Temples and Tunnels

The day after the Rickshaw rollercoaster we decided to give ourselves a day off and went to the Statravel office to book a trip to the Cu Chi tunnels, an underground network of tunnels which the Viet Cong used to sneak up on the US soldiers, and the Cao Dai Temple, which is the largest in Vietnam.
Yesterday, after another hearty breakfast at our hotel, we went to get our coach from round the corner at 8.15am. We did a couple more stops to pick other people up and then Minh, our tour guide introduced himself. He was a rather interesting character and he introduced us to his philosophy in life, which was basically that if the whole world smiled at each other that would solve all of the problems and there would be no more war and also that world leaders should sponsor a smiling school! We think he probably has his very own degree in smiling up on the wall at home!
So, after taking ages to get out of a very busy Ho Chi MInh, we were finally on our way. Although the way involved stopping at a "Handicapped Handicrafts" centre, which no one really wanted to do, but was actually quite good and the things these young people were producing were quite beautiful. Anyway, back on the road again and after a rather bumpy ride we eventually got to the temple. It was absolutley stunning, the colours were just gorgeous. We got there just in time for the noon ceremony which was fascinating to watch. There was a balcony where you could go to observe and the size and splendor af the place was incredible.
Once our 45 minutes was up it was back in the coach again headed to the "restaurant" for lunch. Now me being me and food always being a thing of interest, I was quite looking forward to this, however when we arrive we soon agreed that the word restaurant had been used in the loosest term possible, it was a tin shack on the side of a busy road! But the food was good, the toilets weren't and it was back on the road again headed for Cu Chi.

written by

corinne_sarah on January 27, 2007 from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

from the travel blog: Thirteen weeks

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Sarah, copthorne. on a quite late!! that looks amazing, glad to know your having a good time. Hope the toilets get better!!
Take care x

written by sarah Hindson on January 29, 2007

what a brilliant time clare really really wants to send you a message but she is too shy because she thinks everyone else will see it!! so she might send you an email. Emma is doing a great job coughing her guts up moving house locking herslf out in her slippers in the street at 7 am and doing stock takes. every one else is fine and following your trip with great excitment. shame you didnt send a picture of the lovely loos!!
see you in a few months love rich emma hazel rosie and rodge the podge. ps rosie has got two nasty bity teeth now and hazel started preschool on her own and rodge is still big and fluffy and i need some sleep.

written by richard on January 30, 2007

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