Arrival
Well, we arrived safe and sound in Vietnam - after a very brief stopover in Singapore. (It consisted mainly of a dash from one terminal to another - and racing past all the shops, much to Jim's dismay.)We arrived at 7 p.m. in Ho Chi Minh City and were greeted by a hot and humid 31oC.
Driving from the airport to the Caravelle Hotel was an educational experience.
The city is lovely! Wide streets and lots of colourful lights - but motorbikes absolutely everywhere!
There seem to be unwritten road rules which allow traffic to merge, pass each other and drive head on without crashing! Jim and I cringed and jumped a hundred times - but our driver was totally unconcerned.
Motobike riders are absolutely fearless and are all obviously convinced they are safe because they are wearing helmets. This means they can have three on a bike (one of them being a child, another a woman in a short skirt and high heels), carry five boxes on the back, carry one milk crate with five enormous palm trees - or text or use their mobile phones in any way they see fit. (Haven't yet seen the live chickens on the back - but I'm sure that will come.)
Have also seen the obligatory elderly woman striding along in conical hat and pole over her shoulder with baskets attached. (I can die happy now.)
The hotel is very luxurious and, after a shower, we headed upstairs to the Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar for a drink in the open air - wonderful views of Ho Chi Minh City.
We met up with our friends, Peter & Liz, and were serenaded by the Q'vana signers - from Cuba - in short skirts and fishnet stockings. (Very Vietnamese!)
Nothing like drinking cocktails with fruit and bendy straws to the sound of popular Vietnamese songs in Spanish.
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