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When I had the opportunity to use frequent flyer miles for an overseas trip, I decided to use them to go over a different sea than usual for a trip to Asia in November 2002. Here is a report on that trip to Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
TRIP TO ASIA, NOVEMBER 2002
Amc2004-09-13 14:42:34
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of markets, I found fascinating the Binh Tay market, a huge covered market with many small stalls, and stands with live chickens and the like spreading around outside. Cholon is an area where there’s a lot to take in while walking around, but the streets were difficult to cross there and I didn’t see that much of what there is to see. I got onto a small street with a Casbah-like appeal, homes opening into the street.
I had my dinners at posh restaurants from Tony’s list, with English names, notably Lemongrass and the Vietnam House. I regularly had the nem spring rolls I remembered from Vietnamese restaurants in France, and main dishes with interesting fragrances such as lemongrass. Other observations about my stay: it was hot, and rainy season was over. Staying in the touristed area, I got by in English all the time. It was interesting to see itinerant vendors carrying their goods on bags at the end of bamboo sticks over their shoulder, in the same area as smart Western boutiques. I wish I’d spent more time outside Saigon; I had my problems with the city but overall I’m glad I was able to get to Vietnam, a word one continues to hear very often even if it’s not in reference to the country in the present day.
My flight to Siem Reap was at 7 a.m., and I was advised to get a taxi at 5.30. The hotel staff had told me the night before that $5 was the standard fare to the airport. I got the cab in front of the hotel; the driver didn’t turn the meter on and said “$7, o.k.?” This would have been a point to make a couple of arguments, but at that hour I said “If that’s the fare.” Then after a bit, he turned the meter on and pulled over; evidently he’d been stopped by plainclothes taxi inspectors. They had an animated discussion and went through old fares on the meter. An inspector asked me where I’d started, but didn’t instruct me on the fare to pay. We got going again, with plenty of traffic even at that hour. When
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See photographs from:
Vietnam Gallery
,
Macau Gallery
,
Hong Kong Gallery
,
Cambodia Gallery
