Today started with one of my brothers nagging everyone to get up and get going, mind you, although it was only 6am it was already hot and sunny outside. So my family went to explore while i went back to sleep. They went accross to the park where people were doing tai chi, playing hakki sac and shuttlecock, they then ventured to the fish market which they described as 'smelly' and unbearable. Soon after their return i was up and we were ready to face the roadcrossing and one of the city's indoor markets. The markets are bussling and loud with all of the storekeepers pulling your hands and showing you their wares, we brought some t-shirts and a few other bits and pieces before wandering through the streets. We were standing outside Ben Thanh market when we heard in the broardest Australian accent 'G-day mayte', surprised, we turned around to find a very Vietnamese man grinning widely at us offering us a ride in his cyclo, he then proceeded to follow us through the streets, despite our reassurance that we were happy to walk.

Later in the day we caught a bus to Cholon (the old quater of Vietnam) where we wandered through the streets, taking many photographs of quaint old buildings and colourful street vendors. Realising that it was lunch time we wandered around looking for somewhere to eat, somewhere that looked reasonably sanitary and yummy, we found a chinese restaurant where we ate dumplings and fried noodles that were delicious! While eating lunch mum flicked to the language section of her lonely planet quide to learn how to say 'thank you, that was delicious' (cảm ơn bạn, đó là ngon), it was recieved with a nod and little giggle. We then visited Quan Yin temple where we lit incense and learnt about the Gods then we walked through many little streets to a waterpark (i'm pretty sure i was the oldest 'kid' there) to cool off before finding out way back to our hotel.

As it is monsoon season here it tends to rain for a few hours each day, however it is bearable as it is really just a drissle, but that doesn't stop the street vendors fron trying to sell us raincoats and ponchos of every colour imaginable -there really is no blending in here!

Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!