Yesterday we had quite a trip from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. The trip was about 6 hours by bus. We crossed the border with a fairly uneasy process. We had to give our passports to the bus driver and he took them all to who-knows-where and then we had to get off the bus and a customs agent went through our passports allowing us to get back on the bus. Then, when we got to the Vietnam side we had to go through immigrations which meant us sitting waiting around for our names to be called/our passports to show up. An hour later when we got our passports back they were already stamped and we just had to scan our bags. We got back on the bus and we were on our way.
Once in Vietnam we walked around the city that has 6 million people and 5 million scooters. We are very impressed with the traffic. We visited a market and I bought a t-shirt that displays the locals favorite phrase- "Same same but different"- We still don't know exactly what it means or where it comes from but we find it very funny.
We didn't quite know this when we booked that this trip is divided into two tours, so last night was the end of the Cambodian group so we had to say goodbye to half our group and our dr., guide, translator, drinking buddy-Sam. We enjoyed a big "mexican" dinner accompanied and followed by quite a few tequila shots and drinks. A great time for all and we made some good friends.
This morning we woke up early and headed out to the local water park for a day of slides and pools. They had a lazy river and some pretty legit rides. Our white skin and bathing attire stood out like a sore thumb. I think the highlight of the park was a zip-line that ends very very abruptly over a deep pool- jerking tiny Asians into akward backflops- I didn't do much better landing on my head. Quite a time!
This evening we met the new half of our group and our Vietnamese guide-Giang- he told us that if we forget his name we can just call him "River" because that is the translation for his name... My goal is to learn Giang. The group definitely has a new dynamic and it will be interesting to see how the newbies open up- it must be hard to jump into an established family. Our guide seems very passionate about Vietnam. We have quite a bit to look forward to in the coming days full of overnight trains and excurions around 'Nam.
Glad to hear everyone is enjoying the blog as a break from Warp Tours, motorcycles, motorcycle worries, work, and bridge club. We can't wait to share pictures!
Love you all same same but different!!!!
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4 comments:
Head bumps in waterfalls and head bumps off of a zipline into a DEEP pool....."same same but different". YIKES! There's nothing better than an overnight train excursion to make the new group cohesive. I want to hear about that! The Ford Escape is getting tuned/serviced today. Our neighbors across the street are all moved out and on their way to Vietnam....what a coincidence. Love to you both!
All quiet (same, same but Same) on the this end. Had Jim Dawson and his bride Seema over last night (Saturday) and had a great time. We really like her and she went to 9-10 high school at Vines in Plano. Small world ... but I woudn't want to paint it.
Bri, let's talk about head bumps. I have a theory on that.
Enjoy
Love yawl, Dad B
Great to get your updates and to hear you're having such a fun time. What an adventure. Your itinerary shows that yesterday was your 14 hour train ride! That must have been an experience. All's well here. Quiet weekend after last weeks Warped Tour. Golfed yesterday with Mark and played better than I expected. Next weekend is CA wedding which should be fun. Be safe and looking forward to your next update.
Love,
Dad C
Hey Brad, Glad to read you are having a relatively safe and adventurous trip (other than a peroidic encounter with an umbrella wielding bandito! As for Bri, ahhhh what can one say?! Falling on your head. Falling on your head....Sounds like when you return we will need to get you a helmet and sign you up for the short bus for your commutes to work. Take care and get Brad to walk behind you to catch you!
M
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