Saigon, Vietnam
January 10, 2001
I extended the trip another four days. I was suppose to be leaving January 8th, but as you can see, I'm still in Vietnam.
First thing I did in Saigon, was book a tour on the Mekong Delta. I didn't have much time, so it was only one day. I didn't really know if I even wanted to go, but once there, it was quite incredible, at least what little I saw. It was actually a very muddy place, and as we were going up and later back down the river, we saw an interesting lifestyle along the river banks. A few people here and there were completely submerged in the muddy riverwater trying to catch fish, or something. Lots of children playing along the edges of the river as well, covered with mud.
Also in Saigon, I spent alot of time shopping for new novels and CDs to buy. So many things are pirate copies. The books they sell have been photocopied, and the CDs have copied as well. It was a bargain at $1 a CD and about $2 a book. I spent an entire day going from record shop to record shop and book store to book store. I bought over 25 CDs and about 7 books.
Saigon is a fun city. So much traffic. One of my favorites parts is having a motorbike driver take you places on the back of their bike. There are no road rules in Vietnam, except the bigger vehicle rules all. So the motorbikes weave in and out of traffic, and if you want to make a left turn, you just have to start going right into the traffic, and they will go around you. I don't recall stoplights or stop signs or anything like that. I think there were a few, but only when absolutely necessary.
Next Journal Entry in Saigon, Vietnam:
January 12, 2001
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Wintermoon2@yahoo.com