HCMC - Part 3

Some sightseeing photographs of the city.

Reunification Hall

Took this photograph on our way to have a look-see of the 'Windows Cafe'.. where the young and hip hang out. We thought we could be one of them. But even on approach to the cafe, the music was too much for our ears! We decided to go to the Creperie & Cafe which was more to our taste. :-)

Little Garden Square near Reunification Hall
General Post Office

A building from the French Colonial Times...

Beautiful Windows of the GPO

Mosaic Floor in the GPO
Notre Dame Cathedral

Definitely the one in Paris is much nicer!
Municipal Theatre - Day

Known as the Opera House in Colonial Times

Municipal Theatre - Night

Municipal Theatre - Finely Carved Figures on the Rooftop
City Hall - Day

City Hall - Night

Hotel Continental

Popularized in a novel...My guidebook says to have afternoon tea in the courtyard. I went in to have a look, and was like "Eh? Why like that one?" . It's err..not very attractive lor. So...decided to forgo afternoon tea here.

The Caravelle Hotel

My travel guidebook which has very beautiful photographs...somehow deceived us into expecting more than what things really are. In addition to the disappointment of Continental's Courtyard, the place to have a drink was at the rooftop bar at The Rex Hotel. So one night, C and I happily dressed up with some cleavage showing :-) and trotted off to The Rex Hotel's rooftop bar. Waliow!!! It was really NOT what we had expected. Sorry lah. But I expected something like Vertigo over in Bangkok. This place is abit like Coliseum (remember the old restaurant on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman?) on a rooftop. This place looks like it's from the 60's. C says even the waiters look like they were from that era too. hahahaah... But we sat and had a drink anyway, chatted the night away, and indeed did enjoy ourselves.

We also visited the Jade Emperor Pagoda Temple. It looked pretty in my guidebook. But in actual, the place is quite old. I guessed the temple did not receive that much donations to upkeep the building, or perhaps the temple custodians just didn't want to spend the money? We did the usual prayers with joss sticks and gave a small donation for "teem yau".

The other main thing that we did (or rather the other ladies) was trying their luck at The Majestic Club. Apparently, most hotels in Vietnam has casinos now. Both C and I weren't really into it.... and we were only there to get the free food! Hahahahah..... the seafood porridge and pho is pretty good. And so is their lemon soda.

Oh yah. Also argued with some masseuse. You see...there were lots of flyers of spas etc given out on the roadside. Obviously, we wanted the cheapest. And before we went, I specifically asked about the price and tips. The answer was "tip up to you". C and I went off for a USD 7/- hairwash first, which we were quite happy, gave the shampoo girl and hairstylist USD 1/- tip each. No complaints there. Then the other ladies decided to come for a foot massage. At the end of the session, I gave my masseuse USD 1/- tip. He took it, stared at me with his sad puppy eyes and said "I got no salary. Only Tip"...expecting me to give him more. C's masseuse didn't want to take the tip. C thought maybe she wants Vietnamese Dong, and then took out the local currency. Again, the masseuse refused to take it and repeated "I got no salary. Only Tip" like a parrot. Of course we were upset and demanded to see the owner, whom conveniently was not around. We just gave them the amount on their promotional leaflet and stormed out. Geezzzz...don't you hate this nonsense???? We were actually quite happy with them, and was even saying that we will go again the next day. But their stupidity caused them to lose future business. And that's quite alot...as we are a group of six.

And then there's the shopping... bought some embroidered tablecloths, laundry bags, lacquer-ware, cashew nuts, dried longan. I tell you... really must bargain like crazy at the Ben Thanh Market. We had a local guy with us...so he did the bargaining for us. Really cut down to less than quoted. But one of the shops along Dong Khoi was quite good. The initial quote of the wares was even below the final price of the market! So obviously I bought more tablecloths from this Dong Khoi shop... :-)

Okay lah.... think that's about it all. Overall, think it was quite a good trip but Macau was better lor. Until next year for our annual girly trip again....