Day 4 Vietnam

Hello my little Viet Congs –

Today was full of surprises, dead bodies, and the hustle and bustle of street life!!

We had our early morning wake up call at 6.00am as we had to be out of the hotel, complete with luggage by 8.00.

Our guide Hnung (said in a very nasal, fast tone….Hnung – feel free to practise) was waiting for us and observed that I was dressed incorrectly!!! Suspenders and a lacey bra clearly – were inappropriate!!! (little jokette) I had on a skirt and a sleeveless top…very presentable!! He said that due to the nature of our tours today I had to have my shoulders and legs covered. Back upstairs, open the case and re selected we were ready to leave by 8.15!!

Our first stop was the Mausoleum!! Ho Chi Min’s. – You have to stand in a single file line, no talking, hands must be by your side (not crossed) and no eye contact with the guards!!!. Failure to comply….you get told off!! Least you don’t get shot!

Fortunately as it was so early the queue wasn’t very long as we hadn’t bothered to enquire what we were doing – just joined the line! Once inside, it’s all very serious….you walk up some stairs, along a corridor and then there it is…….this dead bloke lying on a wooden like table surrounded by four guards – no glass surrounding you or him – just him…..dead! Apparently he is Ho Chin Min – lying in state. He’s been there since 1969!!! Considering he’s been there over 40 years, he looked pretty good.

He’s only there between 7.30 and 11.00am and then the guards push a button and he descends into a basement (probably into a fridge to preserve him!)

He disappears for two months every year – some say he goes to Russia, some think its China, but our guide reckons he goes for a bit of an overhaul…..new embalming and maybe a change of clothes.

The whole experience lasted no more than about 45 seconds….the queuing took about 20 mins!!

From there we went to see where Ho lived. Ho started off in the presidential palace which is quite impressive but as he had no wife, children or descendents, he decided that it was too big for him so he moved to one of the staff out buildings. From there he decided to build himself a little house in the grounds. Nice looking kind of a beach house…..all wood decking, bedroom, office, dining room but no bathroom or toilet!! He had to walk across the courtyard for ablutions. He did however have a small hill constructed next to his house with a tunnel – this was his own personal bunker to escape bombs from the Americans and French. He also had his own private hospital built next door – only about 4 rooms, which is where he died.

Next we went to visit the Pagoda, – folk law saw its where you ask the lady buddah for a son….kind of a fertility pagoda!! Its next to Ho’s house….nothing like a bit more culture to keep you on your toes!! That took us all of about 3 mins and then it was off to visit Confucius He has his very own temple like place……I think he did something bad and got kicked out of the 1st division temples. He is surrounded by food and money and rumour suggests that if you give him offerings he will make your wishes come true!!!

After that we went of to the Museum of Fine Art……cant say it was to our taste but it did have clean toilets which at that point was quite a relief!! Most of the public toilets are either built for midgets or its standard practice to have your head poking out over the top. The Museum has proper toilets – floor to ceiling doors and walls with the added bonus of toilet paper!!

After our cultural experiences, it was off to the old quarter to have a look around…..loads of street vendors and souvenir shops. Overhead cables and wires hover over your head, curbs are uneven and traffic is beyond terrible. If you need to cross the road, the safest way is get in a cab!!!!

By 12.00 we were once again on the road en route to the airport – it had been a very busy morning.

By 4.00pm we had arrived at our next destination – a place called Danang. We are staying in a place called Hoi An which is a small town bustling with shops that make clothes and shoes and a variety of restaurants ranging from eating a 3 course meal for $3 to approx $80. Something for everyone, although $80 for two is considered outrageously expensive here. Not being one with nature I kind of freaked out when a very large something landed on my foot!!! Clearly I should have been wearing my Ugg boots and not sandals…….you have been warned!!

Our hotel is magnificent and we have an unbelievable suite on the beach which we are sharing with a very noisy geko crocodile woodpecker creature. Also somewhere on the loose is a small lizzard…..which if the truth be known I would like gone but Indy the Brave isnt brave enough to go on a search and destroy mission – so we are sharing!!!!

Its been a very busy day and tomorrow we have another early morning wake up call as we have cooking school!!

On that note, I bid you goodnight.

Until tomorrow, it’s good night from me, the geko, lucy lizzard and Indy

Love
A xxxxx

ps Confucius says “A Lion would never would cheat on his wife but a Tiger Wood”!!!