Day 14 - Ho Chi Minh City

Today began, thankfully, with a bit of a sleep-in, all of us exhausted from all the travelling we'd done of the last two days by every means of transportation imaginable - car, minivan, boat, foot - no donkey to be seen but I suspect just give us time...

After a yummy breakfast of frosted flakes and Tang (pretty sure that's what the Ironmen eat everyday *grin*) we headed off for the 'cultural tour' suggested by Frommers. Much like Hanoi, it seems Ho Chi Minh doesn't really do the "step right up" variety of tourist attraction, with the colonial style Post Office noted as a highlight (just a building like most others really). So, after a quick jaunt through the markets (which are entertaining for about the first two minutes and then quickly degrade into human cesspools with too many people, too many goods and far too much noise)...

and a zip past the Notre Dam Cathedral of Ho Chi Minh City (which is quite impressive actually - those Catholics really know how to build a church)...

we hit the street of Dong Khoi, a haven of little boutiques and souvenir shops where no one yells at you and the air conditioning is an unimaginable God-send. Of course, the traffic is still madness, especially in Ho Chi Minh City where a red light simply means drive up on the sidewalk until you can join moving traffic somewhere further down.

This walk proved particularly successful with Tracey finding that ever-elusive wedding outfit she's been looking for, me finding something that actually fit my 5'11 frame (even though I didn't buy it - after the shroud-dress I'm a bit scared for silk now to be honest) and Milla being fetted by all and sundry (although the people here are generally not as friendly as those of Hanoi which makes sense with their war history but does feel a bit sad).

So, all in all, everyone was pretty happy, the disaster of yesterday's tour well and truly behind us and I was beginning to warm slightly to Ho Chi Minh City despite her often cold reception to us. Everything seemed like it might actually be on the upturn... but then, sadly, disaster again... *sigh*

Going back to the tailor's to pick up our clothes, we both felt a bit of dread that everything might go wrong but since this proved largely unfounded in Hanoi, our fear was tempered by a faith that everything would once again turn out fine. Mistake. Looking very determinedly at the upside, I did get two serviceable skirts and Tracey some passable 3/4 pants, but in reality, the workmanship was particularly poor and with the suits, Tracey could have easily parked a couple of rabbit families under the arms and still had enough room for future generations. We both felt a bit speechless, especially since any suggestion of alteration was met with looks of disbelief. How could we be anything but estactic with the rabbit situation?

After this, we headed back to the hotel room, hoping to take a breather, regroup, and see the funny side. Instead, we returned to find the two beds they'd provided (to make up for the one large bed they'd given us the first night) were singles and once again would make sleep pratically impossible unless Tracey and Milla were willing to sleep stacked vertically. Keeping in mind that we had so far been very very patient while the staff just shrugged dismissively through mistake after mistake, saying only slight variations on 'oh well, you'll just have to cope', I headed downstairs to rectify the situation, asking for another bed to be sent up. After a half hearted promise that they'd try to do something, we then got the phone call that housekeeping was shut for the night and nothing could be done. Well, Tracey cracked. Heading downstairs (with admittedly a bit of stomping *grin*) she explained that this situation was not acceptable, and though there was no yelling, obviously the staff could recognise a woman on the edge (perhaps wild eyed rage looks the same in every country) and when we arrived back later, there were indeed three beds.

Sadly though, the disasters (word of the night) did not really end there. Okay, perhaps "disaster" is over-stating it, but there seemed to be a veritable conga-line of bad experiences waiting to still dance past us - rude guards at the bookstore, almost getting run over by several sidewalk motorists, terrible food at an overly expensive restaurant, etc. The one bright spark in all this madness - Milla got a haircut that looks absolutely gorgeous and the people at the salon were lovely. Thank goodness. So, tomorrow, we're off to district five to see the Emperor Jade Pagoda and Chinatown - hopefully all goes well or we may just SNAP! But I'm still ready to love you Ho Chi Minh City - just give me one reason...

Oh, that's right...