Vietnam - Reunification Palace (Ho Chi Minh city)

This place is rich in history. It symbolizes the French colonialism, the independence of Vietnam and finally the reunification of North and South Vietnam.

In 1975, these North Vietnamese (Russian T-54) tanks breached the gate of this palace signalling the end of american backed South Vietnamese government. These are the actual tanks enshrined at the entrance of the palace compound. The other tank 843 is located beside tank 390.

Before the fall of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) city, the occupants of this palace left hurriedly to avoid the incoming communist North Vietnamese army. A replica of the helicopter that airlifted the South Vietnam president before its fall can be seen st the rooftop.

After the fall of Saigon, the North Vietnamese regime and its allies in the South have decided to preserve the place in the same way as it was when the North Vietnamese tanks crashed through its main gate. Thus, the palace can be considered as enduring symbol of the fall of Saigon.

Inside the palace are countless deserted rooms, halls, library, offices and even theater and lounge. If you don't have any idea on how the 70's look like then you need to visit this place. Once inside, it seems that you have been transported back to the 70's. An added treat is the eerie feeling especially when there are less tourists around.

SOME SHOTS INSIDE

Receiving room

Library

an "old-school" bar

lounge set

Theater

Projection room

When my wife and  I visited this place, there were several big buses filled with students thus we limit our visit to the upper floors only while the students and other tourists gathered in the basement and lobby where the war room is located. We used the staircase in exploring the different floors of this building.

The entrance fee is 15,000 Dongs and free guided tour can be arranged at the lobby. Initially, we joined a group of tourists with English speaking guide but due to time constraints we decided to leave the group and explore the building on our own pace. Anyway, you can find the historical details about this building on the net. Be aware though that you are not allowed to touch any display and sometimes entry is forbidden in other rooms. 

From the roof top, the view was splendid and magnificent. Ho Chi Minh city was initially conceptualize by the French to be the "Paris of Asia" and even after several wars I can see that some European touch have been left behind. If you have sturdy legs, you can walk to this place coming from Ben Thanh market area. The surrounding area is also nice to explore. In front of this palace is Notre Dame church and the post office.

Vietnam - Night Market (Ho Chi Minh city)

I have visited several night markets in some cities in Asia and among them I found Ben Thanh night market as the most shoppers-friendly.

The roads are wide thus it is very convenient to roam around due to extra elbow room unlike in Petaling Street of Kuala Lumpur where you sometimes need to stand-aside to give way to other shoppers. The roads are design for two-way vehicle traffic during daytime while during evening they are open for motorbikes only.

The brightly-lit stalls or booths are equally spaced and allocated. Street vendors are minimal. The locals  are very friendly and not aggressive thereby increasing your confidence to haggle.

The stall or shop owners will start putting-up their tents and wares at 6 PM. At 7 PM, most of the shops are already open for business especially the food shops or eateries. By this time, Ben Thanh market is already closed except those stalls at the outer back side.

BACKSIDE OF BEN THANH MARKET

Actually, the night market is made up of two parallel streets at both sides of Ben Thanh market. That is the main drawback, you need to walk around one hundred meters before you reach the other side of the night market. Other than that, you will find this place ideal for night shopping and dining.

It was very creative to have the grill or barbeque station just beside the dining area. Shoppers will be enticed to dine here once they see those large and fresh seafood and meats on top of fiery charcoal while savoring their aroma.

Like in any Asian market, haggling is widely practiced in Ben Thanh night market. Prices are normally inflated so it is advisable to start haggling at 50% of the price. However, be aware always of the exchange rate. I got confused and end up paying 200,000 Dongs for a good quality Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt. Nevertheless, I got even with those painted wooden house decors and other souvenir items.

There is a sign regarding pickpockets and bag/camera snatchers inside Ben Thanh market but due to wide roads along the night market, I doubt whether those "guys" can practice their skills on night shoppers.

SOME SHOTS AROUND

If there is such a thing as laid-back night markets then this night market is one of them. Both shoppers and tourists are relax while roaming around the market. Gone is the hustle and bustle mood you normally experience in other night markets though I could say that the merchandises are not that diverse. It's not a big deal because you can simply drop by at Ben Thanh market or nearby Saigon Square during daytime in case you need to do some serious shopping. Added attraction is the authentic and affordable local cuisine. I love their Pho or rice noodles with seafood.

You can easily reach this place by taxi. In our case, wife was with me, Ben Thanh was two blocks away from our hotel, Hoang Hai Long 1.

Vietnam - I became a millionaire for few days

2 million Dongs

Everybody wants to be a millionaire but only few, like me, would be lucky.

In my 4 days at Ho Chi Minh, I became a millionaire without even trying to become one. I tried to enjoy my newfound wealth. I quickly spent my millions as if there was no tomorrow.

My wife who was with me was also caught on my shopping frenzy. We even bought several bags  worth more than a million Dongs. I can't believe that I would be spending money in 6 zeroes in couple of hours.

However, after 4 days, I was awakened by reality. It was time to leave Ho Chi Minh. I bade goodbye to being millionaire. For those who are skeptical, I have proof that I have lived a life of excesses, I still have a million Dongs in my wallet.

In case you plan to visit Vietnam, try to be prudent in your expenses and be clever. Sometimes taxi driver can rip you off by tens of thousands Dongs. More so, don't forget to bring you at least a hundred thousand Dongs back to Philippines as remembrance that you have been a millionaire like me even for few days.



By the way, 1 USD = 20,000 Dongs.

Vietnam - Cao Dai Temple

SOME BASIC FACTS

This group, Caodaiism, believes in universal and monotheistic religion and practices religious tolerance. They pray four times in one day.

Caodaiists wear four colors inside the temple. The blue represents Taoism, yellow for Buddhism while red for Confucianism. The rest of the faithful wears white. They believe that our goal in this life is to join God the Father in heaven and to be free from the cycle of birth and death.

Moreover, I've never thought that I would see here the famous all-seeing eyes (divine eye) symbol; a single (left) eye inside a pyramid or triangle. Actually, this symbol represents their religion. On their altar is a sphere having an eye at the middle which symbolizes the divine eye overseeing the universe.

So much with facts. I am sure tourists come here not to learn their religion but to observe their rituals and ceremony. The temple itself is an added attraction due to its design and colorful dragons.

Cao Dai temple is located at Tan Yinh, Vietnam and built in 1926. It is quite far from Ho Chi Minh city and near the border of Cambodia. Normally, tourists flock to this temple during their noon-time prayer.

Dai Dao Tamky Pho Do is the complete name of their religion. This is the main gate but in reality tourists are using the side gate to enter the compound. The entire area is quite huge and resemble a park.

the temple - backside view

Tourists are required to enter and exit the temple at both sides. Foot wears are not allowed inside.

INSIDE SHOTS

                       

          

DURING NOON TIME PRAYER

While praying, nobody is allowed to cross the front facade of the temple. You need to go around the back of the temple in case you need to go to the other side. 

Unlike the numerous temples of Bangkok, I found this temple as quite unique. The intricate details of the dragons wrapped around the circular beam was simply fascinating to view. Unfortunately, I didn't have my zoom lens thus I wasn't able to have a clear view of their altar. Tourists were restricted to stay at the mezzanine floors at both sides of the temple. The visit lasted for almost an hour and part of 1-day tour that my wife and I booked from our hotel. From here, we traveled to Chu Chi tunnels.

Street Photography 2 - Bangkok (Khao San Road)

Bangkok is truly a photo enthusiast paradise. Aside from the countless temples, markets and touristy places, it boasts of colorful normal daily lives especially in Khao San road.

I have visited Khao San road twice and stayed there for quite some time. Khao San road is definitely a tourists Mecca in Bangkok. Below are some of its attractions.

These vendors are selling locally designed wrist band

While taking dinner at Lucky Beer bar and restaurant, I usually see many vendors showing their wares to the diners. You can easily say no to them. However, I bought one leather wrist band to the smaller lady. We haggled from 150 to 50 THB.

make mine, rare

This exotic or fried insects vendor earns more money by photo shoot. She charges 10 THB in case you want to take picture. Actually, there was a sign posted on the front of her cart. I believe she was the only person frying and selling exotic foods such as grasshoppers, caterpillars and so on along Khao San road.

don't forget to add ground peanuts

There are plenty of pad thai vendors along Khao San road. I love pad thai with egg and chicken. Sometimes my pad thai comes with spring rolls. The price is dirt cheap compared with fast-food joints oily foods. I advise you to buy drinks first from nearby 7-eleven before you order and prepare to eat along the road.

did you notice anything peculiar on the photo?

One time I came across this bunch of hip-hop dancers along Khao San. They are definitely good dancers. Notice the upturned blue cap, you can put some "donations" in that cap.

I have seen this football exhibition twice. It was in front of Lucky Beer bar and restaurant. This guy was good. He can lie down, sit, jump, walk, put shirt and so on without the football falling to ground. One guy gave him a free big bottle of beer whereas I hand him 100 THB. I used to play football during my high school days.

I have seen this puppeteer at the end of Khao San road. Nothing special actually but I like the concept of using skeleton as puppet.

This is my favorite. A human mannequin playing rock on his tiny electric guitar connected to a small portable amplifier. Again, donations are accepted. Just put them inside that circular bag in front of him. He reminds me of musicians in France making their living playing along the streets. The Asians have catch up with their European brothers.

In addition, note the rock and roll posters being sold nearby.





Khao San road, you have your own magic. I would never tire visiting you every night.



MY OTHER STREET PHOTOGRAPHS:


Street Photography 1 - Bangkok

Cambodia - A Wedding in Dry Season (Kompong Khleang)

Few weeks back, I was in Siem Reap for my temple hopping. During those time, I noticed numerous colorful tents around the area. It was wedding season according to Moori, my tuk-tuk driver. Oh well, nothing special I thought. What surprised me was when he added that after few months or during rainy season, you would seldom see couples getting married. I was curious because what so special with dry season that local couples would prefer to get married under sweltering heat of the sun whereas in Philippines many would like to become June bride even if this month falls within rainy season. I couldn't help myself thus I asked him. He simply replied that during rainy season, you don't have place to hold any celebration due to overflowing of Tonle Sap river. I beg your pardon?

I was given a brief geographical lecture by Moori. According to him, Siem Reap is near to Tonle Sap river and it swells during rainy season engulfing the fields, open areas, roads and sometimes even downtown Siem Reap. In relation to our friendly discussion, he asked me if I would be interested to attend to his friend's wedding. Curiosity got the best of me. It was a delightful and unforgettable experience to attend a wedding during dry season in Kampong Khleang.

We left my hotel at around 6 AM and fetched his brother. It took almost an hour before we reach the wedding area. On our way, I have noticed the stilted houses and some of them were built on 10 meters stilts. The stilted houses have confirmed what Moori has told me, dry season is truly wedding season at Siem Reap.

THE WEDDING PROPER

the invitation

In all those wedding banquets, colorful decorations adorn the improvised tents. You can even find overhead fans installed inside the tents. Chairs and tables are well covered and arranged for numerous guests. In this wedding, I counted the guests to reach a couple of hundreds. Actually, even without seeing the banquets you will be aware about the wedding due to loudspeakers that blast the ceremony, speeches and the music that will entice the guests to dance after the reception. Anybody can dance, actually it was more of a group dance. As expected, my newfound friends coerced me to join them but dancing was not my turf.

the huge improvised tents

speakers underneath stilted house

The actual wedding ceremony lasted for several hours in one of the couple's nearby house. I was given a chance to take photos and observe the wedding.

Photo shoots of newly weds

if we are using rice in Philippines to wish good luck, here, they are using coconut flowers

While the wedding ceremony is on-going, relatives and friends were preparing the food and drinks. At around 9 AM, we were invited to have a light meal in one of the relatives house. The meal was basic. Plain rice, some local dishes and fruits. I have been accustomed in Arab's way of eating thus it was easy for me to eat the same way the locals eat. You can feel in the atmosphere the closeness and hospitality of these guys.

THE RECEPTION

After the wedding ceremony, reception follows. This is where the action begins. As I remember, 8 courses of foods were served on each table. First was salad and appetizers before the main courses; later on, fish and vegetables cooked in coconut juice was served. Last among the main courses was the soup, similar to Tom Yam soup of Thailand. Finally, dessert or packed wafer cream biscuit were distributed to the guests together with envelopes where the guests can put cash as their gifts to the newly weds; I pitched in with Moori's enevelope. Quite practical isn't it? It was almost similar to a Chinese wedding in Philippines.

Several canned drinks (juices, soda, beers) servers were constantly patrolling and replenishing the drinks on each table. Canned beers were overflowing.

During the reception, the newly weds would approach each table for photo shoots. Our table was the last thus it took some time before they reached us. Unlike in Christian wedding where the bride normally wears white dress the lovely bride here wears a bright and colorful local dress. Both bride and groom have changed their clothes several times.


I am not familiar with their local custom thus I stayed on my chair and simply smiled to to both of them. I don't know how to greet and congratulate them. However, the bride greeted me in Sawasdee posture. A common Buddhist greeting.


After the photo shoots, some area were cleared to give space for dancing. Moori and his friends were the life of the party. They filled the dance floor. Not to mention the joyous atmosphere they created during the party.

PARTY TIME

SOME LIGHT MOMENTS

After spending a couple of memorable hours in the wedding, it was time for our group to leave. I left the place with a heavy heart for I have found new friends but I didn't know whether I would meet them again. I will treasure them in my memory palace. Moreover, I am very grateful for their hospitality and for accepting me on their wedding celebration.