H C M C - day 5 : Swanksville

June 02

Decided to forego organised transportation and plans today, and spent many hours following our noses on foot around nearby districts. Set off around 10am, got back to hotel about 10pm. So covered a fair bit of ground.

In the process inadvertantly found the swanky expensive part of town (atleast this part of town). Several blocks of Sheratonesque hotel highrises and, on the streets below, all the pricey apparel, souvenir, restaurants, and miscellaneous glitteratti trinket stores you would expect feeding off them. Quite interesting to see the extent of modernisation, and I guess commercialisation within a Communist country. Probably a very small taste of what we will experience in China. Still a feeling of cautious control to it all I think.

Found an interesting fashion store featuring American military surplus jackets and pants customised with very impressive intricate Vietnamese embroidery. Paramilitary Commie Chic. Price tag on one jacket = 1200 US $. "Ahem, may I take a photo", I asked in sheepish voice.

The tailors in HoiAn are pros at mimicking garments from photos apparently. hehe hee.... if we can find US army surplus too.....

We've also noted there is an APEC conference going on sometime soon, and of course, as is usually the case with these things, the government is doing well to impress the official visitors. There's many banners around town, and most of the sights we've been to have had "Welcome APEC visitors" at the entrance. Bars must close at midnight during the conference apparently. Everyone on best behaviour!

Took rest stops several times at road side cafes along the way to have drinks. Have developed a liking for the popular ice coffee here. Glass of ice with cold black coffee and sugar. Also, at most restuarants you get a glass of ice and a pot of cold green tea = ice tea, with your meal. Had quite a number of glasses throughout the day. Extremely wired, so may have trouble sleeping tonight.

Overall another big day. Sure to have sore legs tommorow.