Week 22 (Vietnam)

11/16

Too tired for star trek. Slept like a log and woke up at 8.30. Did the media and
now going for beakfast. Think it rains again (can't tell from here (my room that
is)).
Went to the old, non touristic part of town. Good move, since: best ommelet ever
and a hugh mug of vietnamese coffee (30K vn), found some shaving cream (about
time, believe me), shelterd for 2 x rain (and met this lovely Oz couple) in a nice
cafe, long stroll. Sun shines now again, so... beach time. Yeah! Laterz.
Spend a long aftenoon in the waves and on the beach. Loved it. Did a 4K run after
that. Man! Showered, and now FB check, food and a Saigon green (guess what that
is).
Had the cheapest food (on the market, a nice noodle soup) and the cheapest beer
ever (2L for 25.000 dong (= 1 Euro)). Could not drink it all, so gave away half to
some american backpackers. Tried to watch a star trek episode, but fell asleep.


11/17

Woke up at 7, packed and hopped on the bus to Mui Ne. 6 hour drive. Arrived here
round 14.00. Unpacked, got a lovely little bungalow(ish) room. 2 hours of beach,
attempt to run, but.. i had no dry socks, so... think it's gonna be a saigon green
instead. Laterz...

Took me 2 hours walk to see all of the "new" Mui Ne. Place has changed
dramatically. Even more touristic then it already was. Could not find Joe's Bar
(where i played music 5 years ago). It seemed they had gone bankrupt. So sad,
since it was such a cosy place. There was a (new to me) Joe's Cafe though. Also
with live music. Nice place, but modern and touristic.
The walk ended up with a saigon green in a small friendly bar, next door, where im
going to have breakfast now (= 11/18)


11/18

Woke up at 8, did the media, getting breakfast now.
Did breakfast and a very nice coffee in the little fishers restaurants along the
seashore. Did my laundry, and went off for a long afternoon at the beach. I got
quit a nice tan now, i tell you.
Had a great diner at the Lam Tong family restaurant (where i met Paul and Hayley 5 years
ago). Place is still the same. Good seafood, and so close to the shore, that
sometimes you get wet, due to the breaking waves. Sipped a last saigon green next
door and tried to see a star trek episode, but it was so boring that i fell
asleep.


11/19

Woke up at 7.30, packed (a dog had stolen 1 slipper, but we found it back) and at
8 we were on the bus to Saigon (Ho Chi Min city). Arrived here at 14.00h. Nice
hotel, where i could immediately book a ticket for the 26th to BKK. Yes, that
means i stay here, leave the group and will not join them to Cambodia. (They will
visit Phnom Phen and Anchor Wat, which i did 5 years ago, so i prefer to explore
Saigon a bit more extensively). Well, here we are. Im about to do a good stroll,
laterz.

Strolls were fantastic. A feast of recognition. Glad i stay here for a week.
Already got options for other rooms as well. Strolled, ran (in the same park as 5
years ago; and man, talking about sweat.. leaking!) and ate late. Sipped a few
greens, chatted long, slept at 12 or so.


11/20

Woke up at 8... breakfasted.. found the war museum... strolled. Going to eat a
burger now. Laterz.

Sported the whole afternoon.... need to work on my condition. Also arranged
another hotel and some documents for leaving Vietnam and Thailand. Quit a bit of
work i must say. I had to disappoint the lady of the sister hotel, since that was
too far away. Felt a bit sorry for her, coz she was a very nice person.

When all was done I did a run in the park again. Now, FB check and food. Laterz.

Nights in Saigon, well always memorable... u stroll from one bar to another and so
i did. Ending up with Dennis in the bar accross the street. And when i end the
evening, drinking with Dennis... l'histoire se repet... Ouch... my head.


11/21

Rose at 8, to say goodbye to the rest of the group. I stay here for 5 more days,
as the rest will do Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. I did that 5 years ago extensively,
so, better explore Saigon a bit more. A few days on my own appeals to me as well.

So, at 11.00 i moved into a new hostel (same place where i was 5 years ago),
installed myself.
At 13.00 i strolled towards the harbor, went to the <name?>building (huge Mall
actually, very, very western). Ate a baquette, explored the local market and went
back. Slept for an hour or so.

The night... well, met some Ozzies, and they started drinking... and me... Anyway,
it was late when i came back (i think.. oopsy daisy).


11/22


Woke up at 8.30, did the media, had one of these fantastic Vietnamese coffees,
breakfasted and sported all afternoon. Need to, to get my system clean.
Now a run in the park.

Showered, shaved. Then i went out again, and drank some, again, it was late, again. But had a nice time again. So why bother?