and 4x6 photo, they will kick you straight back to wherever you came from or, in my case, charge you 200 big ones for an emergency visa. Needless to say, this trip was not starting well.
With
my wallet and emergency funds considerably lighter (and when I say
lighter, I mean empty), I made my way to the hotel. First thing I
noticed: Ho Chi Minh is pretty clean. I wasn't expecting Jakarta, but I
didn't think it would be anywhere near Singapore. Pretty nuts. Super
friendly people who loved tourists and, surprisingly enough, there WERE a
lot of westerners there. I didn't think it would be a hot bed of world
travelers, but I think there were a greater amount of bules per capita
than in Jakarta.
After
12 hours of hibernation, I awoke ready to do all the touristy things
HCMC had to offer: I went to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Independence
Palace and the Vietnam War Museum. The latter was...interesting. The way
things were portrayed in that museum...it was the first time I felt
uncomfortable as an American. I hope that doesn't offend anyone. I
appreciate everything our vets do and did for our country, but.....shit.
Pictures will ensue on Facebook if anyone is curious. I couldn't bring
myself to photograph some of it. I felt that bad. Needless to say, I
needed to drink those memories away as soon as possible. Vietnamese beer
is....wildly mediocre? Good phrasing? I'm very close to saying that I
miss Bintang...gross. Things that make you go 'blaaahhhahhh'.
After
an eight hour train ride (on what seemed to be a relic from the war
era), I made my way to Nha Trang. Supposedly the best beach area in
Vietnam, it didn't quite compare to past vacations. Pretty standard for
the beach, but a very chill place. I only had a day and a half there,
but Nha Trang isn't known for much outside of the beach and
beach-related activities. I spent half of the first day at a spa with
mud bathes. Once I moved past questioning my heterosexuality, it was
actually quite nice. A mud bath, mineral bath (essentially a hot tub),
Italian food, beer and laying in the sun for $25. Boleh! After leaving
with silky smooth skin, I broke the bank at the first microbrewery I've
seen in Southeast Asia: Louisane Brewery. Compared to Bintang and
Anchor, this was magical. Wheat, red ale, dark and pilsner swirling
around in my belly was comparable to....drinking tears of a unicorn.
Over exaggeration? You're probably right. Sigh, I miss 'Merica. The last
day in Nha Trang consisted of exploring the town a bit, beach buming, a
Vietnamese massage and some Vietnamese/Tex-Mex combo. Sounds weird, but
it was quite good!
An
overnight train ride back to Ho Chi Minh, a layover in Malaysia and
bam! Back in the Big Durian. My next update will probably be after
Christmas break. That will have the big news: what I plan on doing next
year. To stay or to go....that's the big question. Update: though I plan
on hammering out some sort of extension (won't sign anything until
January though) with my current school, I have a Skype interview with a
school in Istanbul and will be attending an international teachers fair
in Bangkok in January. Until my December visit back to the States,
everyone enjoy the cold weather. I'll be drinking a Budweiser by the
pool, getting a tan and thinking of you guys. Your only solace is that
Bud here costs $4.50. Sad day....until December all! 'Merica!
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