Saigon 1

Ho Chin Minh city or Saigon is a crazy crazy place. The traffic is so amazing I had to stop myself from standing at street corners taking photos. The evening I arrived I had my first taste of Vietnamese food (really cheap and nice) and while sitting there the first of many many hawkers came in and tried to sell me stuff - sunglasses, books, watches, shoe shining - anything. Seeing as I had nothing to read I bought a book for a pittance and upon opening it found that the whole thing was photocopied with just the cover being an accurate reproduction. I've since seen these book sellers (usually a lady carrying a huge stack of books sealed in plastic on her arm) everywhere and I can just imagine some huge factory somewhere with guys taking the pages from books and feeding them carefully one by one into a photocopier. The next morning I was up early having my free breakfast under the spiral staircase, next to the fountain, beside the covered pool table, near the fish tank. I booked some onward travel in one of the local travel agencies and walked over to one of the huge markets where people actually grab your arm as your squeezing through the aisles trying to get your attention. As cool as this place is, there isn't a huge draw siteseeing wise. Saw the city's very own Notre Dame Cathedral and the Palace park. Bought an expensive cocoanut drink from an old lady walking around with baskets over her shoulders. Said "no thanks" to about a million motorcycle rides. Took in a rather sad looking zoo and botanical garden right next to the history museum. There must have been some sort of school outing because there because were loads of students in military uniform wandering around and trying to get their photos taken with any passing foreigner. Muggins included. Finished off the afternoon trying to find the Jade Pagoda which the guidebook insisted was THE pagoda to see in Saigon. Whatever. I walked for ages and ages and crossed so many intersections of death, down back alleys and side streets (I picked the right one about 50% of the time) and found the rather small place just as I was giving up. Going back to the guesthouse was another chance to get completely lost. I got back after so many wrong turns down alleys and very nearly into peoples bedrooms - I found all the staff sprawled asleep on any available surface with the tv turned on to some local drama.