Stamp Collectors :)

As some may know I came to have a quick introduction to Vietnam! Arrived on Tuesday and leave on Sunday. The easiest get away was Saigon, only 1h50min flight.

I am all ok, I love Vietnam all - it is a master chaos. :)
First time traveling alone in South East Asia and happy to say so far I keep my head above water.

You need approval letter from the government to enter Vietnam so the obvious 1st gathering point is the visa counter. I met to guys right at the airport, they were Pols from Krakow. Very close to Hungary so naturally we started to chat. I was looking to take the bus and lucky enough they were open for my suggestion, I read in the guide book that you take a taxi for 100,000d (dong) but a bus is 4,000d. (1USD=21,000d)

The ride was funny, it was a local mini bus, locals were getting on and off I guess at the bus stops but I could not really see actual signs.
The guys, Chris and Lukas ended up staying at my hostel; I was choosing really well, the hostel is brand new, very clean and safe (so far). I ended up staying in the 4 bed female dorm, where 1st night there were 3 girls, but by the 2nd night they were gone and I had the whole room for myself.

What happened that the Polish boys were sooo kind and friendly we kind of grouped together for the 2 days. So our first trip was to eat the local cuisines’ specialty – Pho!

It is a noodle soup with a bunch or green leaves, meat and noodles. It is fantastic! I really love it, you can play around with it to suck the noodle, add chili, and dip things into several sauces…really entertaining to eat. :)

Here is the link:
http://www.google.com.vn/search?q=pho&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=vi&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=574&sei=%20fjezTtK_HpHomAXfvo3dAw

We arrived very early at around 1pm so we had plenty of time to wonder around and we found the local main sights just by accident. I planned to do these the next day following Lonely Planet. :)

Notre Dame: http://www.google.com.vn/imgres?q=notre+dame+saigon&um=1&hl=vi&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1024&bih=574&tbm=isch&tbnid=pgMgDs_CC4dDSM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saigon_Notre-Dame_Basilica_Side.JPG&docid=mkA9kpeT2UHoAM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Saigon_Notre-Dame_Basilica_Side.JPG&w=3296&h=2472&ei=KDizTriREo2HmQX597zwAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=724&vpy=180&dur=1520&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=146&ty=172&sig=118375968605322403806&page=3&tbnh=155&tbnw=208&start=30&ndsp=9&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:30
Opera: http://www.google.com.vn/search?q=opera+saigon&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=vi&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=574&sei=%20TzizTue4NObsmAXPsI3wAw

The first morning: the breakfast was the typical French influenced roll, which reminds me of our Hungarian pastry but I don’t really like it as it is too “fluffy”, it is my problem at home too.

Here is the link:
http://www.google.com.vn/imgres?q=vietnam+bakery&um=1&hl=vi&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1024&bih=574&tbm=isch&tbnid=zbvhKy6SzZbOlM:&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/ggtravelguide/GGTRAVELGUIDEVIETNAM&docid=veOHy3QTnMXT_M&imgurl=http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FNTPJj57Nk8/TBZLPmVnC6I/AAAAAAAAADY/XUsrGaYUJnw/P3220158.JPG&w=1024&h=769&ei=pzezTunvFfD3mAXo0f3fAw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=361&sig=118375968605322403806&page=2&tbnh=167&tbnw=222&start=16&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:16&tx=92&ty=63

With Chris and Lukas I went to the art museum which is a beautiful French colonial building, not renovated but gorgeous. The whole country is crazy cheap but for instance an art museum entry fee is 50 cents.

Link: http://www.google.com.vn/search?q=opera+saigon&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=vi&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=574&sei=%20TzizTue4NObsmAXPsI3wAw#um=1&hl=vi&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=art+museum+saigon&pbx=1&oq=art+museum+saigon&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=168970l171281l0l171703l11l11l0l0l0l10l593l4321l3-4.3.3l10l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=571b313160f5089&biw=1024&bih=574

/I cannot insert my memory card into this computer therefore the links/
The art was mainly paintings some were beautiful; I will have photos once I can unload.

Then we walked an hour got to the history museum, and zoo. It was a great day, we walked a lot but the streets are so interesting – it is just nice to see it. We stopped at the post office which is a shockingly pretty building; inside I thought I am in Europe for a minute.

http://www.google.com.vn/search?q=opera+saigon&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=vi&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=574&sei=%20TzizTue4NObsmAXPsI3wAw#um=1&hl=vi&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=post++saigon&oq=post++saigon&aq=f&aqi=&aql=1&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=214958l215678l0l216364l5l5l0l0l0l3l446l1592l3-2.2l4l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=571b313160f5089&biw=1024&bih=574

The history museum, I got some great photos there, has interesting statues and artifacts, they also had reference about the Khmer culture, which we have seen in Cambodia with Mike. Phnom Phen, Cambodia’s capital is a short ride from here!!!

Then we went to the zoo which sounded like a good idea but seriously half way we decided to leave… It was horrible, horrible ...
I should start an NGO to save those poor animals. I was thinking to go back with a big bucket of fruit and give it to them...

Then it started raining and became quite a storm, we walked to the museum/zoo which took us about an hour or so. The rain became quite strong and of course my umbrella was at the hostel, so we decided to hop on a random bus. We did not know where it would go, but it was better than being soaked. :)

One of guys wanted to try the best crepe making place and made us walk to find it but the plan failed and we were quite wet so we gave up after a wet 30-40 min and took a cab back to our neighborhood. Bit more tourists but due to that there are restaurants, cheap beer and life.

Here we found this bad looking restaurant which has great food and sat down for a feast. I eat so little, breakfast is not too great at the hostel and I just go with the flow so many times I have lunch at 4-5pm.
Anyways the meal was EXCELLENT. Beef roasted with honey, spring rolls, veggie with shrimps... and the 50cent beer. oh lovely. It was great to go to eat with the guys because we could try more food. :)

About the prices:
1 bottle of beer – 10,000dong = 50 cents
1 bowl of pho – 40,000dong = 2+dollars
Taxi – 2-3 dollars
Coffee – 1or 2 dollars

Then we walked to find an agency for them to Cambodia and a tailor for Mike and I. Success was celebrated with beer and good chats. It is so crazy here the common thing is to sit on the street on these baby plastic chairs and baby plastic tables, pretty funny but it is working. You are down to Earth : ) on the street, eating and drinking, actually it is quite cute. :) And vendors walk up to you selling tobacco, toys…

On the 3rd day, the boys left for Cambodia and I left for Vung tau which is the sea side holiday destination.

I chose the not beaten down path and haggled a motor taxi (first time) to the faaaar away bus terminal. I asked the hostel staff to write me key sentences in Vietnamese in case I need them and very well I needed them. This faaar away bus station was sooo local, that people were looking at me as I am a Caucasian, 95% of people did not know a word of English and everybody loved the fact that I had my massage written down in Vietnamese, I got great brownie points.

I got a bus ticket to Vung tau about 2-2.5h away from here at the sea side.

I sat in the front of the mini bus, I wanted the view and as I was the only white chick the driver let me sit there. and the locals at the back were understandably saying " look at the apple polisher" hahahah :) I just smiled

The ride was a bit longer than I expected and ahh there is poverty here too. The road is sometimes kidney crashing but I did arrive at 1pm (3h ride). Took a local motor taxi to my hotel :) and felt that something is not right...

The hotel was very empty, I think maybe 1-2 rooms were occupied but they had problems with electricity, toilet flashing... I was not too confident. So I decided to have a swim to feel at home. Well the sea was brown because of the sand so I decided to NOT go in at all.
I collected shells as it is my favorite hobby and started to walk south to the Jesus statue.

http://www.google.com.vn/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=AAM&pwst=1&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=vung+tau+jesus&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&biw=1005&bih=558&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

I was walking on the beach which was empty but some local boys whose attention I “unwontedly” got... great I thought.
The whole place had this ghost city feel to it... I was seriously considering to just call this whole thing off. If I feel like that during the afternoon sun, how will it feel at night...? Not to mention that I had no lunch and I found no place to eat...

I was walking alone and then I saw some nice views and spots ... but as the bike rent was pricey I walked under the 2 pm sun!!!!

Then I saw the Jesus statue and thought... oh it will be a pain to go up there but I will surely never come back so might as well start the climb.
My sweat was literary dropping from my body by the time I arrived. The view was nice, but got some tankers!

I convinced myself to stay and try to enjoy the place rent a scooter or something. I could not go into the Jesus statue ‘cos my shorts were too short and so at the feet of it I met a German girl who also had the same problem and she waited for her bfriend to come back. Talking to her made me go with my first feeling and just decide to leave.

I paid extra and got on the hydrofoil... very fast boat I wanted to try it as I now knew the car ride.

I had a chat and a coffee at the jetty with the Germans (i met up with them again). On the boat I met some Hong Kong people who told me to go on a Mekong tour or go and see Chu Chi tunnels.

I am more into the cooking class idea but it is pricey, 35-40USD!!! The place I found is super nice looking, but I find it expensive. Otherwise cooking class is not too available as I find. No massage places either unlike in Thailand or Bali.

On the way home there came a HUGE storm, when we arrived to the Saigon jetty it was raining cats and dogs, so i had to share a cab with the German couple.

I came back to my hostel and asked for a room again :) they put me into a room with a Japanese girl so I am not alone - so cute.

I finished the night with my favorite pho and it was great as always. I love it!

After that I was just walking around, not daring to adventure out too much as it was dark and it was the 1st night I am totally alone.

Today my plan was to catch up on the blog in the morning while having my excellent Vietnamese coffee; it is as great as being heard.
Now I will I take the bus to China town to look at some pagodas and presents. I also want to eat as much as I can to see and taste Vietnam. :) I had some names and places recommended.

to be continued…

Mike's upcoming birthday gave me the fine excuse to venture out and buy ingredients that are usually not in my daily routine items such as Parma ham, outstanding quality Swiss and Italian cheeses, really nice cream fresh ...

Actually Mike tole me to give him an "experience" for his birthday which meant an unforgettable meal. Given that he LOVES pasta and chocolate I did not need to spend much time thinking what to prepare, I made pasta main course and chocolate dessert.
Which is quite vanilla! :)

Purchasing all the ingredients took me a fair amount of time as I went to 4-5 different shops for perfection.

I speed-learned the method of home made pasta by Jamie Oliver. This story on youtube really does seem to be quick and easy but if you haven't got a pasta maker machine like he does in the video, it is quite fussy / time consuming and the result is not as soft as expected but hey I made pasta at home! :)

The meal turned out to be unbelievable - super rich but just super tasty with the great cheeses, see through sliced Parma ham, creamy sauce ... it was a feast no doubt about it! We opened one of our holly bottle of wines from Hungary, all was perfect and according to Mike the meal delivered what he hoped for.

The dessert had to wait for a while as we needed some time between these two courses but the chocolaty dessert was just amazing as well!

I am sure this is something you shouldn't eat every day because the calorie contain is about 3000 per head but once is a while it is great to celebrate!