Sunday, February 7, 2016
Travel tip
Quick run thru the main drag
Hoi An was settled by the French and also the Chinese and Japanese to an extent. The buildings are all French colonial. Plaster and ornate, but dilapidated for some. Others have been well maintained and even new construction is the same style. But most new construction is hotels or inns.
During the Vietnam war, on the Tet Offensive, Hoi An, along with many other villages, was attacked. The North entered the village government building and assassinated the top guys, and laid waste to the town. Then they left.
Descent into Da Nang
Normal airport experience
Burger King was popular. $2.75.
SGN. Normal domestic terminal. I tried to walk to the international terminal to get some Dong but I was turned away. They don't let people into the terminal unless they have a ticket or are arriving. Probably for security. Lots of welcoming families outside the terminal. Wish I got a picture of that.
Quick glance at the departure screens. Not many late flights. The whole experience is what we're all used to. Maybe I expected to see chickens and pigs on the plane. Nope.
Airbus A-321
I knew how to fly these. Surprised that the seats are the same width. I'm in the back-35A by choice so I could have an unobstructed window view to the West. Seat pitch (leg room) is as good as United. Better than Southwest (sorry to my SWA bros). In the terminal is saw a few pilot crews. Not unusual to see a Caucasian as one of the pilots.
Those are Russian made choppers and planes on the ramp.
Uh oh. People are breaking out the barf bags. Before takeoff! That ain't good. I have an iron stomach, but I don't do well around puke.
Perfect wrongness image
First: These motorbikes are everywhere. Some are Vespas but most are like small motorcycles. Worse yet, these folks don't walk at all! Need to go 50 meters? Jump on your motorbike. I'm not kidding. No rules either, since I don't think they consider them motor vehicles. They drive them like we ride bicycles. There are 11 million people in Saigon, and 8 million motorbikes. Not kidding. They don't have noise or pollution constraints on them, so you always smell them. It's like having your face behind the exhaust pipe. It's terrible. And what's with the masks?
Second: This dude is picking his nose! They do that publicly all the time, even when talking to you. It's not like they drag out a chunk of nostril moss or nose cherry, but jeez, knock it off! I wouldn't shake their hand without a sink nearby to wash my hands.
Third: Check out that 'family vehicle.' Hubby driving his wife and kid somewhere. Poor girl is just laying there waiting to be road rash. They talk in their cell phones while riding too. I guess they don't have child seat laws here. Maybe they do but like I said these 'bikes' don't have to comply with the same laws. Even so, with the millions of vehicles I saw driving around in such a chaotic manner, I didn't see one accident or ambulance. I did see one scooter bump into the back of another, but nobody stopped. Nuts.
Checking out of the hotel
7 Oct 2016
My plane to Da Nang leaves at 1250. Left the hotel at 930 just to be safe. (It's inky a 30 minute drive to Tan Son Nhat airport.
I can't say enough good about the Spring Hotel. $38 a night near the main part of the giant city, including breakfast and taxes. It was clean and well run. It's on a run-down street, but all the streets are run-down. At least it was quiet. The staff mostly spoke English and were Four Seasons nice. But viet beds are way too firm for me.
AJ
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