Into the land of Viet Nam

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  Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Monday, November 24, 2008

After another bus journey, we were back in Phnom Penh. After lunch, most of us took a cyclo tour around town - single-person seats pushed by someone riding a bicycle behind it. It was an interesting way to travel, and we visited a few cool sights. Also nice and slow for taking photos! By the time dinner rolled around, I was once again feeling not so great. i went out anyways, and lo and behold found Poutine on the menu! In spite of all the cheese (NOT good for a bad stomach) I enjoyed every last bite and boy did I suffer. I slept horribly, stomach cramps waking me up all night. In the morning I attempted to get ready for a morning at a museum and the markets, and the pain was so bad I couldn't even do it. Kerryn, ever the Pharmacist, found a pharmacy and got some meds for me (less than an American $ too!) so I again slept away the morning, and once again attempted to go with the group in the afternoon- to the Tul Sleung museum (an old school renovated into a prison/torture chamber during the Khmer Red regime) and the Killing Fields. Well, after standing up for about 3 minutes at the museum, I couldn't even do it. Harry was really helpful, getting me water and Tiger Balm (the solution to everything, apparently) and I ended up just laying in the bus sleeping for the whole hour. I missed out, although it was none to pleasant, but I still have a gaping hole in my knowledge of what the Cambodians and unlucky people from other countries who were here at that time went through. I managed to stand and walk for about 15 minutes at the killing fields- more than long enough. The memorial Stupa is filled with skulls that have been dug up from the site. the paths you walk upon have human bones visible on the surface- even a few teeth lying around. Not to mention the clothing remnants strewn about.  And dug out holes that somehow held an unimaginable amount of bodies. Chilling.



The bus dropped me off at the hotel, and the rest of the group headed out for some Cambodian Kickboxing. I was gutted! Everyone said it was pretty cool, hopefully I can go in Bangkok! (What a Christmas activity!) Needless to say I skipped out on dinner as well.



in the morning I managed to get on the bus, for a long drive- it was time to sadly leave Cambodia and head into Vietnam. We had lunch at a Pho restaurant (noodle soup- a Vietnamese dish) and wandered the markets. What a difference between Cambodians and Vietnamese- they grab you to get you to look at their stalls! And not so nice either. After a rest, we headed out in the evening for our group farewell dinner. Feeling mostly better, I fulfilled my pizza craving but my eyes were bigger than my stomach, I felt sick all night! We went out for a few drinks, but I called it an early night after bidding farewell to Sean and Neil, the two who would be leaving us before we began the Vietnam portion of the trip.



After a morning of stomach cramps, and chilling out for the afternoon watching the new movie Quantum of Solace (is that even the right name? James Bond anyways!) I finally felt 100% well again in the evening. Well enough, at our first dinner with our new leader, Nga (we're going to have fun learning to pronounce that one!) that I had my first taste of Frog! Grilled, with lemongrass and Chilli. No joke, it tasted like chicken. Although by the end of it, i think I had had enough that it started to develop a definite froggy taste.



This morning, the majority of us headed out by private minibus to the Cu Chi tunnels- a massive tunnel network used in the war. Insane how complex they are! We had a walk around the area, before descending ourselves into the insanely claustrophobic, humid, cramped tunnels. It was definitely an experience, the 10 of us all shrieking and laughing and wondering how long it would be! Apparently we took the long route as well- it was probably only a few minutes but felt like forever!! After lunch, Kerryn and I caught a taxi to the Pagoda of the Jade Emperor (A Chinese temple) which wasn't quite what we expected but pretty cool. We then had a chill out in the park before meeting Gemma and Amy from the group at the Sheraton hotel- up to the 23rd Terrace bar - Happy Hour overlooking the city! The views were fantastic and it definitely felt a lot more relaxed being above it all. We've just finished a great dinner, and its time for bed!



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