Getting to be Good at Frogger!

Statue Park I Came Across, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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My guesthouse was just a few blocks from the bus station where I was dropped off and I managed to get the last room located on the fourth floor.  The room was on the smaller side, but very nice and clean, with a tv and air con.  I really could have just had a room with a fan, but that didn't seem to be an option.  I found a place close by to eat and then called it a night.

The following morning, I was all excited to have my first bowl of pho (pronounced "pher") for breakfast.  Pho is a noodle soup that I always have with beef.  After a delicious bowl of Pho I decided I was going to walk around to see the sites.  I came across my first major intersection and it was very daunting.  The traffic is unbelievable and even if you cross when there is a traffic light, it doesn't mean that people will stop to let you go.  So, crossing the road was a major feat.  I almost was ready to turn around and find myself a moto driver to show me the sites, but that wasn't what I wanted to do.

Check out the 70 Colors! Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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The key to crossing the road, is not to run across, this will surely get you hurt.  Instead, you have to just step out in traffic, regardless of how much there is and walk very slowly, pausing as necessary and allowing the traffic to go around you.  You just have to have faith that they will!  It really did remind me of the game frogger :)  I only had once incident where a guy almost plowed me over and I gave him a look of "What do you think you are doing?".  He genuinely seemed apologetic!

Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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As I walked I constantly got asked if I wanted a moto or a cyclo (rickshaw).  One cyclo even followed me for 7 blocks despite my telling him I wanted to walk.  He only finally gave up once I went into the Ben Thanh market.  I didn't spend to long in there since it was pretty hot and I really wasn't looking to buy anything.  I continued to walk through the streets, not always in the most direct route, until I came across the Reunification Palace.  Unfortunately it was close to closing time for lunch so I decided I would come back later that afternoon.  Across from the palace was a park, so I decided to sit for a few minutes to figure out where to go next.  As I did, who should I see but Liam with his friend.  We stopped and chatted for a bit, but then it started to rain, so we went our separate ways.

Jade Emporer Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Thankfully, the rain was just a passing sprinkle.  Close to where I had sought shelter was a pretty catholic church and the main post office.  I ventured on to find the Jade Emperor Pagoda that seemed to allude me.  I finally found it after realizing I had already passed it once.  Plus, it didn't help when I asked a cyclo driver where the pagoda was and he pointed in a completely different direction when we were just around the corner from it.  Inside the pagoda were some very grotesque figures but I didn't take any pictures since I didn't think it was appropriate, especially with a few people praying.

Are These for Pets or to Eat? Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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By now I was ready for lunch.  Although it was totally out of the way, I wanted to try the best, according to LP, Banh Xeo (prawn and pork pancake) in the city at Banh Xeo 46A.  This place was definitely not on the tourist track and a little difficult to find down a small road.  But I made it and just in time since it started to bucket down.  My pancake came, along with a plate of lettuce leaves, two small bowls and a sauce.  I really wasn't sure what I was supposed to do with everything, but at least figured I was supposed to put portions of the pancake into a lettuce leaf.  However, I was weary of the lettuce, so instead I did my best to eat the pancake with my chopsticks - I know, I looked even more like a foreigner.  I guess it would have been worse if I had asked for a knife and fork!  One interesting thing about the pancake is that they don't peel the shrimp, although they do take the tails off.  I ate a few, but really couldn't get over the crunchiness.

Traffic Around Midday, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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By the time I had finished my pancake, the rain had pretty much finished, so I headed back out again.  Geographically, it made more sense for me to go to the War Remnants Museum first, but since the Reunification Palace closed at 4pm, I had to get there first.  The Reunification Palace (once known as the Presidential Palace or Independence Palace) was where the first communist tanks arrived and crashed through the gates on April 30th, 1975.  I went through the building where only a fraction of it was accessible.

Main Post Office, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Backtracking, my last stop was to the War Remnants Museum (once known as the Museum of Chinese & American War Crimes).  There was a lot to digest and unfortunately I didn't have enough time to be too thorough, but the pictures really said it all.  It was extremely sobering to see the effects of war, especially the pictures of those civilians deformed by the bombing and napalming.  Definitely something that will stick in my mind for some time.

After about 6 or so hours of walking around, I was exhausted.  Once back at my guesthouse, I decided that a foot massage was in order.  Just a few blocks away, I went to Relax House.  Downstairs, Relax House was a salon, but upstairs is where I had my massage.  For $7, I had an hour long foot massage by Thao, a 26 year old, who was very sweet.  I also ended up getting a pedicure and manicure for another $7.  Can't beat those prices!

Catholic Church, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Once my pampering was done, I enjoyed an Indian meal at Akbar Ali.  Once finished, I decided to get some internet time in.  I totally spaced on the time and it was past midnight before I got back to my guesthouse, which closed at 11.  I rang the doorbell and at first there was no response.  I was wondering if I would have to find another place to stay for the night.  However, finally, after the second ring, I was let in.  I felt bad but surely this must happen quite a bit, we were in a major city after all.