25 degC, 94% humidity
After a relatively early breakfast we left the hotel about 07:40am for the "bird park" where bird enthusiasts bring their birds to learn to sing. It is thought that birds learn from others in the wild so people bring their captured/caged birds to the park to learn from other captured/caged birds. Those cages that are covered contain young birds that are still shy but want to learn.
It was then a trek to the Handicapped Handicraft workshop factory that Bob, Mark and Bill had visited yesterday on their way back from the tunnels. Bob had purchased a set of three plaques and one was a bit damaged and he wanted to exchange it. The place took a bit of finding, and, after a lot of to'ing and fro'ing and asking for directions we finally found the place and they really do produce works of art. A lot of time and energy goes into producing a single piece, however, we could not justify buying any as they would not fit into our "space". It was a good walk though.
We had a late mornos at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf across from the Notre Dame and Post Office before heading back to the hotel to drop off stuff, get more money and have a pit stop. Next stop was the undercover markets for souvenirs and gifts. That task accomplished, Bob, Greg and Wendy set off in search of ice-cream. We went into a place we had seen a number of times and we now know why we avoided it for so long. We thought it would be one of those places with the ice-creams in a fridge display; it was not. We were given menus and all of the products were overpriced so Wendy declined. We should have walked out straight away because the boys choices were not very good. Oh well, live and learn.
It was then time for a wash and a nana nap. Wendy did some travel admin and cleaning of the shoes and soon it was time for pre-dinner drinks. Over drinks we decided to go to the Secret Garden and check it out and if it was no good, continue until we found something good. Four flights of stairs later we finally arrived and were told that yes we could have a table but needed to be out by 8pm. Given it was 6:30pm, we said yes. Mark, Greg and Wendy made their decisions quite quickly, and Bob (Mr Indecision) took a little longer and then chose something he did not particularly enjoy. The rest of us enjoyed our meals. After dinner, the boys went for a dessert treat while Wendy went to Circle K for water and another beer (her dessert). When she returned to the room, she heard the Water Puppet show and stood on the corridor overlooking the stage and watched for a good 30 minutes. Although it was all in presumably Vietnamese, she got the gist of most of the acts/scenes.
And so ends our last night on tour and in Saigon/HCM City. It has been a fantastic 24 days with a varied and great bunch of people. We don't depart until 3:45pm so have lots of time to prepare tomorrow.
Bird Park where young birds learn to sing
Scultpure Park
One of the entrances to Saigon Zoo
Street Markets
Saigon River
A neat little church
The Last Supper done in mother of pearl
The detail is incredible
Secret Garden restaurant
Night traffic in Saigon, never lets up
Water puppet show - water buffalo tending the rice paddies
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