The last jimui trip we went together was Bali in Apr '08. This round instead of the usual trips to Hanoi, it was to the southern tip of Vietnam (the land of super motorcyclists). It was an economical trip for us, low flight fares and very attractive "private" package from a Malaysian tour company (ha, there's always a catch to these promos).
As usual we started off with our good fren being 15mins late for taxi, not that we've not gotten used to it, but the taxi driver was driving like as if there was a time bomb in the car. Niways, we managed to arrive airport on time. Arrival at Tan Son Nhat (relatively new airport compared to Noi Bai) was smooth. The same old slow immigration check..it's some sort of Vietnamese experience that the immigation officers will sit in groups and chat while processing our passports despite the long queue.
Our guide Hao greeted us and brought us to Quan An Ngon, Saigon branch (OK it's supposed to be the primary outlet) to taste the local food. Hao turned out to be quite talkative and friendly. Then checked in the hotel and our 1st activity....drumroll please, shopping. The hotel is walking distance to Ben Thanh, so we walked to the pasar malam. On the way back, noticed that there was a branch of Pho24 along the street where our hotel was located. Yay!!!! I love Pho Bo from Pho24, sedap giler..of course Ah Ba's Pork Rib is still second to none..(Ah Ba, miss you soooooooo......much......), oh 2nd place should be the BBQ porkribchickenwingcroissant combi on Thuy Khue - they should add this place in Lonely Planet - on 2nd tot, albeit a very selfish tot, nahh...hidden secret. Ok, ok, diversion to Hanoi pulak, apa lah...
The very next morning, was our trip to Cu Chi tunnels. Here's where our "economy" tour cost unravels, we were basically picked up by a small van making stops at every budget hotel around Dist 1. The van dropped us at Sinhcafe at the backpacker area (Pham Ngu Lao). From there we were taken by a bus (yes a bus fully loaded with 30 other budget tourists) to Cu Chi. Our guide was a temperamental guy who was telling the history of Vietnam war and Cu Chi's importance during the guerilla resistance. We stopped at a craft centre and he shouted at me when I was late to get up on the bus. Since then, he was on my black book of least favourite guides of all time. We didn't get much time in the tunnels coz too big group (sigh, we should have paid more for private tour), it was dark and narrow and Cheng managed to only take video of Lee's backside..haha.
Afternoon, Hao picked us up and we went for city tour. The usual tourist itinerary, I would say that it was kinda pity that we arrived at the War Museum when it was about to close. It contained many Pulitzer prize winning photographs in black n white of Vietnam war. Those photogs were the real deal, may of whom perished in the war. Imagine film photography with not many equipment (how to run with the whole gadget crammed in the bag?) and not much time to assess the lighting, exposure, and bombs, and bullets everywhere? The photos came out perfectly exposed, and it's right when you see a good photograph, you feel the emotion of the subjects, the message the photog tried to convey.
The next morning, we were supposed to go on another "budget" tour to Mekong River. However, the Sinhcafe van actually forgot to pick us up....initially we were disappointed, but when we got our private tour with Hao as our guide as replacement , it was wooo hooo!! At least my pictures won't display 30 other butts of ppl trying to listen to the guide. That was the last day we enrolled on paid tours, next day will be free n easy shopping day!
That night we went on clubbing spree. 1st we went on the rooftop of Rex Hotel (Hao's recommendation - "safe place"), well, let's put it this way, uncle's lounge...aiya spoiler, next on we went to Sheraton's Level 23, umm not bad they have a Canadian live band with very cute guitarist, but the atmosphere was too posh and there was this family entourage there, umm, not the right feel. So we left for Saigon Saigon in Caravelle, another uncle place. Hallo? It's hard to believe Saigon is an uncle clubbing scene, cannot be la. So we decided to take a cab to Q Bar, not noticing Q Bar was exactly facing Caravelle, duhhh...Q Bar was dull and more of drinking than dancing place. The cocktail was good though. So 4 disappointed gals went crawling back to Level 23, Sheraton - they closed at 12am, hahaha biggest joke ever we haven't warm our seats when they switched on the lights. A waiter told us to check out Apocalypse Now - out of desperation we took a cab there, that place was sure lively with throbbing music and ahem, a lot of cari makan girls - mission accomplished though.
Next day we went shopping. Turned out Ben Thanh is a place to kecek tourist dollars. We found much better deals at the shops outside and better quality too. That night was Lee's birthday eve. We wanted to surprise her by getting her a birthday cake, since I was her roommate, had to create a diversion while the 2 cha bohs went to search for a cake. They managed to find 4 slices of cake of 2 different flavours from Highlands Coffee, ok la as long as it's cake and edible ;-)
Surprisingly Hao turned up with a proper birthday cake (coz we told him the day before but it was his own initiative), and we all took a cab to karaoke to celebrate Lee's birthday. Next stop to Go2Bar where Hao used to work as bartender, cis, he didn't tell us about this cool place instead advised us to go Rex Hotel the day before, duhh....Lee got her birthday dance of honour. We had a great time dancing (and looking very touristy, slippers and short pants - caya lah)
All good things must come to an end, next day we flew back to KL. Here's hoping for more girls-just-wanna-have-fun trips!!
Tôi yêu Việt Nam !!!
