Saigon

Saigon -
As we made our way through the airport, immigration, baggage pickup, and then Customs, you walk out to this:


There are hundreds of people waiting outside the airport to great friends and family coming in town. It is loud and crazy as people want to offer you a ride to where you are going. We were waiting for our driver “Dong” to pick us up. We did have a little bit of luggage….and the wheelchair. We ended up putting it on top of the car.

Then the fun began…you think the traffic in Seattle is BAD wait until you visit Ho Chi Ma City (Saigon). There looks to be no “rules of the road” except that ciaos rules! Driving around there are as many motorbikes as taxies in New York City and cars are like the crazy bike messengers trying to get in and around any free space that they can.


We were whisked through the city to Loc’s house to have lunch and rest a bit. Then we took off on a tour of the city. After seeing the city via car, we then headed to visit Susan’s grandmother and aunts. After a brief visit we were off to the airport to fly to our finale destination of Hue. We arrived at the airport and checked in, to find out they would only allowed us checked bags and with the wheelchair there were 7 so they charged us the $70 for it to be checked. We then headed to the gate to relax before we board the plane.

Once we were relaxing at gate, someone, yes ME lost their boarding pass somewhere between security and the gate. After a frantic search of everywhere we had been since security, I, with my translator (Susan) went to the gate agent. They were of no help at all and sent us out of the security are and back to check-in. We only had 15 minutes until our plan was to start boarding. We went directly to the argent that checked us in. She was also no help and turned us over to her supervisor. She then asked if we had look everywhere for it. Susan, using her best poker face said “that if we had not of look everywhere why would we be here asking for a replacement”. We hurried up and went back through security and rushed back to the gate. Within 10 minutes we were boarding and on our way to Hue.

We landed an hour and a half later in Hue. Then were meet by Chug and loaded in to a small bus and shuttled to his house where are calling home for the month. In true Vietnamese custom there was a table full of food waiting for us to eat, even though it was 10 pm. Off to bed, very full, more soon.

Craig<