Day 15, December 7
Depart for Saigon
Lacquer presentation
War Museum
The highway to the Dalat Airport was rather new and pleasant driving. Trees that lined the highway were all about the same height because reforestation after the war occurred at the same time. Trees planted were evergreens (not native) because of their fast growth. Today the government has a policy of controlled management.
The flight to Saigon was pretty short, but since we were leaving a mountain area and heading southward, we expected the weather to be warmer. It was, but the heat was not unbearable. Thankfully it was winter and not beastly summer.
As we approached the city, the density of housing increased.
When we landed Quang turned around as if to say, “We are here!”
We had a different bus and a new driver. All of ou drivers were excellent -- they had to be to drive
in the crazy traffic of freewheeling honking motorbikes.
When we were driving within Saigon, Sunny drew my attention to a funeral hearse. I quickly
snapped a picture.
The first objective of the day was the War Museum, previously called the War Crimes Museum.
As soon as one enters through the gate entrance, he is confronted with US war machines. This one was the all too familiar CH 47 Chinook helicopter used to transfer troops.
And there were a multitude of tanks.
Wink served as a resource person.
This one particular tank, the M48 A3, had an information sign that mentioned that the US had 370 of them employed in Vietnam. The message that seemed to be generated is the massiveness of war material employed against a small country.
Once inside the building I walked over t the exhibit on the 1972 Napalm Girl who was severely burned by a South Vietnam napalm attack. She was hospitalized 14 months and underwent 17 surgical procedures.
I thought it interesting to catch student reactions to the exhibits.
In the chemical warfare section, there was this picture of devastation wrought by Agent Orange on the mangrove forest. Other exhibits here showed the lasting effects of chemicals on humans and their offspring.
Wink spent time at this exhibit because he had used this equipment during the war
A young lady who was too young to have any memories of the conflict hammed it up for her boyfriend.
The Mai Lai Massacre received due attention.
We all gathered together at the assigned meeting place at the appointed time for our next activity.
The Lacquer Salesroom receives no attention here because it really wasn’t worth while. However, some who were shoppers may have appreciated it.
Our bus proceeded to the Reunification Palace
Perhaps we remember this place best when it was the Independence Palace and a North
Vietnamese tank crashed through the gate in a well publicized 1975 photo. To many it
signified the end of the war.
I took a photo of the tank as it sits there today as an historical monument.
From here we went over to the Post Office, well known because of its architectural significance and indicator of French influence. I thought the best view was from this angle.
After taking my shot, I went inside to view the magnificent interior. It looked more like a
Victorian train station than a post office.
Across the street stood stately Notre Dame Cathedral. The cathedral was designed to display Christianity and the greatness of French civilization. All building materials were imported from France. Our parked bus is on the lower left.
I had to act quickly to catch the Opera House through the bus window. It came out fairly well.
I even managed to catch the frosting on top before the bus moved on.
It was now 12:30 pm and time for lunch. We ate Vietnamese Pho Noodle Soup at Pho Hung.
We had our choice of beef or chicken broth. I chose chicken (being prepared on the right). When we received our broth we added sprouts on our own. Not bad.
We checked into our hotel at 2:30 pm with time to rest up and shower. Then at 6:30 pm we had
dinner right at the hotel. The meal was very good, but I avoided the squid which was disguised as union rings. I wasn’t fooled by the flower either.
Day 16, December 8
Saigon
Rubber Plantation
Cu Chi Tunnels
Those of us who signed up for the optional Cu Chi Tunnels met in the lobby at 7:30 am.
The hotel bellboy greeted us good morning.
The traffic was horrific
I thought it a little scary to see so much traffic of oncoming vehicles in our lane as if playing
chicken. Our driver was relentless, counting on them to squeeze over. They did.
I thought some of the buildings along the way were tube buildings like in Hanoi, but Quang told me they were not.
Our driver pulled over so we could see a rubber plantation (started by the French).
The trees were cut in such a way that the late would drip into buckets.
The main attraction of the day was the Cu Chi Tunnels. Quang purchased tickets at the entrance.
We walked through the jungle a considerable distance. Quang had warned us to douse ourself
with repellant, AFTER we got off the bus.
We were shown step by step how the tunnels were entered.
A little while later our “soldier” exited from a different location.
We were shown how unwary American soldiers might fall into a set trap. A camouflaged platform had a fulcrum in the center that would flip the platform if someone stepped on it --- causing the soldier to drop into the pit. I used flash to reveal the spiked poles that would pierce the victim when he fell.
The tunnels we looked at were all original. The one shown here is a tunnel that became exposed from weathering effect.
However, some of the entrances had been enlarged and modified so bigger Westerners could go down into the tunnels.
Those of our group that entered the tunnel above came out through the surgeon’s hospital.
The Winks looked over a bomb crater caused by bombs from B52 bombers. Even after 40 years, the hole was quite visible. Wink said that when one of the bombs hit the ground shook and it was heard for quite a distance. Living in the tunnels was dangerous business. Only 1/3 ever survived.
Our snack stop offered us cassava with a dip mix of peanuts, salt and sugar. I cared only for the dip mix.
On our way out of the complex, Fred was mobbed by a group of Vietnamese young ladies. They wanted their picture taken with a big American. He liked the attention.
For lunch we dined at the upscale L Etoile French restaurant -- with its haute cuisine. The fish was
served with two sauces, both of which were tasty.
Dessert was baked banana with sherbet.
We returned to the hotel at 2:30 pm and dinner was on our own. I had a banana (carried over from breakfast) and a snack bar.
Day 17, December 9
Saigon
Mekong Delta
Our included Mekong Delta tour was scheduled for an 8 am departure. National route Highway 1 would take us all the way.
The cheerful hotel bellboy ushered us to the bus.
When we reached the City Gate of My Tho we were given a happy room stop.
Our first stop within the city of My Tho was the Cao Dai Temple. Cao Dai is an attempt to create a perfect synthesis of world religions. Thus it is a combination of Christianity, Buddhism , Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, Geniism, and Taoism. Remember the religion spoken of during our home hosted visit earlier?
We removed our shoes (while being inundated by vendors) and entered the sanctuary.
Quang distributed coconut juice in its original container.
The container was then broken up so that we could eat the flesh-like coconut.
Our boat crossed over the river for our second sightseeing region, marked 2 on the map
Young girls waiting at the dock greeted us.
To reach the Coconut Candy Factory we had to march single file through the jungle. To keep from being hit by motorbikes, we had to stay to the right on the path.
Along the way our local guide called for a learning moment stop, He pointed out a palm coconut that grew in the water.
The next stop that I thought was particularly interesting was this family burial cemetery. It belonged to a rich landlord who fled after the defeat of the French colonial power. Having been deserted it lacked upkeep and was overgrown by vegetation.
Sunny informed us the landlord’s house was nearby. It too showed signs of neglect.
Finally we reached the Coconut Candy Factory where candy was made by a family operation.
The finished candy was hand cut
and then hand wrapped
before being sold to OAT customers
Then came our refreshment stop at the fruit orchard and bee farm. Hot tea was served that had contained a liberal portion of honey.
Honey was harvested right on the site.
Generous portions of fresh fruit were served. The treat included tasty sweet jack fruit.
Then we were introduced to Miss Anna Conda
Moving on to Point 3 we boarded sampans to drift on the canal out to the sea
After re-boarded our ferry we headed to Turtle Island (#4 on previous map) where we had lunch. The restaurant was built on stilts over water that was covered with beautiful lilies.
Each table was equipped with a mounted fish. The waitress stripped off the flesh at each table leaving only the tail, head and a bony skeleton.
As at all Vietnamese restaurants we were served many courses. Shown here is vegetables and pork.
We returned to Saigon and were given time to freshen up before our Farewell Dinner.
OAT transition guide Benny (not her real name) was extremely helpful in pointing out things to see and do -- even as to where we should change money and eat meals in Bangkok.
The three of us OATers went to the bank and each changed five dollars to baht. We walked all over Chinatown stopping only to purchase peanut brittle and freshly cut pineapple.
We had enough Thai money leftover to eat lunch at the hotel.
On Saturday, December 11th at 2 am we received our wake up calls to prepare our luggage for transfer to the airport. Maxine took United Airlines, but Ginny and Fred took Delta to Tokyo. Fred then boarded Delta to Minneapolis.
When his plane reached Minneapolis it could not land because the airport had closed due to a snowstorm -- so Fred ended up overnight in Detroit Still this did not hinder him from saying this OAT adventure was a complete success.
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