I love Saigon!!

Arrived in the city at 6am you would have swore it was rush hour! Streets were full of people, motorbikes, food stalls! Waaay too busy after another 10hour (sleepless) bus journey! Headed to where Tom, Rich, Chris and Mandi were staying but it was full so found our own not far from there's and headed for food (crusty rolls here are gooood) and then bed for a few hours. Sleep was badly needed if was going to see any of Saigon that day! After few hours kip meet up with the rest and headed off to The War Museum. That was certainly an experience!

The imagery (real photographs) and stories told here were horrific and at points almost unbearable to read and see espc those of the people still suffering the effects of the chemical Agent Orange used during the war! It might have been very one sided opinion (i am in Vietnam after all) but the horror that these people saw and suffered is almost unimaginable! After that we were all feeling rather depressed not the best feeling to have on Tom's birthday but we had been warned before going that it was difficult to visit!

Then headed to Cambodian Embassy to get visa for Cambodia (those who had copy of itinerary will realize that wasn't originally on it haha. But after much consideration and the fact am having too much fun travelling with everyone am moving through to Cambodia with them take in Ankor Wat (8th wonder of the world apparently) and then back to Thailand for the Full Moon party on Dec 2nd before I will need to say goodbye :( and get to Oz!!)

After Embassy trip headed home to get ready to head out for a Vietnamese style BBQ! Got Tom a menacing looking Mickey mouse cake on the way! haha. BBQ was great!! Not quite hamburgers more like boar, goat, beef in leaves with cheese and frogs legs! (taste like chicken but with fishy texture haha) then it was on to few bars and club (generally covers night parts are a little hazy haha)

Next day was hungover but managed a seriously productive day! Got a washing done and reached the post office taking in the crazy Saigon streets as well as the Notre Dame Cathedral and after a serious case of the munchies an ice cream parlour!

An early night was greatly needed so didn't really do anything after Indian for dinner as was up early next morning to head to Cuchi Tunnels.

Had a 7am start yesterday (29th Oct) to head to the Cuchi Tunnels. Spent a few hours on bus as they are a good but out of Saigon city and went to visit a Temple also where we saw them practicing there faith! Was a multi faith Temple so the garments wore were all different to symbolise these different religions! After the Temple headed for lunch and then it was on to the Tunnels!

The Cuchi Tunnels were built by the Cuchi people during Vietnams wars as a way for the Cuchi Guerrillas to travel and live inside away from danger. They were all built by hand and constructed using only the clay (somebody was paying attention yesterday hahaha) and they stretched all the way to the Cambodian border at one point!

As well as the tunnel there was also a shooting range where you could fire real guns!! Needless to say I didn't haha but Chris and Ummie had a shot (aprdon the pun haha). the noise was deafening!!! AFter the guns we made our way down underground and into the 100meters of tunnel where we all climbed through! Was sooooo warm and claustrophobic but being so short i dint have as much problem climbing through them as others haha!

Today Carmel left to meet Rebecca in Cambodia as did Ummie. Am still in Saigon heading to Cambodia tomorrow with Tom and Rich maybe by boat or bus (we are highly indecisive so haven't made final decision yet haha will need to get cracking with it soon though! Will try and keep you's all updated as soon as I know!

Love

xxxxx