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Ending on a High

30 Dec

Yesterday morning, we decided to give Ben Thanh Market another shot and visited again after breakfast. My game plan was not to look at any vendor in the eye and just look at the things on display. And if anything catches my fancy, I’d just whip out my iPhone5S, aim, shoot and walk off. It worked.

Managed to walk certain areas we missed the day before and these pictures sure are interesting. After the walkabout, we decided to walk around the neighborhood to kill some time. After all, our pick up was coming only by 12.30pm and we had more than a couple more hours. Hubby didn’t think we should stay in the room watching CNN and listening to depressing world news. 

I’d say it was a good workout but one must be careful when walking because the pavements are not even. I stumbled a few times when I was looking up.

We didn’t want to wander off too far and soon made our way back to the hotel, did a final packing, showered and checked out. Traffic was a slow crawl but we still arrived at the airport early. 

After saying our goodbyes to our tour guide and driver, we waited until the counters opened and checked in. And for the first time in five days, we craved something else to line the tummy. So M2 and I had Burger King and M1 had a sushi roll; hubby still chose Pho. 

We had a good holiday. 

 

Pickled stuff

  

Fresh mushroom

  

Dried mushrooms of all sizes

  

Cuttlefish and nuts

  

Missed out eating here. Next time!

  

Nearby park

    

M1 getting a ride

  

On the runway

  

Goodbye Ho Chi Minh!

   

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The River Cruise

29 Dec

The river cruise was typical of any other cruises with the option of a dinner inclusive or not. Ours was dinner inclusive.

The meal was served ahead before the ship departed and like the last few arranged meals, there’s so much to eat. I shudder thinking of my expanded waistline and secretly vowed to go on a diet when we get home.

 

Springroll appetizer

  

Pineapple salad with pork and prawns

  

Grilled pork

  

Fillet fish with mushroom sauce

  

Grilled beef

  

Hotpot

 

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After Ben Thanh

28 Dec

The air con at Takashimaya was very refreshing and we were reenergized so the mall rat in us explored the place a little bit. Although we felt that purchases from outside were better, hubby did buy a pair of Doc Marten’s which were 60% off.

We went back to Saigon Square soon after and felt more comfortable there compared to Ben Thanh Market. I think the reason for this preference is that the vendors are not too pushy and the lanes between the stalls are wider, easier to navigate without being pushed from behind. Plus it’s cooler with air conditioning. We bought some fancy soap this time.

By then it was slightly after two and we stopped by the Street Food Market again for a late lunch. We had two bowls of Pho, a spicy noodle and a rack of ribs, something different from this morning’s Bahn Mi, Sticky Rice with Mango and dessert, eaten here too.

Sated we went back to the hotel to rest and be fresh again by 4.30pm. Such fun we are having!

 

I’m gonna love smelling like grapes!

  

Pho with shrimp

  

Spicy beef noodle

  

BBQ ribs

  

Sticky rice and mango

  

Mung bean dessert

 

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Temple Club

28 Dec

Upon the suggestion of a friend, we opted to go to Temple Club for dinner over Pho 2000, famed for its Bill Clinton visit.

When we told the girls, M2 was like “Huh?! Is it a temple or a club?” Hahaha… sometimes I forget the baby of the family is still a baby.

It was a nice walk to the restaurant because the weather was cool. On our way, we passed the night street market and made an impromptu purchase. Braving to cross the busy streets and junctions, we soon found the place. 

The ambience was pretty cozy. We did not make any reservations so we had wait but only for a short while before we were seated.

However for such a fancy place, our table was pretty warm and there were no cloth napkins. When we asked about the heat, the waiter said the air con was not working! Huh?! How is this even possible? As for the napkins, he brought out one piece for the four of us and told us they ran out of clean ones! Unbelievable. 

Hubby had checked TripAdvisor and Travel&Leisure prior to making the decision to come here and both rated this place well. Contrary to this and the raves from our friend, our experience was a big let down. Certainly not what we expected.

The waiter did turn on the fan and brought out some paper napkins but mood was marred by then. The food somewhat made up for the situation but the ambience and service certainly was a disappointment.

One certainly would call if reservations are required but to ask whether the air-conditioning works, nobody does that. They need to work on their service and attitude to be better. We wouldn’t go back again nor would we recommend despite the good food if they don’t improve.

   
  

The drink choices

  

Mango salad

  

Temple Club platter

  

Sauteed squid with white pepper

  

Duck in orange sauce

  

Grilled fish

 

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An Interesting Day, Part 2

27 Dec

Today we have taken several boats and a sampan to get to our destination. And going to the restaurant on Turtle Island in a horse-drawn carriage topped it all.

The restaurant was obviously set up with tourists in mind. There was a quirky sign near the toilets. Apparently it’s for the adventurous to clean themselves up after trying their hands at catching fishes in the designated ponds. 

Lunch was plentiful; we seem to be feted a lot for our arranged meals. After the meal, we wandered around the area to look at the animals on display instead of lounging in the ready hammocks. Grandmother tales say one should not lie down or be horizontal after a hearty meal. Besides fishes and turtles, there were alligators, toads, porcupines, snakes and more fishes.

A couple more boat rides and a short stop to see the Laughing Buddha at the Vinh Trang Pagoda, we soon were headed back to the city.

By 5.15pm we were back at the hotel. It has been an interesting day. We shall rest now and go out later this evening to see what we fancy as far as food is concerned as I opted not to have an arranged dinner tonight. 

 

Our transport to the restaurant

  
    
  

My first beer of this trip!

      
    
  

Waiter adding veg into the catfish soup

  

 

This was lunch!

 
    
    
    

Tons of toads! Rrbb bitt

    
  

 

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An Interesting Day

27 Dec

I dozed off in the van during the hour and a half journey because traffic was heavy even on the highway. Eventually we arrived.

And we had quite a morning at the Mekong River. The first stop was at the Eco Bee Farm and we sampled some honey. And had some fruits while being serenaded by the local singers at the second stop before we took the sampan.

Walking along the path on the island, there were many vendors selling local fruits and crafts. We strolled along, stopping at the Coconut Candy-making attraction. The coconut ice cream was very refreshing!

 

At the jetty

  

Waiting for Boat #9

  

Safety first with life vests buckled on

  

Our tourguide showing us the bees

  

The bees sure are friendly

  

A closer look

  

Sampling the honey with some titbits

  

The mixture of honey, pollen, lime and tea

 
 

Mango, Papaya, Dragon fruit, Watermelon & Pineapple

 

   

This colorful fruits are cocoa

    
    
   

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The Food Kept Coming

26 Dec

Our arranged dinner was very impressive. The minute we sat down, the food was served immediately and kept coming. We all felt like such gluttons! We just had to eat and eat.

It was also rather challenging and the waiter had to show us how to build some of the more complicated ones together.

We didn’t know when the food was going to stop coming out until the watermelon was served. Thank goodness, anymore I think I would burst.
Delicious is all I can say, along with a big burp…

   

We started with this, just add fish sauce

  

Then it was this, dip in fish sauce too

  

This had to be built with lots of greens

  

The pork had to be stuffed into the square

  

This salad goes onto the cracker

  

The cracker

  

The finished presentation

  

Thankfully this can be eaten as is, just add fish sauce!

  

This goes onto some greens

  

Lettuce, mint, starfruit, cucumber and something unriped

  

The end presentation

  

Pork pho

  
  

Finally the end

 

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Being a Tourist, Part 2

26 Dec

The morning sight-seeing and shopping stops were less than 2,000 steps and about 1.1km but I feel so tired despite the interesting stops and good deal purchases. So much history and choices but the lack of sleep could be the reason for the tiredness. Then again, I am not a shopping person. Maybe also because this morning, I heard the news of the passing of George Michael, one of my favorite singers. Not the way to start the day. Sigh…

Our itinerary today includes a buffet lunch at Hoang Yen Buffet before we make our way to Cu Chi Tunnel. Hubby tried the Balut and thinks I shouldn’t. So I didn’t. The rest of the spread was pretty good. A little bit of everything, it was enough to get us going for the rest of the day.

Sated after the meal, a nice snooze in the van during the hour long or more journey would be just nice!

   
    
 

   

That’s a Balut on the lil’ plate

 

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Familiar Grounds

25 Dec

I didn’t realize until our van stopped in front of Sunrise Central, our hotel that it was right next to Grand Silverland, the hotel I stayed at in June! I thought it was several doors away but nope, right next to it. When I checked on Google maps, it looked further apart but I am not complaining.

What this means is that walking over to the Street Food Market is closer than I thought. Yay!

Dinner was really nice with an array of choices. After dinner we walked the night market street a little bit to work off the dinner. By nine, we headed back to the hotel to rest so that tomorrow we will be ready for the long adventurous day ahead.

What an interesting Christmas Day this year. Sure beats being a couch potato year in year out.

   
    
  

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Merry Christmas

25 Dec

I don’t normally post on a Sunday but since it’s a special festive occasion, I decided to… Merry Christmas people! 

This Christmas we decided to travel instead of staying home like we always do, year in year out and we are definitely looking forward to it. 

Last night’s family Christmas Eve dinner was sumptuous and satisfying because everything on the table (save for the drinks) was homemade – from the turkey right down to the cranberry sauce and everything in between. Everyone contributed and was very good.

Still feeling full from the dinner, we are flying off to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam this afternoon! The girls are excited, hubby’s looking forward to the break and I am eager to take them to the places that I visited six months ago when I was there for golf.

A much deserved break and time together for the family.

   
 

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