Hello again,

and this time it is hello from Vietnam. Just a short update on my travels as it is nearly bed time for me! After leaving Phnom Penh, we travelled to the Vietnamese border. Everybody was still quite tired after getting up at 5:30am and so the time passed by fairly quickly. Helped (or not some may argue) by being shown the film 'The transformers'. The Vietnamese border crossing was surprisingly efficient and everything went smoothly. A few hours later, we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). And what a difference it is from Cambodia!!! Everything is modern again and there are so many well dressed people about. The majority of people seem to live in houses and not road side shacks, it really is very different from Cambodia.

And the traffic! It is unreal, really. It is totally different to India but chaotic all the same. There are thousands of mopeds and scooters and the only way to cross the road is to walk straight into the middle of them. The Lonely Planet says: If they can see you, they'll avoid you, so just keep walking slowly and steadily. Well, yes, this is right but you really have to hope that they see you and aren't busy texting on their mobile phone or chatting with the adjacent guy! On our first day here in HCMC, Peter, Nigel, Chris and I went to the Mekong Delta, a much calmer experience. We saw some local life around fishing villages and experienced first hand how these people make a living using the fertile soil that the Mekong delivers. We saw loads of fruits where it originally grows, like pomelo, dragon fruit, lotus fruit, and others for which I don't know the name but let me know if you do (will publish the photos shortly). I tried some coconut candy, had some banana whiskey and generally enjoyed the day trip.Unfortunately, due to the Chinese New year coming up, we couldn't get a space on the overnight sleeper train to Nha Trang so that we are having to go by bus which means that we are already leaving HCMC tomorrow morning. Thus, Peter and I spent all of today walking the streets of HCMC, seeing the different markets, Notre Dame cathedral, the mosque, a Hindu temple, a Chinese pagoda, the Botanical Gardens (which really should be called a park) & Zoo, the War Remnants museum and the Reunification Palace. And above all, we experienced the city with all its chaotic traffic. It was very enjoyable, although very tiring. Am not really looking forward to a long day on the bus tomorrow but I suppose needs must. I'll hopefully get a chance to update you with the latest news soon.

Until then, keep smiling!
Yvonne