Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Saigon, Vietnam - 24Apr07

Amusing Historical Museum, Stunning War Museum

Retyped after the IE at the internet cafe hang! $^&()^%%$$

i have come to realise that, air-con is a luxury at this region. Unless you go the the high end restaurant or hotel, which mean you are going to pay for the standard as per in Singpaore, then don't expect a working air-con at some decent restaurants or hotels.

i changed to a cheaper room today. Decided to bear with the heat and spend 2 more days here. i was not willing to pay for the not really work aircon now.

i finally tried the Vietnamese pho, noodle soup. Yes, in the vege restaurant. Quite nice, but i did not like the MSG they put. i did not like Vietnamese tea too. It got some kind of 'burnt' smell.

i shopped at Bien Theint market, got some T shirts and small sourvenirs. i think i got a bit too much compassionate that when i think about the average income of people here is just 100 USD per month, then i felt really bad to bargain for things i bought and for the transportation. The highlight of the day was the War Musuem. i was weeping when i saw the war photos. May be my past life was died in this region that i felt so much over here. Not matter what, i think i got quite a good rebirth in this life though. :) Gratitude.

The Reunification Palace gave me a deeper understandings of the history of Vietnam. Although i couldn't feel the hatred of Vietnamese towards the American now, but obviously the American involvement in the Vietnam War is considered as an invasion and cruelity over here.

The Historical Musuem was funny. There was a furniture shop right in the compound of the musuem. I mistaken the museum as a furniture shop selling antique style furniture in the first place. i did not expect to see a mummy in the museum. i was really surprised to see a 'corpse' lying in the glass.

i took the xe om (moto taxi) to the business area, dong Khai and caught a drink over the juice bar. It was a bit expensive (for the standard here) but they got fresh wheat grass juice and very delicious begel. The environment was good too and there was people opened the door for me, so it worthed every cents. :)

i met with Viet Ha, a Vietnamese girl from Hanoi for dinner. She is just 23 years old and currently doing her internship in her own country. Well, she has been studing in Canada for quite a while, so she speaks excellent English. i am glad to find someone who i can speak in a 'complicated' way. By visiting this region, i think i realised that, i speak 'excellent' English! ;p

She asked whether my long trip is a kind of soul searching or?? i seriously don't know. May be i am looking for something? someone? i only know that, i enjoy meeting different kind of people and seeing different kind of life.



Reunification Palace. This building was once the symbol of the south Vietnamese government.



War Remnants Museum. This is a powerful place. Many shed tears for seeing the pictures of suffering people during American War.



A beautiful Cathedral situated by the road junction.



The modern part of Saigon, air-conditioned shopping centre.

MONEY MATTER:
1.) Food: 142000 Dong
2.) Accommodation: USD 4 (squeezy , simple fan room with two single beds and attached bath room)
3.) Tranportation: 10000 Dong
4.) Shopping: 92000 Dong

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The highlight of the day was the War Musuem. i was weeping when i saw the war photos.


I, too, cried when I went to the museum. I went to a big buddhist temple afterwards, sat and reflected on it.

The Reunification Palace gave me a deeper understandings of the history of Vietnam. Although i couldn't feel the hatred of Vietnamese towards the American now, but obviously the American involvement in the Vietnam War is considered as an invasion and cruelity over here.


The only indication I got of bad feelings was by an older gentleman who smilingly insulted me one time. But, except for the horrific continued birth defects from agent orange, I got the feeling life there has moved on. Of course, a majority of the current population was born after the American War.

She asked whether my long trip is a kind of soul searching or?? i seriously don't know.


That's OK. Sometimes we don't know why we are doing what we are doing. Let your instinct lead you.

Anonymous said...
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