Day 1. Check.

Vietnam: Day 1

Passport. Check. Tickets. Check. Bags packed and weighing under 23 kilos. Check... again!

Minus the rearranging and forfeiting of heavy items at the check in counter (surprise surprise), our departure from Poland went smoothly.  We left Warsaw on Wednesday at 5:30pm and arrived in HCMC on Thursday at 5:30pm. The seemingly endless flight was no more than a cat nap thanks to the Xanax and red wine I consumed shortly after the onflight meal.  Next thing I knew we were preparing for landing.

Passport. Check.
Immigration. Check.
Luggage. Check. Check. Check. Check.
Name of the taxi company that won't rip you off. Check. 

Feeling ready, or as ready as we'd ever be, we emerged through the airport doors to a barrage of eager-eyed taxi touts and an incredible wall of heat and humidity.

 Welcome to Vietnam Baby! 

After a few minutes of haggling with the taxi lady, we were on our way to meet our new friends Anne and Josh, a couple of fellow Americans who are also livin it up in the Nam!  The taxi ride gave us a glimpse into the chaos that is Ho Chi Minh City!  Motorbikes rule the roads transporting every imaginable (and unimaginable) item you can think of, including an entire family.  As I stared out the window I was mesmerized by the jumble of images in front of me.  Flashy neon lights, sleek skyscrapers, and designer shops fill the spaces between the teeming markets and ramshackle wooden shops selling silk, baskets, safes, spices... you name it, they've got it. 

Needless to say it was a LOT to take in in the short 20 minute ride to the apartment.  So close to the madness, yet so far away, the unpretentious air of the apartment made me feel like I was home again.  A modern, two bedroom apartment with all the amenities you could need or want to live comfortably, couch, TV, shower, washing machine, and most importantly, the access to unlimited air conditioning!  Now this I can handle :)

After we got ourselves settled and had bombarded Josh and Anne with every Expat question possible, we decided it was time to go back out into the chaos and try out some local cuisine.  We chose a place that probably has a name, I couldn't tell you what it was, but was known for its Lemon Grass Chicken Chili.  I dined on the house special and tried out a local beer, 333 (pronounced ba ba ba) and Piotr had some beef dish.  The food was good, but I have to say it was the $12 tab (4 meals plus drinks) that was excellent! 

Good on the grub, but wanting more beer, we headed over to a popular expat bar where Josh was showcasing a collection of his photography, mostly pieces from his travels throughout Vietnam.   Check out his stuff here at:  http://flicker.com/photos/vnsmiles/sets/

An hour or so later, now full from the tastes and images of a novel place, we all decided it was time to head home, get some good sleep and prepare the busy day ahead. 

Day 1. Check.


heartangie