Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

I found a new favorite city.  Well, not my very most favorite, but Ho Chi Minh City has soul.  It has everything I was missing in Bali.  I mean everyone loves a good beach, but maybe I just like a good crowded city.

We got in last night, fresh off the plane... first stop, immigration.  I was somewhat sad about the 45 USD for a 30 day visa, but I mean, once you hit the streets, it really is worth it.  at 20000+ Dong per USD, you instantly become a Vietnamese millionaire.  I mean, yeah, that visa costs 1million dong, but I mean, there are still plenty of good deals to be had.  Fine food for under 5 USD for a meal, sometimes under 2 USD, not to mention fresh fruit and drinks you could only dream of at home.  Yesterday, I had a passion fruit juice, fresh for under about 1 USD.  Today I had a fresh coconut for a little more.  Then, I had another one.

Immigration was funny though, all the foreigners lined up - worried.  We are all worried about how we will get into Vietnam.  The immigration officials are rather strict.  They were friendly enough with me but they were giving us all a good once over.  We all needed our pre approved welcome letters and photos and 45 USD.  Question - where do you get 45 USD when you haven't been home in a while.  Question - why are dollars the preferred currency for a transaction to get into a Vietnam.  Answer - because the world and life is funny.  More on that tomorrow.

One reason I like Vietnam is because the Vietnamese like what I like.  They like good coffee, they like good fish, they like fresh fruit.  Those things alone are the basis of a wonderful culture.  So first thing this morning when I got lost, I walked to the nearest coffee house, ordered a cup, used the abundant wifi and plotted my direction.  I was headed to the war remnants museum a few blocks away.  I drank my coffee, had a second cup and was one my way.   I felt guilty for indulging, but I think the Vietnamese iced coffee might be better than the Thai iced coffee.  It is strong, with condensed milk added and is simply wonderful.  I don't know how Starbucks exists here, but they do.  I guess there is enough love of coffee to go around.

So on the agenda for today was a trip to Unification Palace, where we went on the official tour, which deserves and will get its own post, then we went to the War Remnants museum.  We also visited a couple of other French structures and then went to the market.

More pictures will follow.  Oh, Asari, right off the airplane at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City, this was waiting - this picture is just for you.

Massage

So in my pursuit to remain mellow and relaxed rather than turn to negative habits I have found a nice way to relax, the massage.  A proper massage can vary depending on the provider, but I will be writing about the differences and similarities between three types I have received so far in Asia, the Thai massage, the proper Chinese massage and the Balinese massage.  Each massage has its own merits for what makes it a good massage, however my favorite massage is a Thai massage - given by a Chinese masseuse.

Reclining Buddha

Wat Po

So Thai massage was my first foray into professional massage therapy.  I visited Wat Po, which is a temple dedicated to massage and the massage of Buddha.  Christopher and I both visited massage therapists for one hour who provided a very respectable service.  My masseuse was a bit heavy handed, but was very professional.  I stared jealously at Christopher's masseuse.  She seemed to have the perfect touch, but alas, another day.  Wat Po is also a training center, so I imagine my masseuse was not only well trained but also a trainer who was keeping all the hidden secrets of Thai massage and passing them through to me with gentle massage.  Maybe not, but it was at least a relaxing massage.

Later while visiting one of the beach cities, Cha am, I received a better Thai massage.  I think the masseuse used a better technique and it was a generally more relaxing massage.  The massage was from foot to head and back.  Oil was included.  The pressure applied was nearly perfect, which is why I prefer the Thai massage.  I think overall I prefer woman masseuse to men, because the touch.  It is somehow easier for most women to add pressure than for most men to release pressure from their touch.

Cha Am, Thailand

Chinese massage is usually accompanied by one word, pain.  Chinese massage is full contact, of course you can ask your masseuse to go easy, but they will probably ignore you, or just go easy enough.  My friend commented once, you should cry during a good massage, because the tears are toxins released from your body.  I am like, which part of relaxing does that include?

So, you can get a good Chinese massage, but you have to be prepared for some pain.  In addition, you might also get some accupressure or cupping included.  Accupressure is where pressure might be placed and released on particular trouble spots.  This, I highly recommend, because it increases blood flow.  Cupping, I would recommend only for the brave.  It involves hot cups being placed in position on the body and released over time.  They build pressure as they remain.  They can leave marking on the body for weeks after... after a few days, when the pain is gone, you can feel the effects of a good Chinese massage.  This is not the Chinese massage we are familiar with in America, sort of like American Chinese food, different concept.

The final massage I received about a week ago was the Balinese massage.  My friends comment - that is a sexy massage.  I don't know if I laughed harder at that comment or the surprise when they handed us disposable underwear to wear during the massage.  The masseuses and I had big laughs.  Still, after it was finished I had to promise never to have a Balinese massage again, not because there was any hanky panky, but because it was too relaxing.  I don't know if my masseuse was that relaxing for me, I mean I was coming down with a cold, so maybe I wasn't in to the massage enough.  But from where my friend was sitting, I was too relaxed.  The technique is a combo between Chinese and Thai techniques, easy and then heavy pressure.  Also they pay plenty of attention to the feet and as well as the full body.  In the end they got my money because of the advertising of the poster.  The lady looks so ready for a massage...

Looking forward to another Thai massage soon, but seeing how I am headed back to China looks like I might have to put my body through the abuses of a Chinese massage next time I need to relieve some stress.  Much better than reaching for a drink or a pack of cigarettes.  At least with a good masseuse.  Enjoying Bali.

Bali Sunset