What a difference a day makes

I am now in the chaotic shithole that is called Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon.) This place couldn't be any more different than Bangkok. And it started from the word go.

Yesterday was my last day in Chiang Mai and it was a nice and relaxing day. I headed to the buddhist temple for a monk chat. On the way there, I saw this little restaurant that was packed with all Thai people. So, I decided to stop in for a bite to eat. The food has been so phenomenal that I haven't passed up many opportunities. This little place had basically one thing on the menu, chicken soup with 2 choices, thin or thick noodles, spicy or not spicy. No english spoken there so I pointed and nodded my way to the thick noodles spicy and it was absolutely delicious. I was ready to pay, and she said 20 Baht (60 cents!!!!)

The monk chat is an open forum where you can sit down and talk to the monks about anything. I went there and talked with Em, a 21 year-old-monk. He taught me a lot about the buddhist religion, what it takes to be a monk, Thai culture, and many other subjects. I spent a couple hours talking with him and others. Very interesting and time well spent.

I than flew back on one of the worst flights of my life. It was on Air Asia, a discount carrier. The plane literally took two huge drops in the air, prompting the guy next to me to scream OH SHIT. And me to scream some obscenity that I can't recall. The flight was so bad that literally the passengers started clapping when we landed.

Now for Saigon. Literally the place is so different than Bangkok. No buddhist temples, back to driving on the same side of the street as home, no tourists everywhere, dirty, and the pace is absolutely frenetic. Things started differently from the airport. The taxi drivers were literally trying to rip me off. I had read about the tactics, so it didn't catch me off guard. Than the taxi that I got in tried to trick me and play games with giving me the wrong change. The exchange rate is 16,000 Dong- $1. Than when arriving at the hotel, he tried again. Than tried to charge me more than it said on the meter. I told him no and threatened to get the guy from the hotel. All of a sudden the right change came back.

After that, I washed my face and headed out to walk and see some of the sites of Ho Chi Minh City. Headed to the reunification palace and saw some history from the Vietnam War and just checked out the city. It isn't all that impressive. Not to mention that I feel like my life is in danger every time I cross the street. There are a zillion motorbikes everywhere and they don't look like they are going to stop. Literally, I had to dodge some on the sidewalk!!! They will hit the sidewalk if that can provide a shortcut. I did manage to grab a delicious bowl of Pho (noodle soup) and had another experience where they will nickel and dime you to death. At my place setting was a cold towel, which I used. When I got my bill, there was a charge of 1000 Dong (about a nickel). I asked what it was for and he said using the towel. I just laughed and paid.

Needless to say, Ho Chi Minh City isn't the most relaxing of travel destinations. But, part of the experience. It is very interesting.

Tomorrow, I am going to take a tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cu_Chi_Tunnels . The underground system that the Viet Kong built and used as hiding places and to launch attacks. They served many purposes and very instrumental in the war. Should be really fascinating. Than in the evening, I meet up with my tour group for the rest of the trip.

Bye for now.

PS- GO BUCKS!!!