Straight mess

We have entered the mess that s known as Ho Chih Minh City, and to no surprise it did not disappoint. Following a surprisingly uneventful immigration/customs experience we found our way to the bus, which brought us to our "hotel". Though the nicest of the places we have stayed, by no means luxury. For $5.50 a night we each get our own bed in our own room, a/c, breakfast, and free internet(s) - as they call it, quite a deal. We visited many of the historic sites, the war remnants museum (it seems they remember the war slightly different than we do, apparently didn't appreciate the use of agent orange), reunification palace, and 1700s Pagoda, with Buddhist monks chanting harmonious tunes. There was some serious flooding in the city tody - which bothered nobody, and we have finished the night with a number of Saigon beers. Tomorrow we are heading to over 2000 km of caves, that were used during the war to move Vietnamese soldiers. The following day (Wednesdat) we head to the Mekong River for a two day stroll up the river ito Cambodia. I wanted to post incase we don't find internet access before then.


Today's editorial blog concerns:
THE FOOD SITUATION, THE DAILY HO CHIH MINH MARKET, AND, BOWEL MOVEMENTS:

Let me start by saying the food here is unbelievable. Day after day of sucueltn beefs, chickens, and muttons, grilled to your hearts desire. Combine that with grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms, and crazy green local tree like vegetable (affectionatly called trees by my family). Unlike Joey and my trip to Europe, we have been feasting here. We eat/live like kings. (for reference our hotel costs $5.50 a night, our meal today cost $2 each). While slightly grimy and a little hectic - we are living the dream.
Back to the focus of this blog: food. Today we stumbled upon the Ho Chih Minh Daily Market, which in addition to selling a variety of unneeded wears, knock off designer purses and other garb, and more stinky, filthy fish than one ever desires. The stench was unbelivable, the sites less than desireable and the general scene not completely hygenic. The confusion lies in the fact that somehow the food moves from the market to our restaurants and we do not get sick. We are have been slightly in picking and choosing what we eat, but up til this point no one has had a serious case of the shits (pardon the fould language - I apoplogize - par for the course). Tums, pepto, z-pack, have been yet to be used which is quite impressive - and speaks toe the quality of the food and cooking ways of Southeast Asia. Needless to say, we have been impressed and content with this turn of events. More to come on this subject as we head into the wilds of vietnam and cambodia - we are ready with immodium...

Finally, the shaving situation must be discussed:
Joey takes the dissapointing claim of first to shave. Though it must be noted that Joey grows the fastes of the fellas on this trip his early exit was premature and unwarrented. He could have atleast shaved a goatee or mustache for a few days of hilariousness - c'mon we are in asia.

Evan and I are in the next pack - those that have decent facial growth and are yet to shave. The itchiness at some points have got to both of us, but we ave held strong. Weirdly enough, my growth comes naturally in the form of a goatee - one moto driver gave me the thumbs up for the goatee, we'll see how it works out. Evan have some patchy growth, but seems to be ahead of me in the growth comeptition.

Fianlly Coles hassome less growth, but weirdly enough was the only one to bing a razer. Should either Evan or I faulter, we will be forced to turn to Coles razer...This could be his key to winning - slow growth and the temptation of his razor...again more updates to follow..


As we head out to jungle, this could be last post for a few days...hope all have enjoyed..move to follow.

Gideon