Vietnam 2000, Part 3

MONDAY 15 MAY

Took the 8am bus to Saigon/Ho Chi Min City. (The city was called Saigon before the Communists came
to power following the American war. They expanded the municipal area (which now stands at over
2000 square km) and renamed it Ho Chi Min City, after the first president of the country of
course. Officially, Saigon is now merely the name of one of the districts of HCM - District 1, the
central one - though South Vietnamese still refer to the whole city as Saigon.) Arrived sometime
in the afternoon. A Spaniard (from Valencia), who'd been here before, took me to a cheap
guesthouse where I stayed in dorms for 3USD/night. (Saigon is more expensive than the rest of
Vietnam.)

The area I stayed in was much like the Khao San area of Bangkok in atmosphere, you know, full of
backpackers. I didn't much like being around other backpackers then, but now I don't really mind
it and actually like it. I guess I am now more of a "backpacker" now than I was before. I'm least
like a backpacker when I'm travelling with Mustafa. He's here now so hopefully I'll revert to
being an alternative backpacker again. 

Didn't really do much on the first day in Saigon. Found out about domestics such as visas, buses
to Cambodia, photos, Mekong Delta trips. Went to a vegetarian restaurant in the evening with the
Spaniard where we met the Montreal of Dalat. We shot some pool after the meal. 

TUESDAY MAY 16

The number one priority for today was to get a Cambodian visa. It was an effortless process - gave
the passport in at 10:30am and collected only 5 hours later. It cost 30USD.

Needless to say I decided to see the city with a rented bicycle. Saigon is a very busy place.
Congested traffic being a major part of it of course. Like all Vietnamese cities the vehicles were
of the two wheeled variety, but mostly of the motorised sort unfortunately. And of course nobody
cares for the traffic laws, which is good in some ways as one can take many short cuts!

After the Cambodian consulate I went to the American War Remnants museum. I'm sure it was biased
but it told, very graphically, of the atrocities committed by the Americans, including horrifying
images of the effects of agent orange. It was very sobering. 

I then cycled to the Saigon central mosque. It is a very pleasant and beautiful mosque. Met a
couple of Cambodians who study at the University of Madinah. I'd heard a few rumours about the 
Champa muslims of Cambodia that they believe in some strange things like only praying 3 times a
day. I asked the students but they assured me that the Champa Muslims were just like any other
Muslims of the Shafi school of thought.

Went back to the mosque after collecting the visa. Met a Nigerian who lives in Ealing, London, who
was here on business. He was quiet surprised to find someone who spoke English! We went for dhal
and roti with a couple of the locals from the mosque, one of whom was so excited to meet a couple
of foreigners!

For dinner, went to another vegetarian restaurant with Montreal and Valencia. And, as was becoming
the norm, went to play some pool afterwards. Valencia was a bit sad but we didn't know how to tell
him to get lost. And besides, he was an Arsenal supporter!

WEDNESDAY MAY 17

Earlier, I was saying that in Vietnam it is cheaper to take organised tours than to travel
independently. So I took a 6USD tour of the Mekong Delta with a whole bunch of tourists. It was a
very good day but I'm much happier doing things independently even if I don't see as much.

Firstly, we drove to a wide part of the Delta from Saigon. Then took a boat trip around a couple
of Islands in the Delta. The Delta region reminded me so much of Bangladesh - so flat and wet.
Well, Bangladesh is a huge Delta after all! The flat areas of other parts of Vietnam are also very
similar to Bangladesh, especially in the endless fields of rice.

Stopped off at one of the Islands for lunch. The free lunch only consisted of half a plate of rice
and vegetables. It was in no way enough but worst still we even had to pay for water!

After lunch we went to a bee far where they also make snake eggs. The bees and honey were great
but nothing compared to the pythons and the boa constrictors! At first we just saw them in cages
but after some light local entertainment they got out one of them and invited us to take hold of
it. I was one of the few who couldn't resist! I was expecting it to be slimy but it was very dry.
It felt strange at first but then it was very normal. Quite an experience though. 

From the bee farm we rowed down to the Mekong from where we took a motorised boat to a coconut
candy farm. This was far less interesting. The boat trip back to the bus was good though. (Wasn't
planning on going to Melbourne, Australia, but got an invitation from a couple I met on the trip
so just might go now. It's fantastic when people you've only known for a few hours invite you to
their place. Man, travelling is so great!!!) Returned back to Saigon just after Maghrib. 

It was the night of the Arsenal-Galatasaray UEFA cup final. It was to start at 2am local time. I
was planning a quiet of evening reading and writing but then met this Swiss guy and we did the now
repetitive rounds of vegetarian restaurants and pool. Valencia, Cape Town, San Diego and London
were there too but only Valencia and I stayed up to watch the match. Watched it at a local cafe.
It was packed as you can imagine so we sat on the road outside - they love European, especially
English, football here! Needless to say there wasn't much celebrations after the game.