Day 17

May 7 2013

Some days are so so and other days are very exciting or a mixture of both. During the last few days I have been checking the internet to find a bike for sale. Now there are millions of bikes in Vietnam so that would be easy right? No, not that easy. All those millions are scooters and only a few motorcycles. The most popular motorcycle is a Honda Win –only 110 cc and just enough for easy riding and slow traffic. I would hate to ride larger than 250 cc in this country. I am staying at Saigon Backpackers. The "street" this place is in is actually a narrow lane where two scooters could only just pass each other. Down the lane are other hostels and two of them have bikes parked in their foyers with for sale signs on them. A few days ago I had made contact with a guy could Pierre who was still on his way to Saigon, I told him that I was also still on my way and now in Siem Reap heading for Phnom Phen the following day. We were both going to meet at the Saigon Backpackers. The backpackers has a breakfast inclusive so while sitting at the table with some other travelers a guy sat down and said with a heavy French accent “ Hello you must be Richard. I am Pierre” Hey, mate nice to meet you. I finished my breakfast and went outside to view the bike. He wanted what he had paid for he said. So I answered that perhaps he had paid too much and then he would have a problem. I checked over the bike and found some small problem areas; Loose steering head, 50%worn chain, front break which had seen better days and a Jerky clutch cable. I made an offer and he counter offered. In the end we agreed on 250 Dollars. I wanted to get going for the day and so did he so I handed over a fist full of Aussie dollars and said, “lets finalize the transaction tonight” A full face helmet and poncho and straps were included and the bike was fitted with a large rack. My first port of call was the Royal Palace which is now called Reunification Palace as Vietnam after all is a communist country. This is not noticeable at all by tourists. They have free movement and free trade. The palace used to be the headquarters of the South Vietnamese army and the place where they finally lost the war. I had come full circle now. In 1978, on the news I had seen the helicopters rescuing people from the roof of the palace at the same time the Vietcong tank rammed through the wrought iron gates. I had seen the tank in Hanoi a few years before and now I was inside the building. An impressive building to say the least. In the basement one can still view the radio room with all its equipment. Interesting to read that when the Vietcong overrun the palace, President Van Theu said to the commander “I am ready to hand over South Vietnam to the North Vietnamese Army, to which the commander answered. I am not taking over your comment because you never had the command in the first place.

After a cool drink I hunted around for a bank, not just any bank but an ANZ bank, as they are one of the few where Aussie dollars can be exchanged. It was 10 to 12 when I arrived at the main gate of the war museum but was refused entry. We close between 12 and 1.30 the guard said. Ok no problem and headed down the road to find a place for lunch. I found a nice little place were only locals eat and ordered “pho” or noodle soup. I had just bought a latest copy of Lonely Planet's Vietnam edition which incidentally can be bought for just $5. Many street vendors sell piles of books very cheaply. The book has a price tag of USA $24.99 and cost in Australia about $30. Nearly all Lonely Planet books are sold on the streets so later I will be buying a China book perhaps also for 5 dollars. Now why are they so cheap? Because they are all copies of the original. While reading thorough the book I saw a section on massages; Vietnamese Traditional Massage Institute. This is run by the HCMC institute for the blind. I had a blind massage done once before in Korea and that had been one of the best. These people see with their hands and are totally focused on what they do. I looked at the map and found that it was almost next door to where I was. The bike was parked in a safe place, so down the road I went to investigate.

I was greeted by a one legged man who spoke good English. He explained the program and asked if I wanted to shower first, “of course,” I said and added “also afterwards”. I was handed a towel, a pair of shorts and a small bar of soap. After all was done and I laid myself on the table a short stocky lady of about 50 entered the room. Not a word of English so it was a quiet hour being manipulated like no other woman could ever manipulate me. My arms were almost ripped off my body and my toes were about to be separated from my feet but in the end I felt great.

Off to the war museum were the atrocities carried by that great freedom loving nation The US of A was on view including graphic pictures of what happens to people who were exposed to napalm and agent orange. Even third generation children are still born greatly deformed and often without limbs or hands with just one finger. Large head or unrecognizable bodies. Its history and is recorded as such. Four stories of evidence of the US forces have committed during the Vietnam war. I am glad that no one talks of the Australian involvement there. Enough said.