Sunday, March 25, 2012

HELLO VIET NAM

SATURDAY MARCH 24       

Alarm went off at 5:30.  Plane to SAIGON

Guide picked us up at airport and took us to the old part of town.

VERY CROWDED  HOT   HUMID

Thousands of motor scooters crowded on the streets, driving fast and crazy,
inches apart.  At a park, hundreds of motor scooters parked, looked like a river of motor scooters. Couples, and couples with a kid, on most motor bikes.  On a few, one person with huge packages tied on.

Visited an old  Buddhist Temple.  Area dirty, people sitting on the ground eating, stalls selling candles, flowers etc.  We are sweating.  Guide difficult to understand spouting dates of history.  Next, a crowded hot, still air, market where people hustled us. 
“Good prices mister”, “Try on madam”. 
One high rise building of interest.
                                                   NOT MY IDEA OF A GOOD TIME. 
                                     BOB’S SHIRT IS TOTALLY WET DOWN THE BACK.
We cut the tour short, went to the Park Hyatt Hotel, went swimming in the outdoor pool,
had a beer and a  nap .
Walked into the dinning room.  WOW   It was romantic and contemporary with a kitchen open to view, showing talented, immaculate chefs creating appetizing looking dishes.
And the food was unusual and delicious.  They even had good gin and  vodka.   

SUNDAY
Wake-up call at 6:30 AM
Guide took us to the airport and helped us until security check.  Made it easy.
He is getting to speak much better English.

DANANG
COOL     Guide met us.  Peaceful pace. Sanity. Countryside.
Drove to Life Heritage Resort on the river in Hoi An. 
All pleasant.

Starting with Singapore we do not drink water
or brush our teeth with water from the tap.  No one does.  It is not safe.
One needs to boil the drinking water. 
Seems strange - so advanced in so many ways but water.

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