Over the Border and to on Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

21 June I took a Tuk tuk today from Kampot, Cambodia to the border town of Ha Tien. On mostly bad roads the 45 km journey took 90 mins (A hell of a journey on a Tuk) . Its a small quiet and remote border crossing that has only few westerners crossing it. Anyway it was near kampot and what the hell. Close to the border i was transferred to a motorcycle taxi as they can go over the border hasslefree and bring me all the way to the bus station on the Vietnamese side. After a quick passport show and a form filled, I was in Vietnam. It was a good feeling to be in the country and was looking forward to the road ahead. I got to Hat Tien bus station and the touts ushered me over to the kiosk to buy my bus ticket to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). It was 12.15pm and was told that the next bus was at 8pm. Resigned to a long wait around in a nothing town i agreed and asked the price in US Dollars. At an official exchange rate of 18,000 dong to the dollar, i was offered 10,000. Refusing to budge on the rate (she reckoned I'd no choice) I told her that she could rub her arse with the ticket and walked off not knowing what i was going to do. The touts were gabbeling and jumping up and down realising their commission was going down the drain. I spotted another kiosk across the road and they had a minibus going via another town close by and on to HCMC. It was leaving in 40 minutes and was $13 for the 10 hour trip. Sold at 15,000 dong to my dollars. I was gleefully waving my ticket across the road at your wanno in the other office and i felt like Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka with my Golden ticket.
With my 30 minutes to spare i popped into the 3rd world 'Lord of the Flies' restaurant next door for a feed. Realising that meat was not a clever option i asked in my best Lonely Planet Vietnamese for 'Hello, Rice I am a vegetable'. With sniggers all around I got a blob of rice and 5 slices of Cucumber. It filled a gap. 30 cent later (paid in Cambodian currency), i decided to empty the bladder and went over to the toilet block, it was 6 cent entry fee and i had no dongs and they had no change of a dollar. The inbred wanker would not to let me in. Despite my pleas and offers of cambodian money he refused. I went round the back and went in the bushes. He came out shouting and roaring Vietnamese like I was some kind of Vietcong prisoner. I was in the middle of my powerhose performance and his music was falling on deaf ears. It could of got nasty only for a group of observing bus drivers sitting nearby found the unfolding situation hilarious. I was done and fecked off.
I got on my nice air conditioned minibus with 3 seats to myself and proceeded via Rach Gia to HCMC. They drive like lunatics and there are no safety belts. My head was hopping off the ceiling. We got to Rach Gia and my next bus left 5 minutes later. What luck. 8 hours later we stopped at a roadside diner. it was a real locals spot and there was no english menus, speakers or any food on display that i could point at. The lonely planet dictionary had no words that matched the menu. Anything that the others were eating didnt look at all appetitising (it looked like fish bait and smelled worse) so i decided to go hungry and wait to get to HCMC.
Arriving at the bus station late at night i got a motorbike taxi to the hotel. Helmets are compulsory in Vietnam so I was given one to wear. I might of well had something from a tubberware party for all the use it was with a bit of string to hold it on. There are 4 million motorbikes in HCMC and they were all out to greet me. No regard was paid to traffic lights, roundabouts or right of way. It was the ultimate lunacy and being no stranger to driving motorbikes I wouldnt get out there in a fit. Arriving at my hotel via a unrequested alternative I paid the driver too much (unfamiliar with the currency) but it was only a dollar. He took it without a flinch. I checked into my nice but windowless room and had a feed and a couple ice cold beers. Glorious and one hell of a day.
22-24 June I did 3 trips while in HCMC. The city tour, Cu Chi tunnels & Mekong delta. The Vietnam war (called the American War here) is very much part of the tourist trail and the Viet cong were ingenious and equally ruthless as the Yanks. So much seen and worth a visit.
I met my sister Caoimhe and joined her tour for dinner and drinks and had a great evening. Shes heading South and on to Cambodia and Im heading North so it was a fly by rendezvous but good to see her. Off to Dalat tomorrow. It is a Old french town in the mountains and is supposed to be beautiful.