Independence Palace and Bail (Jan. 28, 29, 2015)

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY, JULIA! I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY. YOU DESERVE IT!

Today I got up, had breakfast, then went with Van, and another girl from Australia, Thu, to see the Independence Palace. It’s the place where the President resided and conducted affairs. There were a lot of interesting facts about his time there, during the war, and what was going on at that point. There were also many rooms where they entertained, conducted banquets, enjoyed games, saw movies, etc. It was a nice outing for my last day in Ho Chi Minh City.

Independence Palace

Conference Room

Me by a lovely tree

Area for receiving guests

Games room

First Lady's diningroom for wives

State of the art kitchen in basement

Drooling Jon, Mike, Rachel?

Totally 70's couch in game room

More kitchen

Incredible, eh?

Then we came back to the hostel, as Thu and I both needed to check out of the room by noon. I was able to store my luggage in the main area, which was great. Then Van and I went to find some lunch, and ended up having some rice and seafood, at a street vendor. It was simple, but great.

After that, we walked around a bit, went to the park and sat for a while, then to the supermarket and pharmacy so I could buy some snacks, Tiger Balm, and more Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. It was a relaxing morning and early afternoon. We wandered back to the hostel so that I could get my stuff ready to go to the airport on the bus, around 4:30. My flight to Bali is at 9:15 pm, with a stop over in Singapore for three and a half hours. That gets me to Bali around 6:25 am tomorrow morning. That works, because at least I’m not arriving at night.

My friends, Rebecca and Jacek told me about Couchsurfing, which is an organization for travellers to meet one another while travelling, help each other, share info, offer to host, or be hosted by other travellers as well. I joined this group and searched for some Couchsurfing hosts in Bali, to meet up with and perhaps attend a get together on Friday evening. I received two very nice replies, one couple and one girl, who live in Bali and would be more than happy to help me out. The couple offered to pick me up from the airport and go for coffee to tell me about places to see, diving sites, etc. The girl emailed me back saying that she had just quit her job, has a car, and wants to explore Bali for a while. She said that I was welcome to join her and split the travel costs if I wanted to. I will meet her first and then decide.

I am so happy to have found this group of people. It is a well organized website where everyone must be a signed up member, and is not able to contact or respond to others, unless they have a completed profile, including references from other Couchsurfers that have met them, been hosted by them or have hosted someone at their place. Therefore, you can read the reviews that people leave on each profile stating what kind of experience they had. There is a place to leave a Positive Review, Neutral Review, or Negative Review, so if you read them carefully, and look at the photos, you can get quite a good idea of the type of people you might meet. There are also group events in every city that you can attend to meet other travellers, get information and tips for places to go and cheap ways to do things. Also, where to eat, group dinners, parties, etc. It’s really great.

Rebecca said that they have been hosted many times, and also hosted others, and have never had a negative experience. You are never obligated to host or accept any meetings with other people, so that gives lots of comfort room. Anyway, I will see how it goes and let you know about my experiences. 

More tomorrow, when I get to Bali. 

Jan. 29, 2015

Well, today has seemed like one long day……. I guess it has been, really. I left Saigon yesterday at 5 pm, took the Airport bus to the airport with no issues. I caught my plane to Singapore and then waited in the Singapore Airport for a few hours to catch the connecting flight to Bali. While I was there, I traded in the last of my Vietnamese Dong for some Singapore Dollars. I received 9.35 in Singapore money, enough to buy myself a wonderful Starbucks coffee. It was a Grande, and cost 7.00 at the airport……but mmmm was it good! Then I broke into the snacks that I brought from Saigon, and sat at one of the free foot massagers that are sprinkled throughout the airport. I stayed there for about two hours, getting my feet and lower legs massaged. It was totally civilized.

Looking down at the foot massager

When I arrived in Bali, my Couchsurfing (CS) couple were there to meet me at the airport. We ended up going for coffee and some food at a local restaurant. I had some yummy goat soup, boiled eggs, and rice cooked in banana leaves. It was great, and they are so sweet. They offered to have me stay with them for a few days while I get my feet on the ground. I accepted and they took me to their place which is small but comfy and very clean. We went for massages at a local place that was just excellent. It was $15 CAD for a two hour massage with Jasmine Oil. Apparently this is their favourite place and I can see why. You can have a shower afterwards, so I brought clean underclothes and did this. I felt so good after traveling for so long and then being hot and sweaty in Bali.

Coto Makasar - goat soup

Reza, one of my hosts

Shot out their apartment balcony

Another shot off balcony

Street shot

Street shot

Street shot

After the massages, we went to another local place where you get brown rice, and then pick from a large number of dishes, and they add whatever you choose, to your rice. Then they weigh it and you pay for it. It was called Nasi Champur which means rice and ‘mix’. It was fantastic. Enya, the woman, couldn’t come for lunch because she had to work, so it was just Reza and me. She works in another part of Bali sometimes, so she left and will be back in a few days when she’s finished working. Too bad, but ok, as the apartment is quite small. I was glad that there was a girlfriend though, as it was Reza who responded so I didn’t know that he had a partner. It was very relaxing to find this out and I felt comfy enough to stay with them. They host many travellers so I guess they are used to it.

My lunch

Reza's lunch

After lunch, Reza and I went to a beach cafe that he likes, to have a coffee, and wait for the sun to set. Also, to use the WiFi, as they don’t have WiFi at their apartment, only 3G, so I can’t access unless I am out somewhere which is a bit of a pain, but ok.

I emailed the girl who responded to my CS note that I left, saying that I was in Bali and wanted to meet other CS or travellers. She’s the one who just quit her job and wants to explore Bali. I told Enya and Reza about her, and Reza suggested that we invite her to the beach bar to meet up, and if not, to invite her to the Friday night event for CS at 8 pm tomorrow night. That way I can get a read on whether she might be a good person to see Bali with.

More tomorrow. A great start in Bali! It's beautiful.