May 8: Back to Manila

Back to Ho Chi Minh City first.

At so early in the morning, we could not find a taxi to bring us to the terminal. Then there were motorcycles. At last, I experienced a motorcycle ride in Vietnam! They brought us to the terminal, and in particular to that of a shuttle (sort of the FX here).


Here's Mon where we had our stopover...


...where we had this rice noodles I love...

...and where you could find these kinds of fruits and other fresh goods...








Approaching HCMC and going to the airport (or at least that mall near the airport), you could catch a glimpse of...


...Eden Garden...


...a man on this tri-bike with the nicely landscaped rotonda and a Vaseline billboard as a background...


...a busy street...


...tons of sugarcanes on that pedicab almost look-alike...


...a cab on a street with heavy traffic (tel. no. 35.12.12.12)...


...and another cab (tel. no. 38 111 111).

We had our lunch at that mall near the airport (Parkson Square)...


...where you could see the airport...


...and a light flow of traffic...


...while enjoying a soup at Coca...


...and another shake with cute straw...


...with a rice meal that does not forget vegetable side dishes...


...and a seafood meal that does not forget the leaves.


And that's me - tired, happy for being with Mon, but sad that I'd be going back to Manila away from him.

Before I forget, I bought a little notebook at Parkson Square in my attempt to study while waiting at the airport. Back then, I was about to take an assessment exam after a refresher course in economics and mathematics. Nice try. :)

And, more importantly, Parkson Square offers a free shuttle to and from the airport regularly (every hour, I think).


At the airport, while waiting for the check in time, Mon got to sit beside this young man, who looked like a Filipino and indeed he was one. Amazingly, Mon had an inkling that he was a Mapuan, and indeed he was. At that time, a fresh graduate and board passer who took up B.S. Chemical Engineering.


This is Michael. I guess where he is now and if he remembers the young (ahem) couple he met in 2009.

Some aerial shots as the plane took off:


May 8, 2009 - HCMC or near that city


May 8, 2009 - I wonder if this is still HCMC


Above the clouds...


...a peaceful view...


...with the airplane's wing...


...an attempt to catch the sunset, but the filter got in the way...


...and finally, the sun setting.

Back to Manila. Back to the Philippines.

That Vietnam trip was really a great experience. I bet it would have been better if I had already taken economic history under the dean when I got there - more appreciation of history, the people, landmarks, customs, and the little details. Yet, having taken that course would have meant less money for me to spend on trips such as this. Resource constraint, plus the many other places I wish to visit. Vietnam, meanwhile, remains on my list of the places to visit.

Up next, where? :)

May 3: Photowalk Alone

Still on a lazy mode, I got up late, then worked a bit (yes, work, willingly :) ), then went off for a late lunch at So Hom located at the Can Tho Ancient Market.

I ordered seafood and meat noodles, wishing it was the same as the noodles Mon ordered the night before. Unfortunately, it was not. Moreover, I think the serving was good for three to four people.

Here's what was left (a lot left, actually) after I couldn't eat anymore of it, plus a banana shake.



After getting full, I started my photo walk alone. And these are the highlights.


The women who offered me their banca services. The woman on the right steers the banca, but she could not speak English, so she made her sister offer me their service. I declined saying that I was waiting for my friend. Here's their mobile number - 0918.934390. Again, I panicked with the camera when they agreed to have their photo taken.


Say hi to Ho Chi Minh :)


The bridge: At the background


These couple asked me to take their photo (in their camera, of course.) The guy actually talked to me in Vietnamese. Due to the power of smile, we understood each other. I saw them again that night, and we greeted each other. Nice. :)


Almost a night. This was a cool shot - manual settings. Yebah!

More snapshots around:


A view from So Hom


Trying hard macro shot


Yellow flowers


Riverside (left angle)


Riverside (right angle)


They also love stars (of course, it's in their flag)


Riverside (behind a railing)


Cac ban: BORAC VAOTHUNG (no idea what it says, and if I even got it right)


Waiting... and waiting...

Next: Dinner at Du Thuyen (the floating restaurant)

May 1: The Trip to Can Tho

4:00 PM - our bus left Ho Chi Minh for Can Tho



Riding a bus in Vietnam was so cool. First off, I did not see any bus in the town center. Apparently, there was a big terminal of bus away from the city proper. We first went to Van phong tai to buy a ticket, then a shuttle service took us to the terminal.

We arrived at the terminal for quite a while with the air condition turned off. Good thing it was raining that time. At least we weren't suffering from the sweltering heat of the sun.


Vietnam at 15:47, Manila at 16:51 (our official time)

At 4:00 PM, the bus started its journey. We were given free small bottled water and a wet wipe. All for 70.000 VND per person.

There was one bus stop where we ate their kind of siopao - meat with some longganisa-tasting meat and two quail eggs for 10.000 VND each. There were lots of fruits, too.


Two of the three kinds of fruits that I did not know what

The bus we rode was new, clean and had a flat screen TV in front showing a Vietnamese show. I think they love singing and dancing and the stage.

Oh, there was this cute little girl who liked to look at us but was shy when we look at her, too. If only we could understand each other, I'd wanted to take a photo of that kid. I was afraid that her parents would get mad for taking a pic of their little child, then once we misunderstand each other, they might accuse me of child abuse and I would get a problem with their law enforcers.

Anyway, here's one hazy pic of the bus that wasn't too good. ;)


The other bus

May 1: Lunch at Paris Deli

...in Saigon Centre...



...and since it was Labor Day, there was an additional 10% service charge.



I ordered Shrimp Salad with Cocktail Sauce. I loved the shrimps. Because of that salad, I got to eat fresh green bell peppers. Fresh! (I'm not fond of fresh bell peppers.) Sliced thinly, anyway. But I skipped the tons of parsley in the dish. They really love parsley.

I would have ordered "Star Shake" but it was not available. I settled for apple shake for that meal.

Snapshots:







(last two photos by Ed)

May 1: Shopping in Labor Day

Ben Than Market. Saigon Square. Malls or department stores.

In Ben Than, I bought two scarves and six little hand-painted bamboo toys that look like dragonflies that balance at your fingertips. Ed bought dried kiwi fruits and cashew nuts - the dried kiwi tasted like candy. I prefer the fresh one. Mon, by the way, paid for my purchases - my money was with him. ;)

Saigon Square was like Greenhills - branded clothes and bags at cheaper prices. I just bought a dear camera two days earlier so I was not in the mood for shopping. Even if I needed new clothes. Even if I bought only four sets of clothes for my eight-day trip. That was how kuripot I was that day.

Then we went to another mall or store or whatever you call it, where a Barbie exhibit/booth was in place.



Where I also bought my yellow star in red shirt...



...which I doubt I'd wear here in Vietnam or in UP. :p

Next stop: Saigon Center, where we ate lunch (Paris Deli).