Travel Log 14

In Saigon I couchsurfed at Hui’s place. Hui lives in a one room appartment with her Mum. So in the room was Hui on her bed her Mum on a fold-up bed and myself on the floor. Hui is an Architect and we had long discussions about the good and bad bits about Saigon, which I think is my favourite city so far mainly because of the obvious French influence. Saigon is swarming with motorbikes and scooters and it is really the only way to get about as walking is quite hazardous and travelling by bicycle means you can’t keep up with the traffic which again is a little dangerous.

The first day I was their Hui had to work so I borrowed her bicycle and when site seeing. On my way to the war museum the bike decided to automatically change gear from the one working gear to the gear which didn’t work. The chain slipped of the gear and my foot fell off the peddle. The bike didn’t have working brakes so I couldn’t stop the bike and lost balance falling from the bike in the middle of about 20 motorbikes. Luckily the riders have amazing hazard awareness and all flowed around me as I bounced along the ground, scraping of a nice layer of skin off my arm. I got up and took the bike to the side of the road put the chain back on and went to the war museum. In the toilets I cleaning my wound and a kind Japanese guy gave me a number of antiseptic wipes to properly clean the cut.

After that we both decided that the bike wasn’t the best option for travelling around the city and as Hui was off work at the weekend we both travelled on her motorbike. Hui also let me drive as she didn’t really like driving with both of us on the back – High five. Riding around town in amongst thousands of other mototbikes, driving up on pavements (they drive motorbikes on the pavements here Dad – you’d love it!) Great fun.

Oh yeah and this picture reminds me – I also went to a barbers for a shave in Saigon – my first ever shave by someone else and although he did slit my throat – he was a good experience. I also had a hair cut (first by a hairdresser for a long time) and a head massage. All for about £3.50.

After Saigon I zoomed up to Hanoi to meet Harry, Luke and Sabrina.