Cunard...there is no better way!!

Good morning from Viet Nam or as they say "xinchao",

Backtracking a few days...as you read we missed Halong Bay so we were ship bound for a few extra days. It was fine though...there is so much to do onboard that I have no problem keeping busy. For all of you who know my cooking abilities, you will appreciate this story...

They had a seminar/demonstration called "Can't Cook...Won't Cook". Well, it had my name all over it and so I went. The format was for the chefs to cook two entrees and asked for volunteers to come on stage and cook the same meal and their partners were to sample the meals. My partner, Ken did not attend the seminar, but I volunteered anyway. So, they picked me, another lady and a couple. When I stepped onstage I said "I can't cook" so the executive chef said...ok, you can be the taster and had me sit at the nicely set dining table on stage. they also treated us to champagne. So once the others cooked the meals, they put chef's hats over our heads so we couldn't see and fed us the food. When they asked us to describe the taste, the lady with me described how tender, spicy etc,etc. and all I could say .... it was good!! Regardless, of my ineptness on taste descriptions we all got a free lunch at the Todd English restaurant...it's the one place onboard you have to pay to eat!!! The demonstration, along with the blind feeding taped and televised all day on Sat. What a hoot....the fun never ends!!!

And on to our next port...

Boy oh boy...I've never seen such poverty...I think I'm glad that we did miss Halong Bay if it was anything like Ho Chi Minh City or better known as Saigon. I'm still trying to understand the "civil War" in Viet Nam. We call it the Viet Nam War yet the Vietnamese call it the American War. Why? Why were we there so long? What was accomplished? Does anyone really know? What were all those lives taken for? It is so sad.

During this civil war, residents suffered terribly. Businesses collapsed in the wake of the 1975 armistice and more than a decade of austere isolationism. As the 20th century drew to a close however, Vietnam has once again opened its doors. Everyone has a cell phone, and briefcases have given way to palm pilots. Modern "HMC" with more than 7,000,000 people is Vietnam's biggest city.

We docked at Phu My Port and rode two hours into the town of Saigon. Along the way were rice fields, and shacks lined the roads selling their wares. Also, we saw hammock cafes alongside the eateries. Since it is so hot here, at lunch time the workers take lunchtime to eat and relax in the hammock under the shade. I'd like to say it looked inviting, but it did not!! It looked like the slums and very dirty with trash everywhere. In the middle of each of these areas there was a very nice house in the background. Apparently, the homeowner owns all the businesses on the street. It was quite a contrast!! We found out there are no McDonald's because the government owns all the land. McDonald's, being in the real estate business and would have to own the land can not go into Saigon. Also, the beef is not up to their quality so they'd have to import it and that would be way too expensive.

Buddhism is the major religion with 85% Buddhist and only 8% Christians. They burn incense twice a day...and say their prayers four times a day. The people were very friendly although here, again, were peddling their negotiable wares everywhere. The currency is Vietnamese dong... 10,000 dongs equals one dollar. Ken exchanged around $40 dollars....unfortunately he didn't buy anything and has not been able to exchange his "dong" back into US currency so by the looks of the roll of cash, he appears to have a load of dough!!!

The craziest thing we experienced was the traffic, especially the motorcycles. You would have thought their was a Honda convention in town. There are more motorcycles than anywhere else, at 20 million. It is the scooter capital of the world!!!! What was so fascinating is how crazy they drive...no designated lanes...there are few accidents and if you walk across the street they just know to ride around you. It was quite a challenge to cross the street for tourists like us, and our tour guide said once you start...do not run. Well the first time we crossed, sure enough Ken ran!!! Thank goodness he made it without any tire tracks on him!!!

We visited the Post Office which has a huge picture of Ho Chi Mihn hanging prominently. Our tour took us by some of the other landmarks, such as Notre dame Cathedral, Opera House, and the Rex Hotel. Of course, we ended up at the Ben Thanh Market and more wheeling and dealing. We were glad to get back on the bus and go "home". I'm glad we went but have no desire to go back.

With that I will say...chaotambiet!

janet and Ken
qv@cunard.co.uk
#4152