I am living with Graham Greene at the Continental Hotel in Saigon, but...I don't think I want to live in this city! Tet is still two weeks away, but the streets are already livid with giant yellow, pink, and red paper flowers and there are huge gaudy gold and red neon signs everywhere, plus plenty of items for decorating the home. My travels with United First Class (SFO to Beijing) were fine...but Lufthansa was amazing. Too bad it was only the one hour flight from Bangkok to Saigon. At check-in, I was assigned a personal assistant who escorted me through the premier immigration line and to the first class lounge...where I was greeted with a cold cloth and iced fruit drink and a full Thai menu. I was greeted by name on the plane and presented with a red rose bud in a silver vase. In Saigon, I was met by another minion who guided me through immigration (this was actually good, because it was a madhouse of pushing and shoving, no lines or system that I could figure out.) It would be so easy to feel entitled... I walked around the city for hours (it's very very hot), taking my life in my hands at every intersection. Blisters held out long enough to walk to Cholon, Saigon's Chinatown. Best food: fresh beer (bia hoi).
Continental Hotel, Pre-Tet
Pre-Tet street scene
Pre-Tet street scene
more bright blossoms
the Continental Greene never knew
bats and butteflies
mango vendor
florist delivery service
antique store
sad souveniers
female ganesha
buy your tet decorations now
visiting from Washington DC
sidewalk manicure
trash can on the riverfront
fresh beer
pollution solution
telephone repairman
more Tet decorations
calligraphy wishes for the new year
happy new year from Burger King
Saigon Central Post Office
That baby is so cute! I also like the pic of the man on the telephone pole
10.02.2013 by Tamarindswee