Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam (June 22 - 25)

Wow, this place is crazy. We have just arrived and took a taxi from the airport which cost us 75,000 Dong ($5 US) which is expensive for here. These are pics along the way to our hotel. Absolute mayhem, and the pollution from vehicles that would never be allowed near the road in Canada, is stifling. As you can see these people will put anything on the back of a bike, motorized or otherwise. We are trying to track down our aussie buds to create a posse and to revel in conversation about what we miss at home. The people seem very nice so far and the tiny gecko inhabiting our room seems alright too. Jodi inspected all corners of the room with her maglite and seems satisfied (so far). The 4th last pic (beside the temple thing) is the "road" our "hotel" is on. Looks pretty sketchy but is recomended by lonely planet and is not too bad ($20 US/night). The street is called Mini-hotel alley. Not much of a view from our room though hey!? At least they have free internet, although it would only be $0.40/hr anyway! Gotta watch that budget closely. We hope to get massages tomorrow from blind masseurs (at a reputable massage institute) for 45,000 Dong/hour, or $3. Sick.