Clarissa's Birthday in HCMC

I could not have asked for a better Birthday. After a great day in a little wooden boat cruising along the Meekong Delta to see floating markets, a rice noodle factory (with pigs and piglets just born out the back) and a guide who made us all amazing items out of palm frond leaves with a very funny sense of humour, singing Kayoke with Ben and Jas at lunch, we ended up on an Island in a homestay accommodation for the night. After settling in and a cycle around the island we were served an amazing meal of fresh fish to make our own rice paper rolls, fried spring rolls, chicken, soup, rice and pineapple for dessert. We could not eat it all but had happy and full bellies. Then it was a roll into the hammocks for a read before bed.

At the rice noodle factory and this is rice paper which takes about 6 hours to dry.

The new little piglets

Ben enjoying our little boat trip on the Mekong.

Beats going to the shops for fruit and veg

The floating markets

The items on the poles let boats know what they are selling  

We all slept like babies and I woke up at 4am to the sound of many roosters. I did not mind as it was my birthday and there I was in a house on an island in the Meekong Delta, Vietnam. I lay there relaxed, listening and dozed in and out of sleep.

The many colours of Vietnam

My birhday at the homestay, where's my cake?

Up and down the River , standard card game on our travels

Lady preparing dinner at our homestay. How do they squat like that all the time?

Do not look Nannie and Nana!

After some reading, relaxing in the hammock and a good breakfast we all packed up, hopped on 3 moto's between us (backpacks and all) and onto the ferry back to the mainland. We were shortly then on a bus and  heading for HCMC.

In "the big smoke"

I got dibs on the iPod as it was my birthday and loved tuning out to some music(different to the Asian television singing show on the bus) and pondered about life, our trip and what this year will mean for me. We had heard a few negative comments about HCMC and still remained positive about exploring this busy city. I have to say as I write this to you on our 4th and last night here that we have loved this city and the people.

The buzz of traffic and yes I crossed the road many times with locals helping us  once or twice  when we looked nervous.

After checking into our nice hotel (a little step up) in a great location and down a cute French influenced alley, we showered, dressed up, found two rickshaws to take us thru the motorbike maze and the buzz of it all (we had not seen a big city for a few months) to the Sheraton. Up onto the roof top bar for cocktails and watch the sunset over HCMC. Incredible view and great way to celebrate my birthday. Out for dinner in a beautiful French/Vietnamese style restaurant with local ladies playing authentic live Vietnamese music.

Beautiful Saigon 3, our hotel in HCMC

The next day we took the kids to a water park for some fun - thanks Jane & Bill for the tip! The kids have been so fantastic with lots of aspects of this trip and we felt they deserved a day of kid stuff, us big kids loved it too! We spent 5 hours there and never got bored. It was huge, lots of fun, a few sore muscles, a ripped hole in the bottom of my swimmers (lucky I brought another pair with us), waterlogged and big smiles at the end of the day.

Rich about to take on the Kamikaze!

Sooo much fun and difficult to choose which one to go on first.

The next day we explored the city, its sights and some shopping. We really enjoyed the tour thru the Palace and learning about its history, kids too! We could not believe it when we discovered a big shopping mall and we could not help but go inside after  2 months of markets and street stalls. We went in initially to find food and found a world of western type foods, had been craving a simple sandwich and got it! Ben was so excited to find a Leggo store, Jazzy and Rich found something in Zara and I found some new Birkenstocks.

Rich and I went to the War museum that afternoon, found it very interesting, shocking and sad. Left us with a lot to think about and contemplate. I have to say after my small time here in Asia I feel I have learnt a lot about the culture and people. It confuses me as to why Government powers in History have not had respect or acceptance for the country they invade to help. I understand the museum would have been biased against the Americans but it surprised me the force and aggression the American army showed and the destruction (from illegal chemical sprays) they caused and left behind - 3 generations later and children are still being born with deformities.

Our last day we woke early and took a tour to the Co Chi Tunnels. For those who do not know these were underground tunnels, dug by hand, and facilitated the Viet Cong control of a large rural area 30km from HCMC/Saigon. It was an interesting day although slightly disappointing as our guides english was pretty poor. We all went in the tunnels, I only went in the shortest one, 15m and glad I am small. Rich came out all hot and sweaty after only 100m.

Rich was very brave to do this one, I was not game!

The kids in the tunnels

Disguised air holes for the tunnels, very clever.

We were back by the afternoon, went to Converse for the kids (half price) and had a wander in our neighbourhood thru little alleys where locals lived. Dinner was a beautiful Japanese restaurant and a delicious Tepanyaki meal. Kids thought it was fun throwing eggs and we all LOVED the Australian lamb, steak, salmon and prawns!! After dinner we wandered the markets, bought 10 pairs of Calvin undies and ended up in Baskin Robbins for ice cream, a great day and end to our time in the "big smoke".

Last night in HCMC at the Tepanyaki restaurant.

Go Benny!

For my Facebook friends I have not been able to access the site in Vietnam. At first I thought it was my phone and after a thought and remembering this is a communist country realised why. Mum said I had a lot of Birthday messages and unfortunately I did not receive them and I look forward to it when I get to Laos hopefully. Thank you for thinking of me. I want to wish my beautiful friend Michelle in Tassy a very Happy Birthday for the 16th March and sorry I do not have your address or email.