Cu Chi Tunnels

Our last day, in Vietnam.
Mr Lap as always on time to collect us to take us to the tunnels. We also had a guide called Lily.
It was a short (by Vietnam standards) journey to Cu Chi. about 1hr. Lily showed us around with ease.It was very hot and humid in the jungle,but very organised.
Our first stop was the original tunnel, quite a few people there already,but only 1or 2 people were able to lower themselves into the hole.I was too big to go in, so i had better get back down the gym.
Because the Vietnamese are about 40 kg,only the smallest of us  were able to try it out.
So we had to go to one they made bigger for us westerners. There was a choice of 20mt,40mt,or60mt, crawl through the tunnels,it was so hot and sweaty,we chose the 20mt.Not as bad as i was thinking it was going to be,but long enough. The guide stopped to take photos of us,as we went through.
It was amazing what they achieved, the tunnels were 250kl long running from HCM to Cambodia.
They had kitchens hospitals ,everything they needed was underground.
We were given a snack on route,tea and tapioca.Very nice would not have known what it was.!
Lee had a go on the shooting range, pretty expensive for what it was but you have to do it.

Part of the trip was to go and have lunch at a local resturant, well it certanly was local - on the side of the road,with the locals.If Lily had not been there to help us ,we would never had stopped.
We had Chicken ,vegetables rice, and Hot and Sour soup.It was delicious,it was so nice to sit with Mr Lap and Lily.

Sadley then it was time to go. We had to make our way to the airport,even though we had a long time to wait.We said our goodbyes to Mr Lap and Lily, and made our way to the departure lounge.

What an experiance,so many things to take in.
Things to remember- The massive amount of scooters in HCM, it hits you as soon as you are our of the airport.
The weather - it was exhausting.
The people were so friendly.

Day 2 HCM

Breakfast and away again,this time we took the shuttle bus into town.They dropped us of at Ben Thanh market.Just the usual clothing and stuff, but at the end there was fresh fruit and vegetables,and then further along was the fish market and then the meat market.

I dint stay too long in the meat and fish,one because of the smell, but if i am honest,i am not too keen on seeing inners of animals,some of which i didn't know existed. Also fish splashing around in tubs, I much prefer my meat dead.
Our next stop was the Reunification Palace. and the War Remnants Museum.
TBC

Ho Chi Min City

Mr Lap our driver was early as usual,in (Vietnam if you hire a car,it comes with the driver.and when you see the roads you can understand why.)
5 hours later and1 flat tyre, we arrive in Saigon. Hotel is very good,about 15min walk from city.That doesn't seem too bad but in that heat - no way.
So we took a taxi.
The Notre Dame Cathedral our first stop. Beautiful building, Full to capacity, prayers and song ,just didn't feel right to stand and watch!
Next stop was the post office ,which was just over the road.Again a beautiful building,with the cubicles to phone from,like you see on old films.We got involved with some students doing surveys for their university,in fact there were lots of students doing the same,even when we went back there the next day. We  just sat and watched the world go by.
Back to the Hotel quick shower and out for a meal.
At last we found places to eat out of the hotel. We took a taxi and when it was time to come home the taxis were parked outside ready to take you home again.
Watching everyone eat was entertaining too,we were not sure what we were going to get, even if we understood what we had orderd.
They bring eveything out at once ,soup main meal etc In fact the soup was the main meal, and would dip everything in it.

Mui Ne Fishing village

Because we were the only 2 people on the excursion we had our guides undivided attention. She spent more time taking pictures with my camera than i did.:)
We pulled up at the beach ,there were lots of women sat on the wall,gutting fish etc.As we walked over the road,we saw what was a film crew coming from the beach.Didnt think anything about it,but then they asked if they could ask us some questions and film us to go on local telli.
They asked us what we saw when we watched the women,and what they were doing.Where had we been and what we thought of Vietnam. Our guide was so excited bless her.
It was a brilliant day, very natural. After the walk we stopped to have a drink with a local woman, she crushed some sugar cane added some lemon , put some ice in a glass and hey presto we have drink.We  also had some snack made out of peanuts.

The woman then got back to bottling her fish sauce.

Mui Ne Red Sand Dunes

The only excursion we have taken while we have been here.
Red sand dunes, they werent as red as we were expecting,nor were we expecting the children. As soon as we got out of the mini bus.

They spoke very good English, and yet they didnt go to school, spending most of most their time trying to get tourist to slide down the dunes for what ever money they can get.Trouble is they had to push and pull Lee And Myself up first, and they wanted money for that too.!
Our next stop was Fairy river , at first we wasent sure where we were going, we took our shoes of and left them very tiedely to what seemed to be someones home and shop.She then led us down to a little stream, but it was red or reddish.It was cooling and refreshing.We walked along what can only be described as a mini grand canyon. How on earth anyone could know about this I dont know, but we met quiet a few people walking there.

Fishy things

well, everyday there are men fishing just of the beach ,so i go and watch.Dont know why cos i dont like what i see half the time.
One day i saw him throw a fish on the sand, when i looked it was a puffer fish.All puffed up.
I watched for second and all i wanted to do is put him back in the water, anyway he de-puffed !!!
so i picked him up that made him puff up again, so dropped him, but i got something to carry him on and took him back to the water. I bet he tgought stupid woman,I just couldent watch him gasping.
 I saved one but i bet there are hundreds more he throws away.

Mui Ne

Yesterday we went back to Mui Ne and finally found some places to eat. It is set up more for tourist and back packers.A few shops lots of resorts and eating places.
What i really wanted to find was the fishing village, which we did today.But more on that later.

This is Mang she weaves this lovely material for the hotel, she sits there from 8 - 5 with only 30 min. break all day.It takes her 3 days to do a shawl, or a ruuner for the table.She made some bookmarks for me and my children.For free.