Saigon Zoo

We got a slow start today, but decided to go to the zoo. Sweetie pie was in a good mood this morning. Some success in the elimination department was had courtesy of the mashed papaya as recommended by the friendly Vietnamese ladies who work in the restaurant upstairs.

We took a short taxi ride to the zoo, and let me just say that I'm thinking PETA might have a few issues with this place. Probably would fall a little short on meeting US safety standards too. Can you think of anywhere in America where you can do this?:

There were people selling bags of carrot sticks and ?sugar cane to feed the animals. We bought a bag of carrots, and after the elephants, we came across this cute 'little' pygmy hippopotomus. He had his snout stuck right up against the chain link fence and we could feed him the carrots right thru the fence! I'm wondering how many fingers he's eaten. I mean, those were some serious teeth!

We were the attraction of choice when we stopped for a beverage break. Several people in the refreshments area came up and motioned to us for permission to take our picture. I felt like we were a primate exhibit. The staring lasted all day--we should've started charging admission. We don't look *that* wierd, do we?

There was a Vietnam history museum near the entrance of the zoo that we explored before we went home. Lots of old relics and such from Vietnam's past. Very interesting--Don and the boys were in hog heaven looking at the old cannons--but we were getting tired by this time and headed back to the hotel.

I just LOVE this face she makes--so cute!

We had heard about a burger joint just around the corner from our hotel, so we headed out in the rain to get some dinner. Luckily it was a quick walk. This place was kind of like a McDonalds--order at the counter fast food, but they didn't get the food *quite* right. The ketchup tasted *almost* like ketchup, and the fries were okay. Good try though, and the kids liked it alright. They had fun sitting at the counter watching the Saigon traffic go by.

Yep, she pretty much has him wrapped around her finger already.

For my adoption world friends who may be traveling to HCMC in the near future, here are some pictures of our "deluxe" room at the Evergreen Hotel. Our other room is a "standard" and is quite a bit smaller, with just one queen and one twin bed. We are quite happy with this hotel, and the staff is very friendly and helpful.

That's all for now. Tomorrow we're going to try to the War Remnants Museum in the morning, and then just Lauren and I might go back to Ben Thanh market for some shopping without the kids.

Cao Dai Temple & Cu Chi Tunnels

Thursday evening, we decided to try a new place for dinner that was within walking distance of our hotel, and was recommended in the Vietnam guidebook "Lonely Planet". We walked up and down the street past where we thought it should be several times before someone finally told us to turn down a little alley. Sure enough, there it was. Banh Xeo was large and crowded with locals and tourists alike. Unfortunately, the dish they're "famous" for came with a large platter of some kind of lettuce/greens that we aren't supposed to eat, and I think that was integral to the dish, so it wasn't as good as I'd hoped. The beef cubes were good though.

The kitchen at Banh Xeo: After dinner, we nearly became road kill once again in our quest to reach a bakery for these tasty treats. At home, I've always told the kids, "Look both ways before you cross the street." Here, I say, "Don't look! Just walk!" It's truly suicide waiting to happen. My mother would have a stroke if she saw us.

Yesterday, (Friday) we took a tour arranged by our hotel to see the Cao Dai Temple and Cu Chi Tunnels. The Temple was about a 2 hour drive north or NW of Saigon. The monks were having a prayer service while we were there, and there was a group of musicians playing traditional music during the service. Quite a spectacle to behold.

Ouside in front of the Cao Dai temple.

After the temple, we back-tracked towards HCMC to get to the Cu Chi tunnels. We went thru several small villages along the way, and saw people and water buffalo in the rice fields in the countryside. The roads were very bumpy in places, and while the traffic is less than in the city, the driving is still insane. Lil' Punkin slept alot of the ride, and she enjoyed playing with everyone when she was awake.

The Cu Chi tunnels were a large network of underground tunnels, living quarters, medical facilities, dining halls, etc. used by Viet Cong guerillas during the war to lauch surprise attacks against the "American devils". (The little film they showed at the beginning of the tour was *slightly* one-sided.)

Here is a Cu Chi guerilla family:

Here is my family:
Most of the tunnels on the tour have been enlarged for easier tourist access, but one was still true size.

Here is a small Asian man entering the tunnel:

Here is a large American man attempting to enter the tunnel. Uh, Don? I don't think so...nice try though.

I went through one of the enlarged tunnels, and that was enough for me. Can you say, CLAUSTROPHOBIA? The kids had a blast going thru all of them though.

This is one of the hundreds of booby traps they set for the American baby-killers. The fall's not bad, but the landing's a little rough:

Don's butt:

Anna, William and Lauren coming up out of one of the tunnels:

We also ran across a temple on our walk back to the van after touring the tunnels. Not sure which temple this is, but I loved the dragons.

Today we are going to go to the zoo, and maybe the War Museum if we have time. Later!