A perfect cool morning, started about 7 am at the 5th floor restaurant. Wore a long sleeve shirt and was just mildly warm. Had a great seat overlooking the Saigon River.
The Majestic is a Colonial Hotel built in 1925. One of the pictures should show a view from my seat and one from the river – walked over but more about that later.
The had a western and eastern buffet. One photo should show the Congee bowl with Kim Che and other wonderful toppings. Then found the Pho – there should also be a picture – and I got lucky by adding just the exact amount of hotness. Figured I better stop at this point as there will be many more days of good meals.
Did scarf down some fried taro, sauteed veggies and flat noodles – and a bit more Kim Che.
The river is a busy one, seems only sloghtly more organized in traffic than the streets. I have never seen anything like crossing a street in HCMC.
Before taking off for a walk to the market I got the waiter to try and teach me a few polite forms. With a six tone language success was not to be mine; will continue over the next few weeks. Only took me 20 years to get Cha Gio close enough that a waiter would bring it the first time.
Next to go wandering. The weekly market looked like a good destination – long enough to walk a bit but not out of reach. Takes about 3 times as long after one gets going. I stood at the traffic for over a minute at the first intersection. Cars, busses, motor bikes, bikes, other vehicles. No traffic lights, two way traffic in both lanes. Use of sidewalks. Have never seen the likes of this. Watched how the locals did it. Basically they just go and hope. Somehow the traffic slows or goes around, does not ever stop. After crossing about 20 streets I got the hang of it but frankly I still do not understand why it works, or even how it works.
Just walk, trust, do not stop, ignore the risk and trust.
Got to the market. Giant market, fruit meat, fish, innards, live food, cloth, Gucci Prada (fakes), thousands, literally, of small stalls. Many were eating and many were walking around serving. Cacophony of smells from all the food and stalls selling food. Was hard not to fill up on more Pho and other grilled, steamed dishes.
Took a walk up Le Loi, higher end area of town. Cool breeze was very nice. Found a high end shopping buliding very much like HK with US level pricing or so it seemed. This area is a lot less interesting; the local neighborhoods and shops, while small and very poor, are the real flavor of the city.
Commerce everywhere. Every few feet is a vendor selling something from food (stalls that can feed one or two outside on the street), one type of fruit, lottery tickets, cloth. Reminds me of rural China in 1989.
Got a can of Lipton Iced Tea, 5000 Dong, about 30 cents.
Eventually got back to the hotel, assembled the bike in the room and decided I needed a swim. Got a swim and more as the spa had massages. 90 minutes for $20 less a 20% discount, no ideal why. Shiatsu massage, with Hot Rock rubs, walking on back, some Thai influences and quite a bit of pounding. Very fine. Left a tip that was too large (culturally) but did not care.
Will take a walk, then a rest and then meet up with the fellow bikers at 19:00 for a Welcome Dinner. Should have a good appitite by then.
HiHi P.S. Libby' please send a note to all reminding them to go to the Blog. What might work best is for me to write up the day and send it to the Blog with a Cc to you.
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