March 24 10pm
A day of street walking around HCMC after breakfast at Lan-Lan2, our hotel. Hot and sunny. Took a map and went north to the botanical garden - zoo. Gibbons (?) were the best. Saw a few new birds in the tree canopy at the botanical garden; it is amazing how few birds there are elsewhere around the city, only sparrows and rock pigeons. Had tea and coffee at a small cafe which Neil probably won't do again. The iced coffee was great but Neil now recognizes that the ice tea was probably not a good choice.
Crossed over a few tributaries of the Saigon River. Explored some local neighborhoods. Wandered through a meat - fish market with live and dead seafood. Eels, catfish, many other fish, (some swimming in small basins) squid, frogs, most everything one would want for an asian seafood dinner. Visually and aromatically stimulating! Chickens being plucked and washed/scrubbed/cleaned on the sidewalk. Lots of fruits and vegetables. When we started to return back towards the hotel, we crossed over an unfinished bridge and climbed down a rebar ladder entering the back side of what appeared to be abandoned warehouse shipyard area along the Saigon River. It was around noon so we only encountered few folks on mopeds until exiting through the gated access point along the river front. Won't go back there again! We got assimulated back into the crowds. Had a few beers mid day to rehydrate, Saigon Green and Tiger Lager. Shared and spoke about our experiences with the NPS; that makes for fun talk and drink!! Regrouped at the Lan-Lan and read more of the Pentagon Papers before heading out for an evening walkabout. Had a great bowl of beef noodle soup and dish of sticky beef rice with a passion fruit drink. Food is tasty!!
A day of street walking around HCMC after breakfast at Lan-Lan2, our hotel. Hot and sunny. Took a map and went north to the botanical garden - zoo. Gibbons (?) were the best. Saw a few new birds in the tree canopy at the botanical garden; it is amazing how few birds there are elsewhere around the city, only sparrows and rock pigeons. Had tea and coffee at a small cafe which Neil probably won't do again. The iced coffee was great but Neil now recognizes that the ice tea was probably not a good choice.
Crossed over a few tributaries of the Saigon River. Explored some local neighborhoods. Wandered through a meat - fish market with live and dead seafood. Eels, catfish, many other fish, (some swimming in small basins) squid, frogs, most everything one would want for an asian seafood dinner. Visually and aromatically stimulating! Chickens being plucked and washed/scrubbed/cleaned on the sidewalk. Lots of fruits and vegetables. When we started to return back towards the hotel, we crossed over an unfinished bridge and climbed down a rebar ladder entering the back side of what appeared to be abandoned warehouse shipyard area along the Saigon River. It was around noon so we only encountered few folks on mopeds until exiting through the gated access point along the river front. Won't go back there again! We got assimulated back into the crowds. Had a few beers mid day to rehydrate, Saigon Green and Tiger Lager. Shared and spoke about our experiences with the NPS; that makes for fun talk and drink!! Regrouped at the Lan-Lan and read more of the Pentagon Papers before heading out for an evening walkabout. Had a great bowl of beef noodle soup and dish of sticky beef rice with a passion fruit drink. Food is tasty!!
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