I don't even know where to begin. I feel like I do at the end of a long lecture where the professor has just packed your brain with more information than its capable of consuming. Except instead of being miserable because it's a lecture, I'm just exhuasted because it's insanely hot in HCMC and we spent 7 straight hours touring the city. It was exciting, informative, eye opening, and did I mention hot.
At promptly 8:15 this morning our friend Lewis called our room to let us know that our tour guide, Khanh, was here to pick us up (they were 15 minutes early, but Lewis told us to take our time, the locals here want to serve us and do not like it if we're put out, it's humbling and sweet and really makes you appreciate and respect the Vietnamese people). Khanh, like all the Vietnamese people we've encountered, was a kind and hardworking individual who's goal was clearly to give us an enjoyable day. As a tour guide, well, let's say that was interesting. We were promised an English speaking tour guide and while I have reason to believe some of the things he said were in English, I honestly can't tell you a single thing he told us in the 7 hours we were together. But it's the thought that counts right?
Our first stop of the day was the Cho Binh Tay market where the locals do their shopping. Markets here are not like markets I know in Canada. They're quite the sight and smell... Because there you can buy your fish, rack of beef, fruits and veggies, the pots to cook them in and the dishes to serve them on. There you can also buy the clothes you'll wear when you eat the food you just bought and the silk floral arrangements you'll decorate the table with. Pretty sure you could also buy the table there. If you think about it. You can buy it there.
Basically the markets are a mess of organized chaos. 
After the Binh Tay we went to the Thien Hau Temple. The temple was dark and smelled strongly of the incense they burned. There was multiple tributes to various gods and eerie sculptures that lined the tops of the walls. Many parts of the temple did not have a roof.
After we went to the Vietnam War Memorial Museum where we were able to educate ourselves on the war. It's a startling realization to see first hand how recent the war actually was and to heartbreaking and eye opening to see how the country is still recovering from the aftermath of war and the devastating ramifications of the brutal American attacks. Following the museum we went to a factory where the government hires people who were disabled from the war to create artifacts to sell. It was beautiful to see the intricate detail put into every handmade piece of art.
We then went to another market, this one much more "touristy" than the first. The merchants were much pushier, constantly trying to sell you their Beats headphones and Ambercrombie & Fitch T-Shirt (so legit).
Next we went to HCMC's famous restaurant and ate... Food...? Yeah, it was definitely food. Curtesy of the severe language barrier we were experiencing with Khanh we couldn't tell you what we ordered but it was edible. Well. Most of it. Let's just say there's certain textures my North American pallet may never grow accustomed too. Travelling with food allergies is a huge challenge and an art I have yet to master.
Following lunch we had a date with the president. Well, not quite but we did go your the presidential palace which was interesting. Please note, one of the memory cards for my camera was wifi on it. One does not. So half of my photos won't make it on to the blog during the trip. The presidential palace was huge but only held 2 bedrooms, three dining halls, one cinema, one conference room, one games room, one press hall, and one helicopter landing pad. It was a very open floor concept to say the least.
From there we walked to the Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. The central post office was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the same Gustave Eiffel who brought us the Eiffel Tower. It's a very famous post office in Vietnam. So naturally I sent a postcard home. And yes, I realize I will probably make it home before my postcard does. But it's the thing to do there.
That marked the end of our seven hour tour. I left out so much detail (mainly because I don't know what detail we were told on our tour) but this blog is more for my own memory than the development of literary talent. We had a nap back at the hotel and showered and then went out and got your good old fashion American cheeseburger with fries before returning to the hotel to once again, shower. And with that I'm calling it a day.
Thanks for following along and as always, much appreciation for prayers of safety and health!
-mo
Days total hits by a scooter: 0
Trips total hits by a scooter:1
(I'm getting better at this)