhat?
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