Friday, 17 September 2010
Another early start to the day. Funny how my holidays almost always have early morning starts; you’d think holidays are those days where I get to start my day late. Anyway. I caught a city bus to the bus terminal at Hung Vuong Street; the fare was only VND4K and the 5-km trip took 15 minutes from where I boarded the bus (the city bus is bright orange and blue in colour). Some friendly locals directed me to the bus bound for Hue and I was practically escorted up the bus. The bus kept stopping to pick up passengers but even then, we reached Hue two hours and 15 minutes later. A pleasant surprise as I was told it takes anywhere between 2.5-3 hours to get to Hue. I was earlier quoted fares ranging from VND70K-100K for the trip but I only paid VND40K for my trip. I was also lucky that the lady next to me spoke passable English (which I only discovered when we reached Hue) for she helped me converse with the motorbike drivers. Finally, I agreed with one to take me to the Tombs of Khai Dinh and Tu Duc, Thien Mu Pagoda and the Dai Noi or Imperial City for VND150K. I asked how much that was in USD as I was running out of VND and he said USD8. OK, I agreed and we set off.
The places were located quite some distance apart and I was glad I had the motorbike driver bring me around. Seriously the scale of any map in Vietnam is just misleading. I had to pay an entrance fee of VND55K each at the two tombs and Dai Noi. I thought there would be more to the Imperial City and was slightly disappointed to see the area around the palace was in ruins. Restoration work is ongoing though. It drizzled for a while when I was at Tu Duc Tomb but the sun came out again. It was a pleasant day overall except when it got too hot at Dai Noi. Eager to reach Da Nang by 5 pm, I returned to the bus station at 2.40 pm and took a mini-bus bus back to Da Nang. This time, the journey took us only two hours. I hopped on the city bus back to Tran Phu Street and walked back to the hotel.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Yet another early morning start to the day - well, I woke up early for my pre-dawn meal and stayed up for morning prayers anyway so it was an even earlier start to the day actually. Checked out and took a cab to the airport for my 8 am flight back to Saigon.
We landed in Saigon shortly after 9 am and after getting my bag, I walked over to the international terminal to catch the bus 152 to the city (I could have caught the bus at the domestic terminal but was unsure where the stop was as there was no sign). It’s VND6K for the fare (including for my bag). The bus took a slightly different route as it approached Pham Ngu Lao than it did in January. This time, I decided to stay at Vy Khanh Guesthouse (ranked second of 81 B&Bs in Saigon), located in an alley off Pham Ngu Lao street. The room was cosy and comfortable although the bed is a bit hard. It cost me USD16 a night. After checking in, I went out to Bui Vien street to a shop selling Muslim prayer attire, baju kurung, jubah etc. I brought a bag this time to fill in my purchases. After that, I returned back to the hotel to deposit the bag and perform prayers.I went out again at 1230 to check out the new airport bus route for the bus back to the airport the next day. The bus stop was there but the bus never showed up. That meant the bus route had indeed changed slightly and I would have to walk to Cho Ben Thanh to catch the bus the next morning *sigh*. Saigon seemed to have changed slightly since my last visit in January: the Yellow House Hostel no longer exists, the Tourist Information Centre has relocated and more buildings seemed to be sprouting. Even Vi Anh Fashion, the other shop selling Muslim prayer attire and baju kurung, seemed to have relocated from Nguyen Thai Binh. Finally I walked to the Downtown Duty Free Shop and this time I was in luck as it was having a renovation sale. I bought Swatch watches for my nieces and nephew and LeSportsac bags at 70% off. The best part is you collect your goods at the Saigon airport and not have to drag them to the airport with you. Shopping all done, I walked back to Pham Ngu Lao, stopping for a while at Cho Ben Thanh but leaving empty-handed. I broke fast at An Lac Chay, the vegetarian resto at a small lane off Pham Ngu Lao where I had my meals on my last visit.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
I slept through the alarm (despite having my mobile phone right next to my pillow!) and only woke up to catch the last 20 minutes or so of the Sunderland-Arsenal match. I didn’t even realise there were only ten Arsenal players on the pitch (I did notice Cesc on the bench and immediately got worried) and what was even more heartbreaking was the goal we conceded at the very last second. Blinking hell. Had my pre-dawn meal while watching footie – in case I slept through the alarm again.I checked out at 9 am and went to the shop at Bui Vien, hoping to buy a pair of baju kurung but it had yet to open. My flight was at 11 and I couldn’t afford to linger waiting for the shop to open so reluctantly I walked away and headed for the bus station across Cho Ben Thanh for the bus to the airport.
The flight from KL landed about 20 minutes later than scheduled but that didn’t affect our departure. And this time, I didn’t have to pay any departure tax – perhaps it had been included in the ticket price? Reached micasa at 4 pm and the minute I stepped in, the skies opened up and it rained. Finished unpacking in half an hour and rested until it was time to break fast my last fasting day. Alhamdulillah.
I plan to visit Saigon again, never mind that it’s an Asian city on steroids. InsyaAllah.
Freak goal
I’m so glad they have bonded ;)
Another early start to the day. Funny how my holidays almost always have early morning starts; you’d think holidays are those days where I get to start my day late. Anyway. I caught a city bus to the bus terminal at Hung Vuong Street; the fare was only VND4K and the 5-km trip took 15 minutes from where I boarded the bus (the city bus is bright orange and blue in colour). Some friendly locals directed me to the bus bound for Hue and I was practically escorted up the bus. The bus kept stopping to pick up passengers but even then, we reached Hue two hours and 15 minutes later. A pleasant surprise as I was told it takes anywhere between 2.5-3 hours to get to Hue. I was earlier quoted fares ranging from VND70K-100K for the trip but I only paid VND40K for my trip. I was also lucky that the lady next to me spoke passable English (which I only discovered when we reached Hue) for she helped me converse with the motorbike drivers. Finally, I agreed with one to take me to the Tombs of Khai Dinh and Tu Duc, Thien Mu Pagoda and the Dai Noi or Imperial City for VND150K. I asked how much that was in USD as I was running out of VND and he said USD8. OK, I agreed and we set off.
The places were located quite some distance apart and I was glad I had the motorbike driver bring me around. Seriously the scale of any map in Vietnam is just misleading. I had to pay an entrance fee of VND55K each at the two tombs and Dai Noi. I thought there would be more to the Imperial City and was slightly disappointed to see the area around the palace was in ruins. Restoration work is ongoing though. It drizzled for a while when I was at Tu Duc Tomb but the sun came out again. It was a pleasant day overall except when it got too hot at Dai Noi. Eager to reach Da Nang by 5 pm, I returned to the bus station at 2.40 pm and took a mini-bus bus back to Da Nang. This time, the journey took us only two hours. I hopped on the city bus back to Tran Phu Street and walked back to the hotel.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Yet another early morning start to the day - well, I woke up early for my pre-dawn meal and stayed up for morning prayers anyway so it was an even earlier start to the day actually. Checked out and took a cab to the airport for my 8 am flight back to Saigon.
We landed in Saigon shortly after 9 am and after getting my bag, I walked over to the international terminal to catch the bus 152 to the city (I could have caught the bus at the domestic terminal but was unsure where the stop was as there was no sign). It’s VND6K for the fare (including for my bag). The bus took a slightly different route as it approached Pham Ngu Lao than it did in January. This time, I decided to stay at Vy Khanh Guesthouse (ranked second of 81 B&Bs in Saigon), located in an alley off Pham Ngu Lao street. The room was cosy and comfortable although the bed is a bit hard. It cost me USD16 a night. After checking in, I went out to Bui Vien street to a shop selling Muslim prayer attire, baju kurung, jubah etc. I brought a bag this time to fill in my purchases. After that, I returned back to the hotel to deposit the bag and perform prayers.I went out again at 1230 to check out the new airport bus route for the bus back to the airport the next day. The bus stop was there but the bus never showed up. That meant the bus route had indeed changed slightly and I would have to walk to Cho Ben Thanh to catch the bus the next morning *sigh*. Saigon seemed to have changed slightly since my last visit in January: the Yellow House Hostel no longer exists, the Tourist Information Centre has relocated and more buildings seemed to be sprouting. Even Vi Anh Fashion, the other shop selling Muslim prayer attire and baju kurung, seemed to have relocated from Nguyen Thai Binh. Finally I walked to the Downtown Duty Free Shop and this time I was in luck as it was having a renovation sale. I bought Swatch watches for my nieces and nephew and LeSportsac bags at 70% off. The best part is you collect your goods at the Saigon airport and not have to drag them to the airport with you. Shopping all done, I walked back to Pham Ngu Lao, stopping for a while at Cho Ben Thanh but leaving empty-handed. I broke fast at An Lac Chay, the vegetarian resto at a small lane off Pham Ngu Lao where I had my meals on my last visit.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
I slept through the alarm (despite having my mobile phone right next to my pillow!) and only woke up to catch the last 20 minutes or so of the Sunderland-Arsenal match. I didn’t even realise there were only ten Arsenal players on the pitch (I did notice Cesc on the bench and immediately got worried) and what was even more heartbreaking was the goal we conceded at the very last second. Blinking hell. Had my pre-dawn meal while watching footie – in case I slept through the alarm again.I checked out at 9 am and went to the shop at Bui Vien, hoping to buy a pair of baju kurung but it had yet to open. My flight was at 11 and I couldn’t afford to linger waiting for the shop to open so reluctantly I walked away and headed for the bus station across Cho Ben Thanh for the bus to the airport.
The flight from KL landed about 20 minutes later than scheduled but that didn’t affect our departure. And this time, I didn’t have to pay any departure tax – perhaps it had been included in the ticket price? Reached micasa at 4 pm and the minute I stepped in, the skies opened up and it rained. Finished unpacking in half an hour and rested until it was time to break fast my last fasting day. Alhamdulillah.
I plan to visit Saigon again, never mind that it’s an Asian city on steroids. InsyaAllah.
Freak goal
I’m so glad they have bonded ;)
|