BYE BYE VIETNAM

THE HOME LEG

29th JANUARY 2014 

Jetstar was on time for the return flight Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City. We did the trip out to the Cu Chi Tunnels on our last full day in HCMC. An extraordinary feat of survival, engineering and non detection for the Viet Cong. Some lived underground for up to five years. 

The locals continue the build up to Tet. 70% of Saigonese have homes outside of Saigon. Many have left for home leaving the streets noticeably less packed.

Big fireworks tomorrow but we'll be on the plane home. Eight months on the road and water comes to a close. Be fair to say it's been the time of my life. Brisbane here we come.

 JUST LUCKY HE WAS WEARING UNDERPANTS.

40 YEARS ON AND STILL SOLID

SAIGON SMOGGY CRUSH

COOKING CLASS

 

 HOI AN, VIETNAM

27TH JANUARY 2014

We had our pho breakfast on the rooftop, cycled around to our regular coffee spot on the way, then headed out past the rice fields to our cooking class at Baby Mustard which is a restaurant in the vegetable village of Tre Que.

Our lovely 24y.o. chef took us for a one on one tour of the gardens. We identified herbs and learnt the best methods to grow and crop the stuff we have at home like mint, coriander, basil, lemongrass etc. We made three dishes. Papaya and green mango salad with lotus stem and banana blossom. Prawn and pork pancakes and Marinated Calamari in banana leaf. Just delicious.

THE EXTENSIVE VILLAGE GARDENS

CLOSE CROPPED BASIL

THE MARINADE

MIGHT LEAVE THAT CHILI OUT

PRAWN PANCAKES ARE DONE

GRILLED SQUID

YOU DON'T GET STAR FRUIT ANY FRESHER

WRAPPING THE PANCAKE IN RICE PAPER

15 MINUTES OVER THE CHARCOAL. KEEP FANNING!

LOTS OF SUNBAKING DUCKS ON THE WAY HOME

WHILE EVERYONE IS CARTING FLOWERS HOME FOR TET

HOI AN, VIETNAM

NICE TO BE OUT OF THE CRUSH OF HO CHI MINH

24th JANUARY 2014

Faced with transport/time/weather issues, we didn't go to Hue and hung around Hoi An. A happy decision. 5 nights has been great. Markets, bike riding, cooking course, eating and exploring. I even caught up on this blog! No, I didn't order a suit.

I MIGHT HAVE TO PHONE A FRIEND TO CAPTION THIS EDDIE BUT MARCEL DUCHAMP WON'T ANSWER

FRIDGE DELIVERY VAN

EXPLORING ON THE FREE BIKES FROM GREENLIFE HOMESTAY

VIETNAM TELECOM

THE COUNTRY GEARS UP FOR TET, CHINESE NEW YEAR

MUCH BURNING OF PRAYER PAPER

THE EXTRA LIME MARGY SUNDOWNER

THE PUPPY AT OUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT. EVERYONE GOES BACK!

TET LANTERNS

JAPANESE MUM AND DAUGHTER

THONGS COLLECTED FROM THE SHORELINE ON BEACH

SURVIVOR

MIA CAFE, UNUSUALLY GOOD QUALITY, VIETNAM HIGH COUNTRY BEANS

LICK OF PAINT FOR TET

TET LANTERNS

MORE TET STUFF

ROLL ON ROLL OFF COMMUTER FERRY

THIS PRANG HAPPENED IN FRONT OF ME. "MAN YOU T BONED ME!"

SPECIAL TET FLOWER DELIVERY

ON OUR BIKE RIDE

RUNNING REPAIRS ON CUMQUAT TREE DELIVERY VAN FOR TET

PEANUT PLANTATION OBLIVIOUS OF TET

CAMBODIA TO VIETNAM

BUS FROM PHNOM PENH TO HO CHI MINH CITY 

22ND JANUARY 2014

Crossing the border to Vietnam had more effect on me than I expected, my childhood frame of reference being the war. Familiar names now forty years on. The war remnants museum was engrossing, appalling and moving with history and spin from both sides.

We stayed one night in Ho Chi Minh City before our seven hour delay with Jetstar to get us to Hoi An. We booked before we read the reviews!

The Anpha hotel was new and very swish. The first place we've stayed with bed turn down service!

I DIDN'T DO THE TARANTULAS. I COULDN'T FACE THE GOOEY BITS

MY BAG OF WASHING AND SOME RICE AND VEG DUMPLINGS TO GO. PHNOM PENH

GOT A SOFT SPOT FOR THOSE THINGS, YUM. CAMBODIA

FERRY CROSSING THE MEKONG ON WAY TO VIETNAM

OKAAAY, A KOALA READING A BOOK ON A BUFFALO. SAIGON

RIDER DOWN IN THE PELETON. CAMBODIA

FOCUS!

THE REVVING SWARM ON COUNTDOWN. SAIGON

KOMBI BAR, SAIGON

NO LIGHTS, JUST WORK YOUR WAY ACROSS

THE PALACE GATES NOW. HO CHI MINH CITY

AND THEN.  'LAST DEN OF THE PUPPET GOVERNMENT'

TET PHOTO MODEL

LOTS OF EXPATS AND GIRLFRIENDS

I'VE JUST GOT TO GET THAT GOAT MILK BELIEF

GET A HOLD OF SOME PHUCKHANG LAND IN VIETNAM!