The Siesta Lifestyle

As an American, taking naps or a siesta in the middle of the day has never been a part of my daily routine nor do I think it ever will be.  However, living in a different country, thousands of miles away from everything and everyone I know has taught me that the timely routines, that I  take for granted back home, are, in most cases, out of the ordinary to other groups of people.

For example, due to hot weather in Vietnam, some businesses you will find take a break in the afternoon from 12-2pm for lunch or a siesta. If you are walking around outside during this time you will see many people laying on their motorbikes in the park or curled up in a hammock strung under whatever nearby that provides shade. Since people prefer to not be out during the hottest part of the day this is also why you will notice many more people out late at night socializing with friends. 

Most of the time this “break” time does not hinder my daily activities but, sometimes it really does. Back home a popular time for me to visit the bank is on my lunch hour. In Vietnam this is impossible to do because the banks are closed from 12-2pm.

HCMC visitors also have to be aware of this 2-3 hour lunch break when touring popular tourist stops such as the War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace and Bitexco Tower.

Naptime is so popular that some coffee shops even provide sofas for workers to enjoy a drink and a lay down on their afternoon break.

NOTE: According to SiestaAwareness.org taking a siesta gives a person more energy, improves alertness and reduces stress.  

A good friend once told me in her traveling experience she has found that, ‘…it is times like these when you realize it is hard sometimes, it does not matter who you are, it is a completely different culture and no one cares how you “do it in your country”.'

Chic Mung Nam Moi!

Chic Mung Nam Moi! Or, Happy Lunar New Year! 

Today, I went on my first Flower Street stroll in HCMC. A lot of preparation goes in to bringing in a "lucky" new year and this flower display shows no exception. While many people leave HCMC to head back to their hometowns for the Tet holiday. Quite a few people and tourists remain in the city and enjoy the flowery sights with their friends and families. 

Nyugen Hue Street is blocked off and filled with flowers.

Around 120,000 flowerpots of 50 different kinds of flowers have been used in the street display. 

Year of the Cat.

Upside to Tet= a lot LESS traffic :)

Going International- Hello Saigon!

Whether you want the finest hotels or the cheapest guesthouses, the classiest restaurants or the most humble street stalls, the designer boutiques or the scrum of the markets, Saigon has it all.

 -Lonely Planet- Ho Chi Minh City Review

It has almost been two weeks since Max and I landed in Ho Chi Minh aka the Motorbike City. With the help of our friends and our 4-story western built home (with a maid!) we have made a smooth transition in to our new Expat lifestyle.

Getting Here

1 of 3 great meals

International flights are the way to go-Asiana Airlines treated us well on our 12-hour Seattle to Seoul flight (2 meals+bottomless water/soda+movies/games/music) and on our 5-hour flight from Seoul to HCM (1 meal+movie). Bonus: The long flight provided slippers and toothbrush/toothpaste in the restroom. 

After a long day of traveling and a lot of sleeping on the plane we reached our HCM destination. 

NOTE on Time Change:  For those of you back home wondering what time it is here we are 14 hours ahead of our WA friends/family.

The City

There is an energy in this city unlike anything I have ever experienced before. Much like the Lonely Planet review above describes there is an enormous amount of variety here.

Some places we have been so far:

• Reunification Building: Formerly South Vietnam's Presidential Palace, this is a restored five-floor time warp to the Sixties left largely untouched since the day before Saigon fell to the North. 
• Notre Dame Cathedral: A French-built Catholic cathedral in the city centre next to the Post Office.  
• Saigon Square: A very popular for shopping mall for hip, young people looking for cheap watches, DVDs, T-shirts, jeans, shorts, slippers, etc.
• War Remnants Museum: Formerly known as the Exhibition House of American War Crimes. This disturbing display of man's cruelty during the Vietnam (American) War includes halls full of gruesome photographs, a real guillotine, a simulated "tiger cage" prison and jars of deformed fetuses blamed on Agent Orange.  
• Ben Thanh Market: Located in District 1 this is probably the largest, most popular market in HCM. A shopper can find everything here from designer bags to live ducks. Popular with tourists, so prepare to haggle. 

Backpackers District

Park in District 1

Park in District 1

Notre Dame Cathedral

War Museum

War Museum

Transportation

Taxi View

The transportation mode of choice is a motor bike hence the city's nickname. For now Max and I have opted for the reasonably priced Taxi rides (10,000 VND/km or 50 cents USD/km). The way traffic moves out here reminds me of a school of fish.  One way streets and roundabouts make it possible for cars and motorbikes to glide through the city.  Cars tend to stick on the left side of the road allowing motorbikes to stay on the right (well, most of the time) the bikes pretty much weave wherever they like.

NOTE Money Exchange Rate: 19,000 VND per 1 USD

Cuisine

With over 500 Vietnamese dishes, there is plenty of food to try.

However, if you are not in the mood for noodles and rice it is not difficult to find Italian, French, Indian, Thai, Mexican and American food.

American Chains here include Carl's Jr., KFC, Hard Rock Cafe and Pizza Hut. They, also, have a fast food chain called Lotteria which to me is similar to the American version of a McDonald's. 

For all you coffee drinkers out there you will love Vietnamese coffee aka Cafe Su Da.  

Step 2 All Stirred Up

Step 1 Coffee & Condensed Milk

NOTE on grocery shopping: The City Plaza, a store which is a combination of  Uwajimaya and Fred Meyer has everything they even sell peanut butter and Cocoa Krispies/ Fruity Pebbles (for Max).