I am writing this in the capacity of a foreigner who has come to love a city that teems with life, where poverty and luxury come in such close contact as the pebbles in a gurgling stream, in his brief 3-day stint – Saigon.
Saigon, emblazoned in its new moniker, Ho Chi Minh City, reeks of old charm and simplicity. However, a short walk on the streets slaps you with the reality that modernity has indeed caught up with this cosmopolitan of 7 million. “If you visit Saigon in 2/3 years time, you probably have to walk,” our guide chirped as he drove us to Cu Chi early this morning for a visit to the infamous war tunnels (USD5 plus entrance fee of 70,000d per person). That is how bad the streets will be congested by then…
Just yesterday, as we walked along Duong Pasteur in search for a popular ice cream parlour that I came across an old lady peddling herbs at a street junction. I gestured to take a photo of her, but in that brief exchange of hand signals, I understood why she was reluctant to accede. I guess money has caught up with everything… but everybody needs to get by, at the expense of a ready smile…
Across the street, a group of men nestled on the sidewalk watching their fellow countrymen clinch a spot in the SEA Games soccer finals against the Burmese… and suddenly, it occurred that we are not that different. Despite the glaring poverty and hardship, we still share a passion for sports and above all solidarity with their fellow brothers. As I reflect back on the 3-day journey we had here, what struck me the most is the hospitality of its people, how they are humbled by circumstances. From the owner of the Bombay Muslim Restaurant near Sheraton, to the shopkeeper at The Post, to the ladies who took care of us at Kim’s, they share a common intrigue and appreciation in cultures that are ever so foreign to them. And it’s amazing that that had never threatened their simple way of life.
Saigon hides its many alluring back alleys and colonial grandeur amid towering glass masses and concrete slabs, but one would be quick to agree that they only escape the eyes of those who fail to stop and smell the roses. I’m sure many have escaped me in this many, and regrettably so. But as long as the spirit yearns for a quick getaway from the hassle of life, Saigon will always be there to welcome with open arms…
Saigon, emblazoned in its new moniker, Ho Chi Minh City, reeks of old charm and simplicity. However, a short walk on the streets slaps you with the reality that modernity has indeed caught up with this cosmopolitan of 7 million. “If you visit Saigon in 2/3 years time, you probably have to walk,” our guide chirped as he drove us to Cu Chi early this morning for a visit to the infamous war tunnels (USD5 plus entrance fee of 70,000d per person). That is how bad the streets will be congested by then…
Just yesterday, as we walked along Duong Pasteur in search for a popular ice cream parlour that I came across an old lady peddling herbs at a street junction. I gestured to take a photo of her, but in that brief exchange of hand signals, I understood why she was reluctant to accede. I guess money has caught up with everything… but everybody needs to get by, at the expense of a ready smile…
Across the street, a group of men nestled on the sidewalk watching their fellow countrymen clinch a spot in the SEA Games soccer finals against the Burmese… and suddenly, it occurred that we are not that different. Despite the glaring poverty and hardship, we still share a passion for sports and above all solidarity with their fellow brothers. As I reflect back on the 3-day journey we had here, what struck me the most is the hospitality of its people, how they are humbled by circumstances. From the owner of the Bombay Muslim Restaurant near Sheraton, to the shopkeeper at The Post, to the ladies who took care of us at Kim’s, they share a common intrigue and appreciation in cultures that are ever so foreign to them. And it’s amazing that that had never threatened their simple way of life.
Saigon hides its many alluring back alleys and colonial grandeur amid towering glass masses and concrete slabs, but one would be quick to agree that they only escape the eyes of those who fail to stop and smell the roses. I’m sure many have escaped me in this many, and regrettably so. But as long as the spirit yearns for a quick getaway from the hassle of life, Saigon will always be there to welcome with open arms…
1 comment:
hows the cam matt?
Hope your trip continue to be a safe and enriching one. Take care of yourself, your mate and my damn camera.
take kickass pics with it okay.
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