17 NOV 2008- fourth day;
today morning, after breakfast we went to take a 20 minutes ferry to the south-east of ho chin minh. after the ferry ride, we had to take the bus for about one hour before we reaches the monkey island.
We took a motorized boat from there and went to the sac forest, a revoluntionary base for vietnamese soldiers during war time. the motorized boat was very fun as it was riding in a very fast speed unlike yesterday's boat which was very slow.
After that it was lunch time, we went to a nearby restuarant for a seafood lunch. the lunch was quite boring because we had seafood for the past 2 days and the dishes were all the same. and it also did not taste nice.
then, we had to finish eating our lunch quickly as Richard told us that the weather forecast says that in around 4 plus, there will be rain and monsoon (some sort of typoon). and if we dont eat quickly, we maybe stuck in this place because after lunch we still have many places to go to.
After lunch, we all took the canoe to the Dam Doi (Bat swamp). the ride was very short and there was not much bats. (only a few) I was expecting that we go into a cave where there is a lot of bats hanging upside down on the ceiling, so i was quite dissappointed when the Bat swamp had just so little bats hanging on the tree.
After that we went to see the crocodile and were allow to feed the crocodile. i did not went to feed as the 2 boats were full. at the crocodile place, we also saw many monkeys and one of the monkey was fighting with a dog.
then, we quickly took the ferry back to ho chin minh.
when we reached ho chin minh city, it was still early for dinner, so we were given about 1 hour or more to shop at the lucky plaza. I, again, bought many many stuffs.
We then had dinner at a very high class cruise. the dinner was okay~, different from the last two days' dinner. quite nice. there is live performance. after dinner. we stayed there for a while. there's a sexy girl playing with fire. then, the band played happy birthday song. Oh My God! the teachers prepared cake for the 3 november babies. Me, Kah Min & Suganya. We all got a shock. the birthday cake was very big. (at first i thought that it was other people celebrating their birthday) After that, another shock. they also got prepare presents for us. (if i had heart attack, i would have been dead by now.) HA HA!
After that we went back to the hotel room. nabilah, aziela, cassandra and elizabeth went to our hotel room and chit chat until quite late then they went back and we sleep.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
third day at ho chin minh city.
16 NOV 2008- third day;
today morning, straight after breakfast, we had a long trip from our hotel to the boat station at the mekong delta. (about 3 hours)
when we reached the boat station,we took a motorized boat and tour the mekong delta. there is alot of houses on the sides of the river. they were all very old and rusty. there are people rowing the sampan, selling vegetables, drinks, etc.. on the mekong delta. a sort of floating market. we then stop by to visit the local industries of poprice and try out rice-paper making and coconut candy workshop. we bought some of the poprice, tea and coconut candy. next, we travel for a long time in the motorized boat to the restuarant for seafood lunch. from where we drop down, we had to walk approximately 20 minutes before reaching the restaurant. on the way, it was very muddy and our legs and slippers were all dirty. bt it was worth the walk as the food was very delicious.
after lunch, we all get a chance for a ride in the sampan boat. it was very fun yet dangerous as the water is almost at the brim of the sampan boat. we had a 20minutes short ride then transfer back to our motorized boat and thats the end of our mekong delta adventure.
the way back to ho chin minh city was about 4 hours. as everyone was exhausted, we all took a long nap in the bus.
In the evening, around 6 plus 7, we reached the restaurant and had our dinner- vietnamese food. bt this was much tastier and delicious as compared to yesterday's. After dinner, we went to the internet cafe for blogging and went back to the hotel very late and quickly wash up and rest for the day. Today had been a very long day. we were all very tired.
*In Vietnam, at around 6 plus, the sky has totally become dark. unlike in singapore.
today morning, straight after breakfast, we had a long trip from our hotel to the boat station at the mekong delta. (about 3 hours)
when we reached the boat station,we took a motorized boat and tour the mekong delta. there is alot of houses on the sides of the river. they were all very old and rusty. there are people rowing the sampan, selling vegetables, drinks, etc.. on the mekong delta. a sort of floating market. we then stop by to visit the local industries of poprice and try out rice-paper making and coconut candy workshop. we bought some of the poprice, tea and coconut candy. next, we travel for a long time in the motorized boat to the restuarant for seafood lunch. from where we drop down, we had to walk approximately 20 minutes before reaching the restaurant. on the way, it was very muddy and our legs and slippers were all dirty. bt it was worth the walk as the food was very delicious.
after lunch, we all get a chance for a ride in the sampan boat. it was very fun yet dangerous as the water is almost at the brim of the sampan boat. we had a 20minutes short ride then transfer back to our motorized boat and thats the end of our mekong delta adventure.
the way back to ho chin minh city was about 4 hours. as everyone was exhausted, we all took a long nap in the bus.
In the evening, around 6 plus 7, we reached the restaurant and had our dinner- vietnamese food. bt this was much tastier and delicious as compared to yesterday's. After dinner, we went to the internet cafe for blogging and went back to the hotel very late and quickly wash up and rest for the day. Today had been a very long day. we were all very tired.
*In Vietnam, at around 6 plus, the sky has totally become dark. unlike in singapore.
second day at ho chin minh city
15 NOV 2008- second day;
today morning we had breakfast in the hotel lobby. after breakfast, we went to visit a local school, Nguyen Cong Tru High School, in ho chin minh city. When we reached the school, the students had already been waiting for our arrival. They were all too friendly and warm that made us all feel shocked as we did not expect for this. they gave each of us a stalk of rose, a badget and their school magazine with one exercise book which was very nice of them. (pity though, as the words school magazine was all written in vietnamese and we could not understand it.)
they had prepared presentations to tell us about their school, vietnam and ho chin minh city. there were also three performances by the students where they dance and sing on the stage. then, it was time us to interact with the students. the girl whom i spoke to, is called 'Lan Anh' and althought the girl whom i speak to can speak quite fluent english, bt due to their vietnam accent, i still find it hard to communicate with them. Lan Anh also gave me a small gift which i think was very sweet of her.
we took photos and exchange our e-mail address so that in future we can still stay in contact. we played a short game then went walking around the school. then lastly, before leaving the school, we took a group photo with them and went off to our next destination.
We had a seafood lunch that was not-so-good and changed into tshirt and three-quarter pants before moving on to the Cu Chi tunnel.
we spend about 2 hours exploring around the Cu Chi tunnels, understanding how the people used the Cu Chi tunnels during war time and how smart they are by setting the traps in there. we got a chance to crawl into the widest part of the Cu Chi tunnel and it was very low, narrow and dark inside. i find it difficult to travel around inside. i was very impressed that the vietnamese soldiers actually manage to do so during war times and they spent years hiding inside the tunnel. they wer really smart at that time as they were able to think of such way to hide and attack the American soldiers during war time.
After that we had dinner at a restuarant which also serve vietnamese food. and to me, i think vietnamese food is not nice as compared to the food we usually eat.
After dinner, we went to the Ben Thanh Night Market for some shopping. the clothes, bags were very cheap in there and for the first time, i try bargaining. it was a very fun experience.
At last, my friends and i bought many things and spent less than S$50 which is very worth it.
Finally, we went back to the hotel and wash up after a long, sticky, sweaty and dirty day.
then, we had to complete the reflection for the second day.
today morning we had breakfast in the hotel lobby. after breakfast, we went to visit a local school, Nguyen Cong Tru High School, in ho chin minh city. When we reached the school, the students had already been waiting for our arrival. They were all too friendly and warm that made us all feel shocked as we did not expect for this. they gave each of us a stalk of rose, a badget and their school magazine with one exercise book which was very nice of them. (pity though, as the words school magazine was all written in vietnamese and we could not understand it.)
they had prepared presentations to tell us about their school, vietnam and ho chin minh city. there were also three performances by the students where they dance and sing on the stage. then, it was time us to interact with the students. the girl whom i spoke to, is called 'Lan Anh' and althought the girl whom i speak to can speak quite fluent english, bt due to their vietnam accent, i still find it hard to communicate with them. Lan Anh also gave me a small gift which i think was very sweet of her.
we took photos and exchange our e-mail address so that in future we can still stay in contact. we played a short game then went walking around the school. then lastly, before leaving the school, we took a group photo with them and went off to our next destination.
We had a seafood lunch that was not-so-good and changed into tshirt and three-quarter pants before moving on to the Cu Chi tunnel.
we spend about 2 hours exploring around the Cu Chi tunnels, understanding how the people used the Cu Chi tunnels during war time and how smart they are by setting the traps in there. we got a chance to crawl into the widest part of the Cu Chi tunnel and it was very low, narrow and dark inside. i find it difficult to travel around inside. i was very impressed that the vietnamese soldiers actually manage to do so during war times and they spent years hiding inside the tunnel. they wer really smart at that time as they were able to think of such way to hide and attack the American soldiers during war time.
After that we had dinner at a restuarant which also serve vietnamese food. and to me, i think vietnamese food is not nice as compared to the food we usually eat.
After dinner, we went to the Ben Thanh Night Market for some shopping. the clothes, bags were very cheap in there and for the first time, i try bargaining. it was a very fun experience.
At last, my friends and i bought many things and spent less than S$50 which is very worth it.
Finally, we went back to the hotel and wash up after a long, sticky, sweaty and dirty day.
then, we had to complete the reflection for the second day.
first day at ho chin minh city
14 NOV 2008
today is the first day at ho chin minh city.
we reached ho chin minh airport at around 1 plus.. after that we went for sight seeing around ho chin minh city.
We visited the white house (the place where the president used to worked and live in), Notre Dame Cathedral, took a photo of the cityhall and the opera house.
After taking photos, we were given 45minutes to shop at a nearby shopping centre before having our dinner because it is still early.
Then, we had dinner at around 7. Our dinner was thai food. it was very delicious.
we were all very sweaty and tired as it had been a very long day and we had walked from one place to another.
After dinner, we finally get to check-in into our hotel : VICTORY HOTEL.
we very so exhausted at that point of time and quickly collected our keys and went up to the room to wash up.
We had to do reflections of the day after bathing.
I find it rather scary and difficult for us to cross the roads in vietnam as there is only a few traffic lights unlike in singapore. the motorist here drove their motorcycle in any directions at all time.
We had to be very careful and raise our hands up very high to show that we are crossing the roads (however, some motorist just don't care and bravely drove pass our group)
but lucky we had the help of our tour guide and the fellow policemen, we were all able to cross the roads safely. (Although me and rebecca almost got knocked down by a car)
I also realised that the income gap between the vietnamese is very wide because as our bus drove by, we can see buildings that are very old, rusty, full of moss growing on it and a few buildings nearby that are renovated and design in a very high-class manner.
today is the first day at ho chin minh city.
we reached ho chin minh airport at around 1 plus.. after that we went for sight seeing around ho chin minh city.
We visited the white house (the place where the president used to worked and live in), Notre Dame Cathedral, took a photo of the cityhall and the opera house.
After taking photos, we were given 45minutes to shop at a nearby shopping centre before having our dinner because it is still early.
Then, we had dinner at around 7. Our dinner was thai food. it was very delicious.
we were all very sweaty and tired as it had been a very long day and we had walked from one place to another.
After dinner, we finally get to check-in into our hotel : VICTORY HOTEL.
we very so exhausted at that point of time and quickly collected our keys and went up to the room to wash up.
We had to do reflections of the day after bathing.
I find it rather scary and difficult for us to cross the roads in vietnam as there is only a few traffic lights unlike in singapore. the motorist here drove their motorcycle in any directions at all time.
We had to be very careful and raise our hands up very high to show that we are crossing the roads (however, some motorist just don't care and bravely drove pass our group)
but lucky we had the help of our tour guide and the fellow policemen, we were all able to cross the roads safely. (Although me and rebecca almost got knocked down by a car)
I also realised that the income gap between the vietnamese is very wide because as our bus drove by, we can see buildings that are very old, rusty, full of moss growing on it and a few buildings nearby that are renovated and design in a very high-class manner.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
my first trip to Ho Chin Minh City!
Countdown 1 more day to my HCMC trip... =D
a little excited, first time going overseas with my friends and teachers..
currently creating blog and packing my stuffs. =)
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