Category Archives: _Asia_

Mekong Delta

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Today we left Saigon behind and made our way South towards the massive delta of the Mekong river. On arrival at the pier (and after a quick visit to the happy room) we jumped on a boat for a trip through big and small waterways.

During a number of stops we could get a glimpse of local life – from a fruit garden (next to the restaurant, where we had lunch – obviously full of exotic fruit … rambutans, longans and the like) to a rice paper / puff rice producer and a brick maker.

Shortly before sunset we made it to our homestay in the delta; here we got a first introduction to the preparation of Vietnamese cuisine – making spring rolls and stir fries. Oh – of course dinner was the food we just helped to prepare.

Wednesday morning saw us boarding the boat again and making our way back to the pier – though not without a short stop around the local floating market and a glimpse (or should I say nose-full) of the smelly production of soy and fish sauce.

Cu Chi Tunnels

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From the War Remnants Museum we continued to the Cu Chi Tunnels – about two hours outside of Saigon. These tunnels – built and used by the Vietcong – played an important role in the Vietnam war and were one of the bases for the Vietcong’s Tet Offense in 1968.

After an introduction, we had a walk around the premises, seeing some of the techniques employed around the tunnels – from booby traps, windows in the floor to chimney systems . There was even a chance to crawl through one of the tunnels or to (at a cost obviously) try an AK47 (and other weapons used during the war).

Saigon

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This year did see me heading for Vietnam over Christmas and New Year. My trip did start in mid December in Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon and to then end in Hanoi in very early January.

I arrived in Saigon midday, left my stuff in the hotel and started to explore my surroundings. I ended up following the walking tour lined out in my guidebook. This led me past the main sites in central Saigon. The biggest attraction (at least for me) surely being the Reunification Palace. I got myself a ticket and did head inside. The interior of the palace clearly reflects the 1960s / 70s – and probably not much has changed since those days – when back in April 1975 a tank did crash through its get, marking the end of the Vietnam war.

My actual tour did start in the evening. As it turned out, there were only five of us – so a fairly small group. On Monday morning the included program started with a city tour (most of which, I had already covered on Sunday) and a visit to the War Remnants Museum, exhibiting items related to the Vietnam war (or American war as they say here).

Pushkar – Night Impressions

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At the end of the camel ride we got dropped close to the city center, so got an introductory walk of town and had dinner in a restaurant before making it back to the hotel.

Udaipur City Palace – or is there a better way to start a year?

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HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

We had an early start – at least for New Year’s Day. We left the hotel around nine in the morning to walk over to the City Palace and a guided tour there.

It came out, this had been a sensible thing to do – as there were very few other groups – and as such we got around the usual chaos.

Rajasthan Dancing

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Coming back from the boat ride most of us joined in for a performance of Rajasthan traditional dances in the Bagore Ki Haveli Museum.

Following that – it being New Year’s Eve – we made it back to the hotel and the rooftop restaurant to make it into the new year. Hot ginger, lemon and honey – with an addition of rum – was my drink of choice this year … nice taste and (most important) keeping one warm.