Thurs Feb 11 2016 Saigon aka Ho chi minh Au Lac 2 hotel
Up at 5:00 and arrived in Saigon around 9:30 AM. We had a city tour when we arrived, Then we visited the War Remnants museum that we were warned portrayed the Communist Vietnam side of the war and was very anti American. We then went to a local pho restaurant for lunch. I love pho and pho adn vietnamese spring rolls were one of my favorite lunches when I worked in Boston ! We checked into our hotel which initially seemed perfect until we found out our headboard abutted the elevator. We were told our options were to move to a small room with a double bed and no windows, or to pay 70.00 more a night to upgrade. Not happy, but they did promise to move us tomorrow. We had a blast cruising around the city on motorbikes in the afternoon. After all the adventurous things we have done, again I began to think what a kick if our epitaph read that we met our demise on a motorbike in Saigon. The city is unusually quiet because allot of people have left the city to go home and visit family for the Tet holiday. We were told that the city has 10 million people and six million motor bikes. We had a group dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant, then walked around afterward. They had a large street closed with all kinds of lights and flowers packed with people walking around enjoying the holiday decorations. We ended up on the 52 floor of the tallest building, the Bitexco building in Saigon to have cocktails and listen to a great band with Mike, Jana Jim and Young. A great ending to the evening !
Up at 5:00 and arrived in Saigon around 9:30 AM. We had a city tour when we arrived, Then we visited the War Remnants museum that we were warned portrayed the Communist Vietnam side of the war and was very anti American. We then went to a local pho restaurant for lunch. I love pho and pho adn vietnamese spring rolls were one of my favorite lunches when I worked in Boston ! We checked into our hotel which initially seemed perfect until we found out our headboard abutted the elevator. We were told our options were to move to a small room with a double bed and no windows, or to pay 70.00 more a night to upgrade. Not happy, but they did promise to move us tomorrow. We had a blast cruising around the city on motorbikes in the afternoon. After all the adventurous things we have done, again I began to think what a kick if our epitaph read that we met our demise on a motorbike in Saigon. The city is unusually quiet because allot of people have left the city to go home and visit family for the Tet holiday. We were told that the city has 10 million people and six million motor bikes. We had a group dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant, then walked around afterward. They had a large street closed with all kinds of lights and flowers packed with people walking around enjoying the holiday decorations. We ended up on the 52 floor of the tallest building, the Bitexco building in Saigon to have cocktails and listen to a great band with Mike, Jana Jim and Young. A great ending to the evening !
A spectacular sunrise greeted us in Dalat
Some of aircraft from Vietnam on display at the war remnants museum in Saigon
Looking out the bus window
Saigon is decked to the walls for Tet......
Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon
The railroad station
Inside the railroad station
We stood looking at the building featured in this picture of the last of the Embassy workers being evacuated after victory was declared in Vietnam
Jon - and we are off for our motorbike adventure
I'm ready (I think.....)
We drove by a street market
It was really brilliant watching the sunset over Saigon and being reflected onto the Saigon River
My driver
This guy hit our guide Young's bike while we were on our trip and crashed right next to me
Happy to have made it home in one piece and still smiling
The Opera House
Both the Continental and the Rex Hotel were where all of the journalists hung out during the war
This Tet tree is covered with decorations
Young and me at the bar at the top of the Bitexco Building
View out over Saigon
Fri. Feb 12 2016 Saigon
We decided to skip the Chu chi tunnels today - my stomach was being difficult.... We walked about town, went to the big city market, then I rested in the afternoon. The market was hotter that all get up, and was filled to the brim with people and vendors. Tonight we went to a fabulous show at the beautiful Opera house with Mike and Jana called AO. It was cirque de soleilish, but with simple props, and a lot of artistry. We ate dinner at an intimate and delicious Italian restaurant. Up and on the road tomorrow to visit the Mekong Delta area.
We decided to skip the Chu chi tunnels today - my stomach was being difficult.... We walked about town, went to the big city market, then I rested in the afternoon. The market was hotter that all get up, and was filled to the brim with people and vendors. Tonight we went to a fabulous show at the beautiful Opera house with Mike and Jana called AO. It was cirque de soleilish, but with simple props, and a lot of artistry. We ate dinner at an intimate and delicious Italian restaurant. Up and on the road tomorrow to visit the Mekong Delta area.
Tet tree
Looking down and alley
Happiness is your morning cup of Joe
I said good morning to this adorable woman as we walked by. She grabbed my hand, all full of smiles and was chatting a mile a minute. I had no clue what she was saying.
The calm end of the big indoor market
Our daughter, Barre's married name is Hardy - we loved this Hardy's Whisker Blake
Outdoor cafe
The Bitexco Building
Jon's heaven - popcorn
Beautiful young women
Inside the Opera House waiting for our show to start
The stage was simply lit as we waited. We were not able to photograph the show, but I have included video below that I found on Youtube
Photo of performers following the fabulous performance !
Sat. Feb. 13 2016 Saigon
Up early and on the bus to head south to Mekong Delta. We noticed a lot of traffic heading north toward to Saigon, Tet is coming to an end and all of the folks who have been out of the city visiting family, are heading back to Saigon. Our first stop was at a "hammock" stop. These are rest areas sued by people riding on the motorbikes to take a rest. We drove across the Mekong River to a little community in the Ben Tre province, built amongst the canals. We first rode on sampans through the canals. We stopped at an area where they make coconut candy and wine. Then onto to Phoenix Island to visit with the Coconut Monk who leads the Coconut religion. We visited his workshop where they make coconut utensils. We then loaded onto a larger boat and cruised up the river for lunch. After lunch back on the bus to join all the traffic heading north back into Saigon. We met again for a group picture where we all dressed up in local clothing which was fun. Afterward, we had our final group dinner. There was another guide that always wore a bright yellow baseball cap that had "King" written on it in bright red letters. We could not let Young be outdone, so we presented him with a bright yellow baseball cap with the bright red emblem of Superman on it. We enjoyed our last bus ride home with all 16 of us, then headed to bed as we have a 2:30 AM wake up to catch our 5:00 AM flight back home ! We shall always remember our Asian adventure, our new travel friends, and we are very thankful for our wonderful tour Guides, Benny and Young !
Up early and on the bus to head south to Mekong Delta. We noticed a lot of traffic heading north toward to Saigon, Tet is coming to an end and all of the folks who have been out of the city visiting family, are heading back to Saigon. Our first stop was at a "hammock" stop. These are rest areas sued by people riding on the motorbikes to take a rest. We drove across the Mekong River to a little community in the Ben Tre province, built amongst the canals. We first rode on sampans through the canals. We stopped at an area where they make coconut candy and wine. Then onto to Phoenix Island to visit with the Coconut Monk who leads the Coconut religion. We visited his workshop where they make coconut utensils. We then loaded onto a larger boat and cruised up the river for lunch. After lunch back on the bus to join all the traffic heading north back into Saigon. We met again for a group picture where we all dressed up in local clothing which was fun. Afterward, we had our final group dinner. There was another guide that always wore a bright yellow baseball cap that had "King" written on it in bright red letters. We could not let Young be outdone, so we presented him with a bright yellow baseball cap with the bright red emblem of Superman on it. We enjoyed our last bus ride home with all 16 of us, then headed to bed as we have a 2:30 AM wake up to catch our 5:00 AM flight back home ! We shall always remember our Asian adventure, our new travel friends, and we are very thankful for our wonderful tour Guides, Benny and Young !
More burials in the middle of farmland
This family was already resting at the Hammock rest stop when we pulled in
We really wore Young out
Yep there was traffic en route to the Mekong Delta too
Sometimes when it is hotter that all git up, nothing soothes like a cold Coca Cola in a glass bottle
This guy was transporting baby bunnies
Floating village on the Mekong River
Jon and Mike - we were walking down to the river
Our Sampans await us
Water coconuts
Jim and Jon
Young
This woman was cutting all of the coconut meat away from the shell
The coconut candy spread out and ready to cut
The coconut milk was cooked down in the large kettle over a wood fire
One cool kid
We were hot served tea with honey and Kefir - delish
The coconut carving lady also made straw brooms
Coconuts and bird cages
Durian fruit - so good, like a mild pineapple
Switching to a bigger boat we all rode on together
Jon does love to drive
I do not think you are suppose to drink and drive but maybe coconut water is OK
River cruising
It was really hot - Jon found a good way to cool off a bit
The coconut Monk - vegan and pretty much toothless
Coconut utensils everywhere - There also were about 50 cats and cat droppings mingled in
The workshop
Our lovely server delivering a fried fish to our table
In video below, the server pulled the meat off of the fish, then and us fresh spring rolls
Jim gazing into the magic, hollow, fried rice ball
Restaurant dishwasher
Bathroom humor in the men's room
Pretending that Jon is demanding me to pull him in the cart
We could not keep straight faces
The eyes on the bow of the boat were to scare off sea creatures
I took this picture in our last hotel, but everywhere we stayed, all of the toilets and spray hoses right next to them for cleaning - a great idea really
Jon and his buddy Woody who was helping Jon get dressed up
Our entire group - last night photo
The Palm Coast group - Jim, Danette, Jon, Me, Mike and Jana
Young and the Palm Coast Girls
At our last dinner together
Young styling with his new ball cap, and below is video of our last group bus ride back to the hotel with Young giving us the low down for all of our departures. Unfortunately , we had the 2:30 AM wake up
Sunrising view from our plane after our Saigon departure
Getting to depart Tokyo - very foggy out
View from our plane window - until next time................