Hi Everybody
I know it isn't all that long since I'd sat here writing, but it is late at home and if I phone I will wake everyone up. I have this urge to touch home base, so thought I'd fill you in on our latest escapades. I don't think I need to tell you that we are still captivated with this country and we think you should all experience it. People here are all so friendly and apart from missing our darling family and friends, we are very happy here.
James and I had a night away last week, took off to a place called Vung Tau. I discovered after we had been there that the Australian forces had a base there during the American war. Vung Tau is a beach-side city about a 90 minute hydrofoil ride down the Saigon River from Ho Chi Minh City. We set off after work on Sunday and were settled in our hotel in time to have a nice walk up the beach,
We must have looked like tourists because the taxi driver, after trying to get us to go to another hotel other than the one we'd chosen, tried to charge us 380,000 dong rather than 38,000 dong. Needless to say, I told him where to go, in true Aussie style. Cheeky bugger!
The beach washes up water from the South China Sea and compared to Australian beaches was very poor . The sand was scattered with rubbish from the throngs of people who sit here and there was an obvious residue of oil from the off shore oil rigs. The locals were oblivious to this and splashed happily in the waves. Along the beach are people hiring beach chairs and the vendors who frequent the streets in the city, were also there on the sand. Groups of young men formed teams to play friendly soccer and children were happy to be buried in the sand......very much like a popular beach anywhere.
Up on the hill overlooking the beach is a huge statue of Jesus, arms outstretches. apparently you can climb up and out onto His shoulders. If He was to turn His head to the left, He could gaze out onto a Buddhist pagoda which sits on a tiny island just off the beach. Rather curious, the mix of religions within a stones throw.
The streets here are wide and hardly any traffic. We laughed at how easy it was to cross the road, compared to what we have become used to. Once it had become dark, I think everybody else had made their way back to HCMC. We found a delightful restaurant on the roof of a shopping centre. It was great, the cool breeze, fairy lights, western music and mango smoothies......bliss.
We spent our time just lazing on the beach, reading our books and soaking up the sun and sea air. It was a 24hour chill-out which was great for the soul. But we had to come back, James had work on Tuesday, so we caught the hydrofoil back down the river to Ho Chi Minh City. And back into the traffic. The first thing we had to do was manage to cross the road and with that, we knew we were back.
We are hoping that we are going to be able to make time for another little break but James is now working 7 days a week. Some days are only a few hours but unfortunately cuts into the day. Since taking the part-time work with RMIT James is happier. He says it is just like walking into a little piece of Australia.
We will be working over Christmas, although the schools have Christmas parties and concerts, they don't actually celebrate the day with a holiday. We are planning dinner at the Sheraton with a group of other Aussies. I've found a Christmas shop and put up a few decorations today, rather poor compared to home but still should herald in the season.
So, with Christmas not far away, I dare say we will be missing home even more. So send lots of emails. The one thing that we are giggling about is....you poor things are suffering all the hype that goes with the Federal election....so we are one up on you!
Hope to hear from you all before Christmas...till then...cheers
Di and James
