Saigon

My window seat


It was a quick weekend adventure get away trip. Formerly known as Saigon till the 70s and now is rename as Ho Chi Minh City. My adventure started at the airport entrance, greeted by dozens of taxi drivers approching my travel companion and myself for sharing the ride with other just arrrived locals and tourists. It is my first time in Veitnam HCMC and coming for a world of different and somewhat a world in my own universe, a little culture shock at first but was quickly subsided to the fear of traveling to another planet alike. However, my entire objective was to visit and celebrate my girl-friend's birthday and also a short holiday.

As we wanted a cheaper transport to our hotel, bus is the best choice, however as we took the evening flight and reached the city rather late and we could have missed the last bus. Leaving us with no choice but to hire a taxi. The taxi business in HCMC was rather interesting and yet an eye opener, you must burgain you way out of the price they give if not when they reach your distination they would vomite out a high price.

Madam Cuc


We stayed in a cossy hotel name "Madam Cuc 127". Upon at the reach of their entrance, we were treated this time with a warm and welcome hospitalty smile. My travel companion had preversily stay in this hotel, so i did not have much to worry about when during my stay. Oh did I mention, "Madam Cuc" hotel provides both breakfast and dinner when you check into their warm welcome hotel.

The morning moment


My neighbour


Fruit seller


Taxi?


Street cafe


A new morning, as excited as a child getting his new toy. From our room balcony, I just couldn't wait to get out of the hotel to snap pictures. When ever I am traveling to another country, i would always look out of my hotel and see how the place looks like and behave. My first impression was, Vietnam has lots of motorcycles and rather clean along the road side. After breakfast, our personal HCMC tour guide arrives, also my only beloved girl-friend. One of the best way traveling in HCMC is not just the public transport but the motorcycle. I had a fun but also a memorable ride with her. We only have little chance to see each other.

My favorite ride


We were going to the "Chi Qui tunnel", we have stop by the bus interchange to get to our destination. Why not on the bike? The ride to the tunnel took almost about close to 2 hours, yes I felt asleep on the bus. The bus ride is also always crowded when going there. But before the sleepy eyes closes, I managed to snap some joy ride photos along the way. The traffic in HCMC especially in the morning till the mid day, the road will always be jam pack with vehicles dashing from all sorts of direction. During the yesterday war time, all they could able to find as food source was tapioca, a kind of potato like food. All they did was steam them up and dip them with fine grinds of peanuts and sugar. I would image how was it like during those war time.

Saigon traffic


The round about


The local bikers


Bus stop


The morning locals


Motorcycle cushion shop


Some place


After a long and slow trip on the road to the tunnel, we finally embark at the "Chi Qui tunnel". The place is know for how the Vietnamese pull through during the American occupation. A lot of history and knowledge I had learn in this place, however what surprises me the most was their will to carry on with their life even though how hard the war was.

Chi Qu tunnel tour guide


THe trap


Our personal guide


Tunnel?


Hut


Watch house


Incoming!


Polishing rice


Hut builder


Constructing a new home


The intelligent department


Recycling war canons


Grave site


Tapioca food


My bus ride


The bus ticket collector


The end of my quick weekend get away is almost up, we had only a few hours to spare before boarding out plane home again. A last minute shopping for cloths and stuff at the "Saigon Square" was and interesting one, lots of nice looking appearal but do remember to do your bargaining if not the price may not suite your wallet of treasures. Before catching our flight home, we had to slow down our feet with our host, and quickly head back to the hotel to check ourselves out, but along the way my travel companion and I had to have an ice-coffee drink by the street, it is sure does not taste anything like Starbucks but better, just like real coffee should taste like.

After shopping


My hosts


Great ice-coffee

This is a place where the young adult males may find it boring and may not want to go as soon as the are out of their national service in Singapore. However, for some of us, like myself which i have never being into the army during my national service days. It is another one of those hot and skin burning Sunday where families and tourist would want to visit in. This event was called the Singapore Army Open House, open to the public but also at the same time the men and women in the army would get together with their families and love ones.

As for myself, it's a great eye opener. I fired a live round rifle (finally!) and sat on a moving tank and take the public for an off road ride. What a dusty ride, my camera is then covered with a layer of sand dirt but looks rather cool. The camera (Nikon D2x) gives a look as though it had went through war photographing war events.

Casting our shadow


A friendly face


Round up!


Tired


Roll out


Sons of our nation

Today we fly high

With the sun ray burning my skin, on a Saturday late afternoon, this event bring people from all over the island of Singapore to join in the fun of kite flying. It is a kite festival held in West Coast Park for all ages and families to get together.

Family together


My kites


Today we fly high!

Trip to a farm

The weather of the world has being climbing since the last drop of ice in the north pole. Today as usual with the razor burning sun and rather lazy too, I brought my mum to a farm. From the picture of the advertising poster of the farm, it looks like as though they have many exciting exhibition to see, however it turn out they have only a few small animals and a eating place to cool off from the heat or chill out with your friends and family. The farm was more like a market place now, they carry merchandise for the public from natural honey, crocodile meat, fresh vegetables from near-by farms, aquarium with almost all kinds of fishes, pet shops, your gardening needs and many more. They also have quite a big parking space for your car, if you are taking the public transport, they provide transportation from a near-by train station to the farm.

For more details of the farm, here is their website -> http://www.farmart.com.sg/

Peek-a-boo!


Rainbow


Goat


One way bus fare