Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th November

Paris to Saigon

The weather brightened a tad for our go home adventure to begin, but still cold enough for wind cheater and the Spurs beanie( getting most out of it while they are winning).

It seems crammed lift was just a start to the up close and personal day, with an overflow of guests in the breakfast room, a squeeze getting on the train and a delay getting through Security. Thank God someone decided to separate the Yanks and us for separate processing on Immigration line.

Found a very nice lounge to wile away a couple of hours. The peaceful ambiance was broken by an enormous argument from what seemed to be the kitchen. It went on for a good 20 minutes. On the way out a couple of embarrassed staff were discussing things with the Police.

On the plane which was on time and the great food and service couldn’t dull the senses enough to drop off to sleep. It was 11 and a bit hours sleep free before we landed in a hot and humid Hon Chi Min on Saturday morning.

For a change quickly through the arrival process and in a car for the ride to our riverside hotel.

Things have not changed much since our last stopover, with miraculous evasion skills by the local motor cyclists in ant like traffic. People carrying every possible thing on the back of their bikes and still managed to survive the merge. Record number of passengers was 5. In order from front of cycle it was 5 year old, Dad, 3 year old, Mum and baby on Mum’s back – seems they left the dog at home.

After 40 minutes we arrived at the Majestic Hotel – a real step back into the past. I think 5 people met and greeted us before we reached check-in.

Unfortunately room not available till 11, so we organised, through 3 very attentive staff, to store our bags and then walk the streets for a couple of hours.

We looked for the pick up spot at the Opeta House for tomorrow’s Mekong Tour and found it and 3 wedding groups at 930am – presumably it’s a great time for photos.

Got a bit of a sweat up walking the streets before returning to our hotel. Using Booking.com bonus points we had snagged an amazing Colonial Room in a 5 Star Hotel. The room had a view of the pool, wooden paneling, King sized bed and gold plated fittings in the bathroom. You didn’t need an amenities bag, every possible need was covered and once cleaned up you could climb into the silk dressing gown and slippers. It was totally unexpected and a real treat.

Both sleep deprived travellers pinched an afternoon nap before meeting our guide and doing a walking tour – Street Food style.

With a million other people we travelled the back streets of Saigon eating with the locals. The food was sensational, even if it meant sitting on some chairs fit for kindergarten kids.

At least 95% of the food was identifiable and we punted on the rest being fit for human consumption.

For nigh on 3 hours we wandered through back alleys full of 5 level houses 1 room wide. Many were chock a block full of families dining on the floor on the ground level. There was also a bunch of boozed up Karaoke singers, including a group involved in a funeral wake .

Glad the guide knew where we were as we seemed to walk around in ever diminishing circles. Saturday night is certainly party night and there is only one way to get there – on your motor cycle. Our taxi ride home certainly involved a lot of “finding the alternate route”. It took us at least double the time of the outward journey.
We were not the only ones taking shortcuts, a conga line of bikes were driving along the footpath right outside the hotel front door, as we tried to enter.

Flopped into bed, with an early alarm set to wake us for tomorrow’s Mekong adventure.