Goooooood morning, Vietnam! And what a super fine, sunny day it is... our first actually. The rest of the time has been a mixture of rainy, or overcast skies. So I can't tell you how much of a bounce in the step this weather causes me to have. Too bad, it's the last day of the tour, and I'm spending my day in transit between Saigon and Ko Samui, via Bangkok. But not until I get to taste Pho, Vietnam's breakfast sensation that consists of a bowl of noodles, a few strips of meat (exact type pending), some veggies and spices, and some boiling hot water to cook it all in a matter of seconds. Best thing about it, you can get a full stomach for as little as $1 AUD. Sweet! Leaving Sihanoukville, our group encounted a flooded road, that would meet hips in the deepest part. Many locals were attempting to wade through the brown river overflow collecting God knows what along the way: empty chip packets, cocount shells, hepititis?? I even noticed some spiders being swept along. But most were fishing for their evening meal. Anyway, this is an adventure tour after all, and our van driver was anxious to reach the other side. Apparently a bit of water waist high was no obstacle, and slowly, but surely the first ouf our two vans crept into the water. We were met with curious glances from the locals that would eventually morph into grins when they registered what we were actually doing. The inside filled up quickly with exhaust fumes and apprehensive comments about our survival could be heard among the eight of us. But as we were pinned right up the back with our backpacks we only had a minimal amount of muck seep through onto the floor. And before we knew it, we'd emerged from the great flood unscathed, parking at a servo to wait for the other bus. It was there that I learnt were were the guinea pigs, but we were the success story...

The other driver stupidly gunned it straight into the water sending a wave of death into the air and not surprisingly, into the engine. Panic ensued amongst some of the group members, a door was open, backpacks were submerged, and tempers flew. The German girl fell face first into the drudge and the rest silently waded through to the other side, and eventually where we were waiting. We applauded their feat. "It was the best time of my life!" exclaimed the little Japanese girl, whom by all accounts should have all but disappeared considering my waist-high estimate eliminated her. But for the German, "Nein!!" as a trickle of murky water fell from her video camera tapes. This is why travel insurance works, people!

After that, crossing the border into Vietnam seemed a menial task. We stopped overnight in Chau Doc before cruising into Ho Chi Minh City (which the locals affectionately still refer to as Saigon) late afternoon. Cruising is probably the least correct term to use, considering the motorbikes stopping and starting are probably the farthest from the truth. There are complicated power lines on every corner leading me to believe eletrocutions could happen as frequently as stepping on a landmine! And stepping out in traffic to cross the road, is a lesson in faith. Just step out, and walk. Don't confuse the moto-riders by stopping or going back... just go!

We'd stopped off for lunch at a roadside restaurant where an weathered old woman picked up that I was using the wrong hand to eat my dish with. In SE Asia, the toilet standard is that you use your left hand to 'wipe' with and the right hand for all other higenic tasks like eating. I'm not sure if washing even comes into it... anyway, the old lady had a toothless chuckle when I struggled with the chopsticks in my right hand, but watched intently for a while as I acqiured the skill.Then she plopped her rice hat on her head, and waddled away.

As this was the last day of the 'Roam Cambodia' tour, the group shared a last meal in Saigon, opposite the palace. Being the first to migrate, I won't be joining the rest to visit the Chi Chi Tunnels used by soldiers during the war to move from one place to another. Instead, I'll chill with a papaya shake, maybe pick up a few postcards, before heading to Samui.

Let's hope this weather stays, eh?

C