Welcome to the Good Life

 

Where to begin with this one? Well let me begin by saying that Vietnam is HOT. And when I say hot, I mean, no breeze, 100% humidity, stagnant 105 degree HOT...everyday. It made being outside unbearable, but we all still managed somehow. So if you're complaining about the cold at home, if it's still cold, I don't really know, just imagine standing outside in 105 degree weather with no breeze and no air conditioning. But I'm not complaining by any means, just wanted you all to get the whole picture. Vietnam was great. I truly had no idea what to expect, once again, so it really took me by surprise. We were there for 5 wonderful days and finally set sail this morning at 6am.

 

Day 1

 

We arrived into port around 8 am, but we decided we'd get lunch on the ship and then go out into the city a little later in the day. It's always so hectic the first morning in port with everybody trying to get off the ship and getting passports and our landing passes and everything. And the parent trip was in this port. This means that the parents can come and participate in a trip with their child, for an arm and a leg however. So we had a lot more people on the ship than we normally do, we wanted to avoid the rush. So when I finally awoke and made it upstairs to the dining hall, I was amazed by what was outside. We were docked literally in a river and on the other side was just palm trees and green everywhere.

 

After lunch, Jaclyn and I decided to just walk around the city and do some shopping and explore. That was the first time we actually experienced the heat. We took a left outside the port and started walking. It was crazy to see the traffic. It seemed that everybody in Vietnam owns a motorbike, not a car, and the traffic was intense, with so many people on the road. We walked up and down and decided there really wasn't that much to see around that area. So we walked back to the port and took the shuttle into Ho Chi Minh City. They dropped us off at the Rex Hotel which was really nice, and had some cool shops around it. We went into a few shops, spent a little money, then we went to a tailor. I was thinking of getting a dress or something made in Vietnam, because they are cheap there, but I figured that I wasn't going to be in Ho Chi Minh City that much and it was more of a hassle. But Jaclyn ended up getting a really pretty skirt made. Then we continued around the city, stopped and got a drink and a snack at a little restaurant and then shopped for a little more.

 

It got so hot and we had already shopped more than we should have, so we decided to take the shuttle back to the ship around 4. The sun there takes so much out of you. We hung out around the ship, and then got ready to go out to dinner with a few people. Around 8, Jaclyn and I took the shuttle back to the Rex hotel to get a table for all of us at the restaurant at the top. It was a really cute restaurant on the roof of the hotel. We got a table for 8 and ordered a drink while we waited for everybody else to show up. Everybody arrived a little after and we all ordered and got a few beers. The food was really good. We got spring rolls and they came attached to a pineapple, it was really creative and fun.

 

After dinner, Jaclyn and I went back to the ship to change for the night. After we changed, we decided that we were going to take a motorbike to Apocalypse Now, which was a club/bar where everyone was going to be meeting. So we walked out of the port and there were a bunch of people with their motorbikes waiting to take us. We found two nice guys and they took us Apocalypse Now. It was so much fun, don't worry Mom and Dad, I wore a helmet. We rolled up in front of Apocalypse Now and needless to say people found it pretty amusing that we took the motorbikes. We met up with a few of our friends and it was pretty packed. We got a few drinks and danced a few songs, but it was just so hot inside. And Jaclyn and I wanted to karaoke it up, so we left around midnight to find a karaoke place. We asked our motorbike drivers to take us to a place, but since it was Sunday, I guess everywhere was closed. Then we decided that we were hungry. So I asked if they could take us to a place to get Pho noodles, which is what me and my family gets all the time at home. So they took us to this place that was outside and all locals eating Pho. I ordered 4 bowls, one for me, Jaclyn and then one for each of our motorbike drivers. It was better than anything I've had at home, and Jaclyn and I ordered another bowl to share. And of course all the local Vietnamese men are staring and laughing that both of us are just devouring these noodles. After we ate, our motor bikers took us back to the ship and I went to bed.

 

Day 2

 

I was leaving for my Mekong Delta trip for 3 days on this morning so I had to be up at 7 and in the Union by 730. We got off the ship and onto the bus to head to the Mekong Delta. It took us about 2 hours to get there, and I slept most of the way there. We finally got to the river and we had a boat waiting to take us around. It was extremely hot, even right by the water. But it didn't matter. The boats were so cool, and it was so awesome to see everything. Every boat had different things to sell, like pineapples, apples, fruits, drinks, and so much more. This was their job, their home and their life, right there, all on a boat. There were so many houses just right there on stilts on the river. We had fresh fruit while we just explored the river. It was so relaxing, despite the hot.

 

After we were on the river for a while, they took us to a place where we could ride bikes and get a drink and stuff. We rode the bikes through the streets and trees and everything for like a half hour, but it just got too hot to go any further. When I got back to the place to drop off my bike, someone was holding a ball python, and taking pictures, and my friend Alison and I were immediately like, I need to do that. So when they were done, I took the python from him and put it around my neck. It was the coolest feeling ever, and he wasn't that heavy. It felt so cool, and I got a good picture, I'll try and put it up when I get a chance.

 

We continued back down to the river and instead of getting into our big boat, we got into canoes that fit three of us. Each boat had a rower, and it looked like REALLY hard work. It was so peaceful through, and our rower looked like she had it down. We just glided through the river and looked at all of the beautiful scenery, and enjoyed the peacefulness and quiet. Then as we continued for about a half hour or so, we finally met up with the other boat and jumped on it. We were pretty tired from the day and the hot sun, but we had one more stop at a local nursery to see all the local fruit and enjoy some fruit and wine. We tried all the local fruit and some fruit that I've never tried before and it was all so delicious. It was a great experience and really good. But by this time, we were all really tired and beat, and the boat dropped us off at where we would be staying for the night. We were doing a home stay in a local family's home and it was located right on the water. It was all outside and they had two large bedrooms that each had 10 little cots in them, their kitchen, the dining room outside overlooking the water and hammocks on the outside.

We put our things on our beds and I immediately went to lie in the hammock and read my book. It was so relaxing after such a long and tiring day. I fell asleep for a little while, as did everybody else lying in the hammocks, and I awoke to the sunrise to my right on the river. It was probably one of the most beautiful and majestic things that I have seen so far. And then I realized, wow, I am getting college credit to be lying in this hammock right now, taking a nap, looking at the Mekong River.

 

After our nap in the hammocks, we helped them make dinner and learned how to make spring rolls. I love spring rolls now, by the way. I could eat them for every meal, and have. And we learned how to make a few other things. Then it was time for dinner. They brought us out at first, the spring rolls we had made and the fried fish. Which was literally, a fish on a stick that was put in the fryer. Nothing was cut, and we had to cut off the spine ourselves and get our own meat. It was definitely an experience and we made lettuce wraps with the fish and vegetables. Then they brought us out steamed prawn, which is like a crawfish. It tastes a lot like shrimp and is really good. Our tour guide told us to try the whole thing, even the meat on the head, and I did, and it was all really good. Then they brought us a few other things like rice and chicken and pork and then pineapple for dessert.

 

After dinner a lot of us decided to just lay around, have a few beers, play cards and then we went to sleep because we were just so exhausted and had to be up at 630 am. But let me just tell you, it was extremely hard to sleep. It was really hot, even at night and without any covers, luckily we had mosquito nets. And then, at some point in the night, one of the roosters continuously began to cock-a-doodle doo. So here I am, lying in my hot bed, thinking that it's time to get up, but I looked at my watch and it was only like 4 am. The rooster continued for about another half hour or so. And then around 530 am or so, a bunch of the boats began to go out on the river and begin their work day. But the boats are really, really loud, and there was no way any of us slept through them. But that continued until about 6 and I decided to just get up and lay in the hammocks and try to fall back asleep for a little bit.

 

Day 3

 

After the long night of noises, everybody woke up and breakfast was at 7 am. We had eggs and toast and some juice and then we were on our way on the river again. We had about a 30 minute boat ride back to the mainland and then we transferred onto the ferry where we met our bus and headed to Can Tho where we were staying for the night.

 

Once we got to Can Tho we toured the city and were taken to a local fruit and vegetable market. They had so many fruits and vegetables and flowers; I’ve never seen so much in my life. It was overwhelming and I had so many smells at once. We walked around a little more and then our tour guide informed us that there was a snake and seafood market right around the corner. So we said, eh, why not, let’s check it out. I saw some of the coolest things there. There was catfish cut up into pieces. I saw the ladies skinning the live fish and cutting them right then and there. I saw a basket of snakes and another lady skinning them and cutting them up. It was so awesome to watch, and really truly a culture shock to see these little old ladies just sitting there talking with their friends while cutting up live fish. At one point, I looked over and one lady was having her hair braided while she was slaughtering these fish. But it is their way of life, and I thought it was really amazing to just sit and watch. Then I continued down the market a little more and saw cages and cages of pigs just waiting to be slaughtered, which was a little disturbing, but like I said, I just had to keep telling myself that this is a way of life for the people in Vietnam, this is their business and how they make their money.

 

After the market we checked into our hotel and then headed down the way to lunch. It was just as good as all the other places and very similar in what we had the night before. We had spring rolls, chicken, beef, vegetables, rice and then a chocolate pancake for dessert.

 

After lunch we drove to a Khmer pagoda which was a local temple. It was about an hour and a half drive both ways. We explored the temple which was pretty small and then we talked and took a few pictures with the monks. Then we were back on our way to Can Tho. I quickly took a shower and then we were off for dinner. The restaurant we ate at was right on the water and was really peaceful and beautiful. We all got a few drinks and waited for our food. The food was probably the best meal I had had so far in Vietnam. We had an awesome soup, mushroom chicken, spring rolls (of course), beef and vegetables and more fruit. But it was so good. Then our tour guide told us he wanted to take us out for a few drinks and karaoke. I was so ready for some karaoke. We got to a cute little karaoke bar, and we got our own room. It was so much fun. We sang songs like Sexual Healing, Barbie Girl, Bohemian Rhapsody and Under the Sea. After about 2 hours of karaoke and drinks, we were so tired and headed back to the hotel to sleep.

 

Day 4

 

Another wake up call at 630 am, breakfast at 7 am and then we headed to the Mekong River to see the Cai Rang floating market. It was so interesting. Everybody had their boats and just pounds and pounds of fruits and vegetables. They just rowed up to each other boats and bargained for foods. We had people come up to our ship and try and sell us some pineapple and drinks with their kids and their families. These were their homes and this was their profit. It was so amazing to just see the simplicity in it all. And to know that this is what the Vietnamese people did all day, and this is how they made their living, was an amazing and truly humbling concept to me.

 

After the floating market we continued back to the hotel and had some free time for shopping or massages or whatever. I decided to go shopping and buy a few things. I bought some shirts and souvenirs and even a silk robe. I don’t know what I’ll use the silk robe for, but it looked cool and the lady convinced me to buy it. Then after I did some money damage, I decided to head back to the hotel to pack and take a shower before lunch.

 

Around noon we headed to the restaurant at the top of our hotel to eat lunch and then we boarded the bus and headed back to the ship. The drive was about 4 and half, maybe 5 hours. We got back to the ship around 6. I unpacked and then Jaclyn and I and a few other friends went out to get a few drinks and eat dinner. There was a restaurant right outside the ship and we decided to get a bottle and share between a bunch of us. It was a lot of fun; we caught up on the last couple days and talked about all of our trips. Then after dinner, we decided that we were going to go and karaoke. So Jaclyn, my friends Erica, Eric, Alison, and Andy all got on motor bikes and rode off to karaoke. On our way out, I was flagged down by a guy wanting me to ride on his motor bike. I was confused at first, and then recognized him as the guy from the first night who took me on his motor bike. He was such a cute old guy. Jaclyn then told me that the second night her and Alison tried to get a motorbikes and he wouldn’t take her because he was waiting for me. I thought it was cute, and he was such a nice guy. He told me to make sure that I held on tight to my purse, and took care of me, and made me wear my helmet again.

 

We arrived at this karaoke place and got a private room again. We sang some good songs from Backstreet Boys to Mambo No. 5. We only stayed about an hour, that was enough that our voices could handle and then our Harley Davidson gang headed out to the club. The club that we originally wanted to go to wasn’t open so we opted for Apocalypse Now again. We got there and it was just as crowded and hot as the night before so we decided to go to a more local bar. I get outside of Apocalypse Now and there is my guy waiting with his motor bike. He really was so great. We headed to a place called Seventeen Saloon recommended by a local guitar player. There weren’t too many people there and we ended up meeting up with our friends Matt and Robert and got a few drinks and then called it quits and headed back to the ship.

 

Day 5

 

This was the last day we had in Vietnam. Jaclyn and I woke up at about 1030 and went to get lunch in the dining hall. Then my friend Erica and I decided that we were going to go back into Ho Chi Minh City and explore the markets and other things I didn’t get to see the first day. And hit up the grocery store to stock up on snacks and things.

 

We left the ship around noon and took the shuttle into the city. The weather was still really hot, even in the shade. We stopped to get a cup of coffee and I got a mango juice smoothie…so good. Then we walked towards the market. We stopped along the way at a couple places to look, and I ended up buying a really nice North Face backpack for like $30 and I could probably fit a small infant in it, it’s a good size, but still easy enough to carry on your back. I’ll probably bring it to Beijing with me to the Great Wall. When we finally got to the market, it was overwhelming. They had so much stuff and everybody was in our faces trying to sell it to us. But we were on a mission for DVDs. So we walked a little farther and finally found a place that looked like it had legit DVDs. It was really cheap, and I got a bunch of seasons of shows, some are gifts, so I’m not going to say which ones I got, but they had everything.

 

Then we decided that it was getting way too hot and we were spending a lot of money, so we decided to make one last stop at the grocery store and then head back to the ship. So we got to the grocery store and it was literally like a modern day Target. They had everything. Granted, it was a lot smaller and less of selection than Target by far. But after almost two and a half months of no Target, anything similar is a luxury. I mean, I bought my groceries, toothbrush, soap, and then the clothing side had sports bras which I need because my idiotic self only packed one, and white tees, which I’m sure you can imagine, after India, Thailand and Vietnam, are now more brown than white. It was a great day. I even was able to get some laundry detergent to wash my clothes in the sink because laundry here on the ship is limited and not very efficient. The detergent they use isn’t that strong and our clothes barely look clean when they come back.

 

Overall, it was a successful day in our shopping adventures and grocery shopping. We got back to the ship around 5 and I read for a little until the barbecue at 6! It was such an exciting time, because like laundry, barbecues are limited here on the ship. It’s the third one we’ve had and the best one yet. They had hotdogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers (for Jaclyn), ribs, corn on the cob, pasta salad and baked beans. And then to top it all off, strawberry ice cream. It was just great and I couldn’t get enough of it. I ate until I was stuffed, and then literally fell asleep for the night because I was just so exhausted.

 

So technically we had to be on the ship last night, but we didn’t actually depart from Ho Chi Minh until this morning at 600 am. I don’t really know why still, but they have their reasons. And now we have one more day until we are at China. We arrive on Sunday and leave on Friday. I am extremely excited for China to see the Great Wall and also for the cooler weather. India, Thailand, and Vietnam were extremely hot, and China should be closer to the 60s, so I’m looking forward to pulling my pants and long sleeve shirts out again. We will be stopping in Hong Kong and Shanghai and I’m traveling to Beijing to see the Great Wall and a few other awesome things.

 

Ship life is great, and it is really hard to believe that we only have 4 ports left and April is just around the corner. Time here truly is flying by and is going to be sad once it is all said and done. But I miss all of you at home and hope you all are enjoying yourselves as much as I am. Love you all.