Our day started before the butt crack of dawn. We woke up at 4am, took a taxi to the airport. We were checked in by 5:45am and had to wait to board at 6:50am. Not the way I would choose to start the day.
During check in we got a surprise at the ticket counter. The checked the weight of our baggage. In Okinawa and/or Japan that has NEVER happened. We were allowed 14kg total carry on, this included our backpacks and my purse. She made us weigh all 5 of our bags. Because we were 14kgs over the allowed weight, we were required to check the bags. But get this....it cost is $120- Singapore Dollars. It would have been a total of $40 had we booked it online. Surprise, surprise. Oh well- lesson learned.
We went through immigration, walked the entire length of the airport to get to our gate and then Security at the gate.
Our flight was uneventful for the mos part. We were lucky enough to be assigned an exit row- More leg room!
We sat across from an older man who refused to put his bag up top in the overhead bin. He argued and did not care about the policy. He argued with the flight attendant at take off and landing. We couldn't understand a word he said, but it was sure interesting to watch. It was like he had diamonds in his bag.
Once we excited the plane, we had to get our visa to enter the country. They call it a landing pass. You fill out some paper, give them a photo and pay $90 and you can enter Vietnam. By the time we got through all that, our luggage was the only bags on the round about. 
We stopped by concierge and booked a tickets for two shows. One tonight- the Water Puppet Show and then tomorrow we booked Hon Viet. The second show only is shown twice a year. We are lucky to be in town for the last showing of the year.
Exchanged some dollars for doung. $100 will get you 2,000,000 doung. I am goin to struggle with that exchange rate.
We walked out and hopped in a taxi. It was about an hour taxi ride. At one point I think we went in a circle. For all I know the cabby was taking us for a ride.
Now first impressions are always interesting. There are a million scooters and motor bikes. They just fly right at the cars. The cars and trucks communicate with honking. It was a constant honk honk. I was certain we were going to hit someone.
I also became increasingly worried that we had been scammed on te hotel. Now I have learned that the outside of buildings can be deceptive and the outside looks like a dump and the inside is beautiful. But we kept passing these places that looked awful. I thought oh no, I am going to have to survive this city, it is going to be rough.
We finally arrived and the cabby turns around and says- what is the address- I was certain she had taken us into the city, had no idea where she was going and was now asking for where we were staying!
But we were only three doors down and all my anxiety went away when I saw the beautiful hotel.
We were greeted by a bell hop who took our luggage. We were under no illusion that we would check in and get into our room. I thought we would check in, leave our luggage and head out for lunch.
We were asked to wait 20 mins and we would receive our room.
The bell hop gathered our bags and we headed to the third floor. We had been upgraded to an executive suite. 
Look at that bathtub!! So excited to relax tonight. After settling in and gearing up for the day, we set out for lunch. First we toured the pool! What a view!
We had lunch at the restaurant and the. Headed out for a walk in the neighboring areas.
Crossing the street is the same as taking your life in your own hands. I literally cross prayin I make it to the other side. They honk at you and will cross I front and behind all at the same time. So scary!
We made a short 15min walk down through the local neighborhood to the Vietnam Wat Reminants Museum. When we arrived it was closed. We Waite outside for 20 mins for it to reopen.
The entrance was being hovered by several cart drivers and peddlers. We were approached by a young girl. She said she was a student and wanted to practice her English. I must be sceptical of people, cause I was convinced that she was trying to distract us so one if the peddlers could steal from us. I immediately pulled my purse to be in front of me. But really this girl just wanted to practice. It was really cute. She went through the typical basic phrases you learn in a new language. What's you name, how are you, where are you from, how old are you and what do you do. She connected with Bill because she is studying economics and law. She wants to be a lawyer. She opened her backpack and got out a journal and we practiced her probounciation. It was cute. She taught us a few sayings in Vietnamese. I promptly forgot them. The only thing I remember is chao for hello and bye pronounced the same as hello and goodbye in Italian- cio.
The museum opened, we said a gracious goodbye and went into the musem. 
It was a very humbling experience with a reality check. I am proud to say I am married to a US Marine, to say my father was in the US Air Force and to call my self American. But when we visit places like this museum, I wish I spoke another language fluently so I could pretend I am not part of the bad people they are talking about. I know this museum is from the view point of the Vietnamese, I know ba things happened here. I just prefer not to feel my American Guilt. I am gla we went to the museum, but I don't like to feel bad on vacation, I like to live in a bubble where there are rainbows and butterflies and all people live in peace and happiness.
After the depressing museum, we walked one block to the Reunification Independence Palace. Bill wanted to go in, but he knows he has limited miles with me. So we went ahead and headed to the Notre Dame Cathedral and the national Post Office. 
We had to cross the road to get to the plaza in front of the cathedral. Traffic was not letting up, but a Mercedes Driver and a police officer were encouraging us to cross. As we are runnin through motorbikes and cars are honking at us, I am screaming, I can't, I can't, I can't. The cars and motorbikes did not hit is, but when I got to the other side I could tell my blood pressure was much higher. My face was hot, I could feel how flustered I was.
The guy made fun of us for wanting to go such a short distance, but it was pouring down rain and it was a five block walk. We get to the front of the entrance and we go to pay our 12,000doung cab fare and we don't have small enough bills. They cabby was yelling and grabbing money out of Bills hands and there was honking and a police office knocking on the window telling us to move. The cabby was tryin to make money that we didn't have appear out of thin area. He threw money at Bill, finally he made change with what we had and all the stress was over a $0.57 cab ride. The denomination the cabby thought was too large is worth about $2.30. It was so unpleasant. I am not sure I want to handle money in this country. It is all similar colors, lots of zeros and they will just grab what they want out of your hands.
We get out of our bad cab ride and get tickets to the Independence Palace. This is where the President of South Vietnam invited guests and held meetings. Imagine the White House with a tropical, 1970s vibe with open air concept. Bill said if he was the president, constantly under attack, he would not design a palace with so many windows, much less keep them open.
The ice cream really helped my mood. I was rather crabby after the cabby incident. My feet hurt, I was wet, and hot and generally feeling like we should go home. What a nice welcome.
We have plans to go to a nice restaurant down the street from the water puppet show and then see the live show. Should be a good evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment