VIETNAM - Ho Chi Minh City- Part 1

Greetings! Just beginning my journey now. First stop on the list was the large bustling city of Ho Chi Minh in southern Vietnam. Traveling here was okay. but just really really long. Once I got to the airport I had no idea what to expect but getting my visa approved wasn't bad at all, very quick and easy. After that I managed to wave down a taxi to drive me to my hostel. I didn't know a lick of the language but they pretty much understood what I was trying to say so I hoped in an unmarked car and crossed my fingers. I know I got ripped off though because I later read that I should never get in an unmarked taxi because they charge more, but oh well, you learn fast though. My driver was very nervous though, he kept saying I was beautiful and kissing my hand asking to join me in my hotel room... I just pretending like I didn't understand and soon enough he stopped. Finally arrive at the hostel around 4 a.m. and getting checked in was a breeze as well. I just felt bad for waking everyone up in the 12 bedroom hostel room when I was trying to figure out where shit was. It was my first time a a big hostel like this so I was kind of nervous and just stayed wide awake until 9 in the morning. In the morning I had to take a cold shower because there was no hot water. Once I got ready I had no idea if it was safe or not to walk around the city on my own or not, or even how far things were away from the city! But I took a chance and walked outside the hostel and tried to follow my photographic memory to the nearest sight to see. First stop was the Ben Thanh Market which was a huge warehouse of vendors selling all types of survivors and food. I loved looking at what they had to offer in terms of authentic Vietnamese clothing and food, but I didn't stay long though because the hassling got a little too much and annoying. Afterward I headed out and down a few more blocks to go see the Notre Dame Cathedral which had beautiful stain glass windows. I didn't go in but just enjoyed the view from the outside. Right next door was the French designing Central Post Office. It was huge and fun to walk inside. I bought a post card from a little vendor lady outside and mailed it to my parents. I was getting a little tired having not slept all night so I headed back on a different street and came across a big Street Market Food center, which wasn't written in my Lonely Planet book or online anywhere so I stopped in to get a passion fruit smoothie, and DAMN! That shit was amazing!!! Best smoothie ever. But the market offered a ton of other food options that smelled amazing, I was sure to make note to come back for dinner. I walked back into the Ben Thang Market to get a little dried fruit as a snack and I was so amazed at the variety of fruit they had. I got a little bit of each and also practiced my bargaining skills. Also crossing streets in this city is just having to cross your fingers and start walking. The sea of motor bikes all charge at you once the light turns green and it looks like a stampede of horse but sounds like an angry bee hive. I finally got back to the hostel and started to feel very proud of myself for supporting this whole trip by myself. I paid for a half day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels right outside the city. So at 1 p.m. I took a bus with a few other people to go see them. On the bus I met a girl from Chile that was staying at my hostel too and we stuck together the rest of the day. On the bus ride to the tunnels our bus actually hit a motor bike! I know it sounds bad but it was pretty funny after we found out the biker was okay. Just shows you how crazy the driving is... I think its just as bad as some streets in Guatemala! The tour stopped at a rest stop half way through and we got to see some amazing artwork being made. We walked into this little warehouse were people we cutting up duck egg shells into tiny pieces and placing them on black slabs of rock to form pictures and designs. I learned they use duck shells because they are stronger. Then we walked into a room where it was a shop of all the artwork they have created and all I could think of was how much I appreciate Vietnamese artwork now. It takes sometimes up to 7 months just for one piece! Once we got to the tunnels I got see how people makes these long intricate tunnels where they lived, cooked, and fought during the Vietnam war. I think the coolest part was seeing all the booby traps they used, those looked gnarly. There was strange part of the trip where you could buy bullets and shoot out of an AK-47 but I didn't do that, I just watched and it was very loud! I was satisfied with the half day trip though, I couldn't imagine what a full day at the tunnels would consist of, but I got the basic history and knowledge of them. The ride back was long do to traffic but once we got back to the hostel the girl from Chile and her friends asked me if I wanted to join them for dinner and we went out to a good restaurant to get some Pho at a small restaurant called Bun Cha, which was a good cheap eat. After that I went back to the hostel and within minutes of my head touching the pillow I was out cold. So tired, but so satisfied with my first day of Ho Chi Minh.