Berry's SEAJ trip Day 1: Tour of HCMC/Saigon, Vietnam (6/6/15)

***First let me introduce you to my travel companion for this trip, Berry. Berry is the stuffed animal of a good friend's daughter who asked me to take one of her animals to travel the world then donate him to a girl overseas that could benefit from having a stuffed animal (a request that most adults wouldnt even think of let alone an 8 year old kid). So Berry will be traveling through South East Asia and Japan with me on this trip before he moves on. So follow along as we keep each other company on this epic journey of a lifetime.***

Woke up at 6am and couldn't get back to sleep, so I went down to formally check in (night before was the security guard/janitor who gave me the key but I had to check in with the staff the following day) and get some ideas as to what I should do in the upcoming days. After grabbing breakfast (typical hostel breakfast of bread with eggs and maybe some veggies) I booked a tour of the Cu Chi tunnels for the following day so I had this day to explore HCMC. Fortunately for me, there happened to be a free walking tour put on by Adam Priestley – a history teacher in HCMC who runs the Trails and Tales group in HCMC. He was incredibly knowledgeable and put on a great tour of many of the nearby sites in the city. The tour almost didn't happen as when we met at the coffee shop to start, there was a giant deluge (first day and already monsoon rains – not a good sign). Fortunately for us, it subsided right before we decided to just sit in the coffee shop and for him to give us a virtual tour of the city (his walking tour was much better than any sit and talk tour could ever be)

My first and really only "monsoon" experience. I think it gets much worse than this as this was akin to a Houston downpour - 30 mins of heavy rain then open sky after.

Scooters EVERYWHERE!!!!! seriously it is as much a part of their culture as driving a car around America. Just walk purposefully and in a straight line to not die.

This is a street sign. This is why foreigners who try to ride scooters in this country without being comfortable on a bike are always bandaged up everywhere. But lets be honest, you know there are people in that right lane taking a left too. :)

We were in a giant round about. Some older buildings in the foreground with the giant modern skyscraper in the background.

One of the first stops of the walking tour - hindu temple. First introduction into religious temples in SEA

Top shrine of the hindu temple with many gods sitting atop it. Many colors used. Very decorative.

This, my friends, is the aforementioned Berry. He wanted to check out the Hindu temple too. 

Berry getting a picture with one of his besties. 

Beautiful flowers in a promenade in front of the city hall building.

The city's namesake, Ho Chi Minh, in front of the impressive city hall. 

Berry wanted to give the main man a high five, so I let him.

Berry checking out the Opera hall. Beautiful french colonial architecture. Like many of the older buildings in the city.

Berry has seen religious temples of various religions already. Busy day.

Old train station. Weird color but still beautiful. 

Inside was every more pretty than the outside. 

The Reunification Palace of HCMC. Was setting up for a party on the green. The grounds also had old war tanks around the perimeter. Friendly reminder not to mess with their city.

Berry and I were thirsty so we got some fresh squeezed cane sugar and lime drinks. Very tasty.

Believe this was a Buddhist shrine on a street corner. People came to pray and do their thing. 

Tour was over by ~noon and had some time to kill before the war remnants museum reopened after lunch (most places seemed to shut down over lunch over there) so I ducked into an alleyway and wound up ordering a bowl of pork Pho (at least that's what I think it was – I just found a place where people were eating, sat down on the little plastic chairs, and asked for 1 of whatever they were having) that was tasty but I don't understand how they eat hot soup in the middle of the day (or at any time for that matter) when it is ~97F.

Berry wanted hot-ass soup on a hot-ass day. WHY??!?! It was tasty and my first experience (of many) on the trip of SEA street food. Was delicious even though the exchange to order the soup was labored.

After eating, I went to the War Remnants museum and had my first experience with the unrelenting hawkers that would plague my time in Vietnam. I had 10-15 minutes to kill before it opened, and this driver kept asking me if I wanted him to take me to some nearby temple or something like that, I said no and he proceeds to keep trying to sell it by talking about the temple, and how its close, etc. and I keep saying no. Eventually he leaves me alone but then his friend comes over and tries to sell me a coconut. Luckily he stopped after the first no.

Berry wanted to know where to go so we checked out the map. Then on to explore the museum. 

After lunch, waited for the War remnants museum to open. We got in and Berry goes straight to the artillery. Tanks, Choppers, mortars, etc. littered the grounds. Was a great place to visit. 

I dont know why but both Berry and I love the Chinook. Good call my friend!

No Berry you cant play in there. (this was in the torture part of the museum).

Overcompensation much?

In front of a building with so much pain and suffering from over the years, Berry couldnt help but smell the beautiful flowers. 

Part of the museum had this information about the number of bombs we dropped in Laos. We dropped more bombs in Laos (a country we were not at war with) than any other country ever. Many of these bombs didnt explode. Today there are many non-profits that scour the jungles trying to find/deactivate bombs.

Museum opened up and I walked around it. It is essentially a photographic history of the war (was sponsored by some American companies) and the detrimental effects of agent orange, both back then and currently with its ability to alter genetics for the worse. Was very somber walking around that place, and kinda amazing to think that this had happened between 40-50 years ago and yet there are no lingering hostilities towards us or about the war that I could see/feel. Went back to hostel to recharge and find rooftop bars to watch the sunset. Went with Ally the Englishman whom I met in the hostel to a nearby hotel to watch sunset.

After a long day of walking around the city, the 2 of us decided to have a local beer and enjoy the night lights of the city at a bar near the hostel. (The other drink is actually a friend from the hostel, not Berry's)

Unfortunately, the clouds stomped that out, so we just chilled and talked about our travels over some beers before returning to the hostel to get our free drinks (they give 2 free drinks between 7-8pm for all who stay there). After that, we and some other travelers went to the street behind the hostel which is full of bars/restaurants with tons of “patio” seating (little plastic chairs expanding onto the sidewalk so you could watch people walk by and chill in the street) where we stopped at one, had some beers and then I bailed early to grab a bite to eat and then get to bed ~11pm as the traveling left me weary.