Ho Chi Minh City..

While I am writing these lines about Saigon I have already another trip behind..I was in Belgrade and in Nis last week and I wanted to write something while I was there about my trip to Vietnam but to be honest I am such a lazy bum when it comes to writting my blog that no one gives a effin' shit about so I am doing this at work now..what an example of a white collar worker huh?

Sooo I was in Saigon a.k.a. Ho Chi Minh City last month and it was a very pleasant surprise after visiting th chaotic Jakarta. I took a flight with Vietnam Airlines, which was quite good. The flight itself lasted like 3 hours. After landing we had to go to passport control. Those countries who require a visa can get one at the airport where you have to fill out a form and get your picture taken. However, people get a bit unease seeing the military officials at the counter but everybody's friendly and in a matter of minutes I was sitting in a taxi on my way to the Rex Hotel, where I had booked a stay for 2 nights. The hotel was perfectly located in the city center and the staff was very friendly and helpful. I was picked up by our sales staff at the hotel and we took a small city tour. Very friendly guys who took me to a german beerhouse. I have no idea what its name was but there were pictures of many celebrities like Bill Clinton on the wall who enjoyed a beer at the same spot. 

Food was great too.

The only thing that bugged me about Ho Chi Minh City was the weather..it was really humid and hot. I was out for two hours and soaking wet when I got back to the hotel. There are some beautiful examples of arquitechture going back to the French era. I had only two days there but I would love to spend more time in this city. It is worth a visit.

Jakarta...traffic, traffic, traffic..oh yes...and traffic..

Well, what can I say about Jakarta? I had the luck to spend three nights in Jakarta last month and I must say I wish the good people of Indonesia all the best and a lot of patience but most of all..mental health! I mean who can explain me why there are not thousands of roadkills, people going bezerk, furious madness in the streets of Jakarta? I swear to God, I needed one and a half hour just to leave the airport parking area because of the chaotic car situation..it took me 2 1/2 hours to get to the hotel..luckily I was picked up by our partner there but I really felt sorry for the poor guy. He said he was used to it but how can you get used to such a nightmare?  Anyways, I had a reservation at the Double Tree Hilton, which turned out to be a splendid hotel. Service was top notch. Breakfast was great and the rooms were always tidy. The only minus point I could mention was the difficulty to find the entrance of the hotel. It was hidden in a side alley and a bit complicated for taxi drivers to find it. My customer took me to dinner in a fish restaurant and the food was extraordinary. I am not a big fish-fan (neither the band nor the food :-)) but the shrimps, different dishes in sauce they were all delicious.
I knew about the whole massage culture in Indonesia but I wasn't really comfortable because I didn't want to end up in happy-end massage parlour when my customer suggested to have a massage. But to my surprise the massage center was in a modern shopping mall and it was quite cheap. One hour massage for 25 USD was acceptable and the massage was very relaxing. And no happy ending by the way. It was a very clean and professional place so my worries were needless.
I have to say that I was disillusioned with Jakarta. There wasn't much to see. Tall buildings, shopping malls and crowded streets. But the food was great. So I caught my next plane to Ho Chi Minh-City curious to see what Vietnam was like.