Final Day!

Well, here we are, the final day of our trip. I can't believe it! It's gone by super fast, we have seen some incredible things over the past month, and we didn't kill each other ;) Even better! In all honesty, the trip was just a blessing. We have never spent this much time together in our dating career thus far, and it was just like one big date :-). .. with a few hiccups along the way, but overall a success. Today we went to the Cu Chi tunnels. AKA the coolest tour one can do in Vietnam for a total of $9 US! We drove in a crowded bus with some fun Germans, about 1.5 hours out of HCMC. However, you don't ever really feel like you leave the city as the city just goes and goes and goes... anyhoo, the Cu Chi tunnels are a series of underground tunnels that the Vietcong used during the war. There are 3 tiers to the depths of these, with the first tier only reach 3 m below ground level and the second tier going down to 6 m, and so forth. All of the soil that was dug out was hauled slowly across the landscape and disposed of either in the Saigon River or in the rice fields. They have been expanded to allow for Western tourists, but I believe they are now 40 cm wide and 90 cm in height; when the Vietcong used these tunnels they were 1/2 the size! There were hospitals underground, kitchens, sleeping quarters, areas to fights, areas to build weapons and the entire network was filled with boobie traps and such to keep the enemy at bay. They used termite mounds as a means to get air into the tunnel and smoke from the kitchen was diverted meters away from the actual kitchen. People were born in these tunnels, people lived most of their lives in here.. it was incredible. We went in through 20 m of the tunnel, 6 m underground. Steven did the whole 150 m; I popped out and then when back in, it was hot, humid and dark... 20 m was suffice for me. We ended our trip and have been just wandering HCMC ever since. I did however find my favorite store "Mango Mng" and have purchased 2 wicked dresses for work / summer. Albiet, I am a little poorer now. Anyhoo, we leave tomorrow and arrive in Ctown around 1 am. A fabulous trip and I am so happy to have shared it with Steven. See you soon!

Cheesy Place... but Perfect

So we flew from Phu Quoc to HCMC to Dalat. We arrived and just hopped in a taxi thinking, finally, no one bugged us and pushed us into some $35 adventure.. then realized, holy shit, this is a far ride to the city from the airport. Dainit! We should have taken the $2 shuttle versus the $25 cab ride! Grrr. Oh well. Lesson learned.

Anyhoo, I was disappointed when we first arrived as I thought we arrived in the middle of a forest fire, the haze and smoke over the mountains was so thick you could barely breathe and the drop to 24 degrees from 35, was definitely noticeable.

But the next morning, we woke to beautiful blue skies, 25 degrees and an incredible city. We rented a scooter, and Steven navigated us through the city, and we had a blast at "The Crazy House". This house would be the equivalent on being on mushrooms and being in the Alice and Wonderland film, but basically, rooms we animal themed, staircases went to no where, and you could sit in the tiniest room and have a tea. It was so much fun! We had a blast getting lost in its walls and could see that the house is still expanding and breaking about 100 Cdn construction laws we walked through the construction zone seeing where the house would be in a few years!

Then, on the bike we went. I'll be honest, this portion of the ride is where Steven lost his temper with me. Rightly so. I was freaked out on the back of the bike a huge bus past us and I yelled "HOLY F*** Steven" not at him, but at the bus, and unfortunately jolted the bike as well. It was at this point I was duly corrected for being an ass on the back of a bike as it puts both of us in danger.. but holy shit, I could have had put my elbow out and touch the bus it was that close. I feel my actions were justified, but not the moving of the bike portion...

We then made it to Datlana Waterfalls, walked all the way down to the base saw the mediocre falls and then walked back up to take the "rollercoaster" down and back up again. Apparently Steven got enough speed to put his cart on 2 wheels, but I was to afraid to get that much air!

We then went to Prenn Falls, which was the beginning of the cheese. Picture a theme park with fake animals everywhere... it was so odd it was creepy. We then walked to a pagoda on the top of a mountain, I swear there was over 3000 stairs, to see a group of Vietnamese workers burning brush, start a tree on fire, and have them scream and laugh as they tried to avert a disaster. They just burn all the fallen branches, not really allowing for true decomposition to occur.. i wonder what will happen to their nutrient source in their soils in a few years time...

The next day we did the same, rented a scooter, went to the Emperor's Summer Palace, another great 1930's building decorated so uniquely, we both loved it. We then took a gondala ride over the city, and then went to the Valley of Love. The whole day was out of "how to be a cheesy couple 101" book, but man, it was too funny to pass up. Picture a park, now picture, everything cheesy about relationship paraphernalia (swan paddle boats, water fountains of people holding hands, you name it!), then put in the creepy kids play ground with no one in it (amusement rides) and doves everywhere.. the only thing good about it is that its a natural area that they keep clean. The water was clean, the grounds were clean... one of the few place in Vietnam without garbage!

We are back in HCMC now. Today the plan is to shop and then tomorrow hit the CuChi tunnels and then home Sunday.. Crazy!

Aunt Elaine: I don't have your email addy here, but I just wanted to let you know I am thinking about you, Laura and AJ. Uncle Dennis made me laugh (i.e., a good guy has to drive a truck and be from Saskatchewan!) and I am so happy the four of you were together and you had my mom with you. Sending you a big big hug and I wish I could be in Regina for you. Love you lots! xx

Paradise

We spent the evening in Rach Gia, right near the pier. I don't think I slept at all that night as between the dogs fighting and the people up at the crack of dawn.. it was a long night. We, however, swear we were the only white people in the town. As we walked at night everyone said Hello, Hello. Kids, adults, everyone. If you know of my favourite show (and Steven's) "Arrested Development", all we wanted to reply was "Anung". Over and over.. it was hilarious.

During this walk, we had the best BBQ chicken ever, I told Steven to watch out and proceeded to stub my toe and lose most of my right big toe nail. OUCH. Steven had me on the bed was cleaning my foot and cutting my toe nail off. That was one for the books. It's been a few days now and the salt water doesn't burn anymore...

Either way we took the ferry over in the morning and ended up in Paradise by 10:40 am. It's hot, it's tropical, white sand for miles, a roaring ocean in the background. All in all a perfect place to stay. We ended up extending our stay for one more night and we will be flying to Dalat on the 5th and staying their til the 7th where we will return to Saigon to finish up a few tours we want to do in that area.

Yesterday, we rented scooters and took off to find the most beautiful beach I have ever been too. The water was clear, you could see jelly fish, crabs, fishes, and we could walk in what I would classify as a warm if not hot bath for miles. Steven has the better pics but I have posted a few. We walked down the beach a bit, past a whopping 10 people and had our own piece of paradise for the afternoon. We set up shop under a palm tree and read, swam, tanned and repeated. However, the "tan" didn't really occur and you have two red lobsters now. I feel sorry for our offspring if we ever go down that path.. neither of us were blessed with skin that tans! We scootered back, looking for ice cream (I settled on a full banana split for myself) and We crashed after supper. The sun just kills you! We have been sleeping 10 - 12 hours each night that we have been here!

We did try and watch the sunset, but what was more amusing was the group of Vietnamese men on vacation in the bungalows in front of us. They were so drunk, cat calling at all the young ladies and one guy made me laugh so hard as he ran back to the room, singing the whole way and the proceeded to sit under the shower that is just used to wash your feet. Picture a grown man in a fetal position under a water spout. Man did we laugh.

Note: I have no vertical as evident by the photo above. Two beaches are shown, the one off our resort and the other at Sao Beach.