Ho Chi Min for the Weekend

We were very lucky to be able to spend one of Monday – Tuesday Weekends in Vietnam. It is only a short flight from Singapore to Ho Chi Min and the Jet star flights enable us to fly back on Wednesday and be back in time for work. So after a little planning we were off.
The last time we went to Ho Chi Min it was our first experience of an Asian city so, it was a bit of a shock for us. Actually the motor –bikes are still riding round and round nonstop. The streets are full of life and it really offers lots of different experiences. This time we stayed in a hotel called The Empress it was a great hotel to stay in. The price was reasonable and it was a short walk to most places. We wanted to get out and walk around, we did a lot of walking. By the end of the weekend we had become very good at negotiating the motorbikes as we crossed the chaotic roads.

Ruth Outside the Tunnels

First stop was the War Remnants Museum. This was a most sobering place to visit. I came away thinking about the terrible effects the bombing had on Vietnam. We were horrified by the ongoing cost to human life, with many documented stories of genetic defects and cancer diseases caused by the toxic poisoning from the war. Our next stop was a trip out to Cu Chi tunnels. We hired a car and driver to take us out and we paid our entrance fee once inside we were given a guide who took us around and was very informative. The Viet Com who lived here were very clever. They had live under the ground coming out at night to complete their work. Their many booby traps and methods for fighting were fascinating. We tried out the tunnels for size, the entrances would get me halfway in but they were not built to my size. There was the opportunity to go through some specially widened tunnels . I am afraid they are not my favourite place to hide out in. Maybe I am just the wrong size!!

We explored some interesting backstreets.

We did decide we wanted to take the opportunity to shop in the markets. So we spent our two evenings and some spare time during the day in markets and walking around the streets looking for bargains. We did buy some clothes and some interesting Lacquer ware. The prices were good after some serious bartering. Ben Thanh Market is an experience every tourist should take on. My first experience in here freaked me out but this time I was ready to bargain hard. I was happy with my outcome. Outside the main market there is a night market which is a good experience, more bargains to be had. The food stalls here are an excellent place for evening eating. But the best bargain came from Ruth who went into a shop one afternoon off one of the side streets and ended up some nice clothes at a fraction of the price I had paid deep in the bowels of the market.

The things they move around on their motorbikes!

A place that we really enjoyed was the bar on the 23 floor of the Sheraton. It has a fantastic view of the city and we enjoyed two for one cocktails as we watched the sunset. I would encourage any traveller to visit this bar and sit on the balcony at least one evening. It gives a new perspective of the city.

Ready! Set!

Go!

It was such a good weekend and one that I would certainly consider completing again.

Ho Chi Min @ Sunset

Our Christmas in Ireland

Stone Cottage in Ireland, Cloonloo.

IT seems such a long time ago yet it was just two months ago. Ruth and I had really a special Christmas this last Christmas. We were spending December in the UK and had the opportunity to stay with Trevor and Collette at their lovely stone cottage in Cloonloo, Ireland. We had talked about this cottage while staying with Trev and Collette and could tell by the way their eyes lit up whenever it came up in conversation that this was a special place to them.

Our Christmas base, thanks Trevor & Collette.

This cottage and the land surrounding certainly has a special place in Collette’s heart because it has been in her family for generations. Collette kept us entertained with many stories that gave us an understanding of some of the joys and trials her family had faced here. Although she grew up living in Boyle, she often visited the cottage with her father who farmed the block of land.
We left London on the 21 of December, planning to spend a few days exploring Dublin before catching a train to meet up with Collette in Boyle. We enjoyed Dublin and did lots of exploring, with some tourist things included. We really enjoyed the train trip, for much of the train trip a canal runs beside the tracks. I found this fascinating. It was easy to see why Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle, as the green paddocks just kept on getting greener.

Brother & sister out behind the cottage

Collette had gone to a lot of effort to make sure that the cottage was as she had planned it would be when we arrived. Trevor had the fires set, when we arrived and the cottage was very cosy. The weather was cool and although we were dreaming of a White Christmas it was looking more and more like it might not happen.
One of the highlights for us was meeting Collette’s family and spending Christmas Day with them. We felt like royalty as they would not let us do anything to help. Fine Food, Fine Wine and Great company it was a special day for us.

Lough Key, the castle on the island.

Surfing beach, Sligo.

We did get lots of opportunities to get out and see some of the sights. Having our own local tour guides made it so interesting. We enjoyed long walks in the country side with Trevor, and often felt that there were so many similarities to the NZ countryside. The weather was very kind to us. We went for a lovely drive out to Sligo and to the beach. It was a great place to wander, I did notice surfers going out with wetsuits, even though it was midwinter, hardy souls that they were. Another highlight for us was our walk around the park where Collette’s father used to work. It would have been a great childhood playground for Collette.

In the park at Lough Key, Ruth, Collette &Trevor

A lasting impression of Ireland.

Like all great holidays it came to an end far too quickly and all too soon we were catching the train back to Dublin and flying back to work in Singapore. We did get a good taste of the UK and I am sure we will be back for more sometime soon.