Having fully recovered from the excesses of New Year’s Eve we said goodbye to Allan and Niah (refusing the offer of more alcohol. Well, it was only just after breakfast) and then, courtesy of Andy’s fine taxi service, it was off to the airport for a two legged trip to Ho Chi Minh City. We landed in Kuala Lumpur in the rain (naturally) where a 2+ hour stopover allowed Bobs to do a bit of revision
in some style while I watched the airport comings and goings amid the encircling rain clouds.
On the rare occasions there was a break in the gloom, you could clearly see the Sepang Formula 1 circuit in the mid distance.
The weather was a whole lot better when we arrived in Ho Chi Minh. By the time we checked into our hotel it was time to venture out, have a bit of food (a meal for less than £10!) and get our bearings. We found a fine market close to our hotel which certainly needs more exploring but clearly is full of food stalls,
the usual (fake?) branded outlets
plus, somewhat surprisingly, a number of places selling a large variety of coffee beans which I have to say I thought was restricted only to South America.
Back to the hotel there was time for a nightcap on the roof terrace bar (complete with jacuzzi and swimming pool!)
before turning in.
Exploration starts in earnest tomorrow but from what we have seen in the short time we have been here, HCM City seems like a vibrant, colourful and exciting place.
Phileas
thelasthurrahsite 