Night #8 Saigon

Alright, I've done the tourist stuff in Saigon and I'm back to ship out our bag of Vietnam War items. In the mean time I'm picking up christmas presets and shipping them home and discovering the city's night life and good food. I crossed my street and hit Eden on De Tham street where I had chicken "fingers" and onion rings a few nights back. This time I wanted to see how they did fettachini alfredo as the other place down the street gave me my 2nd worst. For some reason they put ham in their alfredo in Vietnam. Add chicken! The ham isn't bad but chicken is more familiar to western tastebuds. At least the sause wasn't soupy but creamy haha. Afterwards I walked over to the Rex Hotel.

The Rex was the place where the US military would inform reporters of the going ons of the war but they were so tight lipped and gave the media so little the reporters dubbed it the "5 O'Clock Follies" as it was just for show, nothing behind it, just enough to say "We've informed the public" and I'm sure afterwards they had a few drinks trying to figure out how to turn something from nothing. Good bar, awesome view but booze was on par with Cdn prices and I just had the one bottle of Saigon beer.

Next I was on the hunt for Apocolypse Now as I was hoping it was a war-themed bar. Now walking from the Rex to Apoc wasn't that far, but everytime i pulled out my map to check where I was I was harassed by moto drivers. "What are you looking for? Oh I know where it is, jump on back and lets go! "No, I'm fine. I know i'm close and I want to walk it" But your going the wrong way! It's east! (where I just came from and know I'm in the right direction) "No, it's okay, I'll find it!" Then after that fun note "You want massage? Very nice boom-boom, pretty lady?" and I say no, they ask again or keep going on, no, over and over again. Everytime I hit a new street corner and pull out my map it happens all over again. I went to walk away and one guy grabbed me and I spun around and told him not to touch me and he got the message haha. They're vultures though. I hit a street corner, just want two seconds to get my barring right and have to deal with someone else trying to get me to go in another direction. I wanted to tell them all to fuck off and gimme two secs to check my map without being offered drugs or girls. One sick bastard offered me a 9 year old girl. I wanted to drop that motherfucker right there and then. It just goes to show that some people will do anything for money, even if it means destroying a child's life for a quick buck or two. I'm finding that ignoring them works and I like that as I'm not wasting time or breath. At first I'd hear them out but now that I know their whole song and dance routine I'll keep on walking.

I found Apocalyspe Now and it had the heaviest police presence I've seen anywhere for anything! If there was 100 people in the club, there was about 40 police officers just standing around keeping the peace. I think it's just because it's a big tourist place and it's not in a great part of town, one of those places where you see the amount of money the neighbourhood makes (or doesn't make) as you got closer. It's not too big, maybe 50m long and 10m wide with a pool table at one end and dance floor at the other. They also have a small lounge area where you can order some good. I read it was around during the American War but seeing t-shirt's celebrating it's 15th year of being open, back in 2006 it probably opened just after the first Gulf War. I think they just said that to attract more business even though it's a flat out lie. Also I read it was Vietnam War themed and true there was black and red during the war, but that was the only theme on the walls other than a few movie posters. They have a good name but their fail to deliver. Plus it's mostly Vietnamese working girls there. I did see two aussie girls but they were part of a pack of five so it was hard to get one to stray from the herd. Also beer is at par with US prices, so a beer will cost you 70,000 dong. That's how much I spent on my dinner haha.

Nothing going on so I left. I walked to my area again, Pham Ngu Lao and hit "Sixteen Saloons" which is a western themed place. Being western style I was suprised when I walked in and heard a Vietnamese heavy metal cover band!!! hahahaha. I caught their last set and they did Limp Bizkit - Rolling, some Evanessence (sp?) song, Metallica and ended on a request for Hotel California. I love that song and recorded it. They stopped before the two minute outro solo to introduce everyone. I stopped recording thinking they were skipping the solo, put my camera away and bam! I missed the best part of the song! They were also walking on the bar which was cool too. I was very impressed, and they had an awesome stage effects and lighting too. They had their shit wired tight! Beer was at par with US prices so I took my time with it. Afterwards I got closer to my hotel and went to the Crazy Buffalo as I heard great things. I went in and the first floor was rock, 2nd floor was techno and 3rd was hip hop, but the door was locked which I thought was good. I dislike it haha. Went back down to the 1st floor and just chilled for an hour watching everyone come and go. After that I went back to my room and hit the rack for the night. Today I plan on doing it all over again. Buy some souveineers as I need to ship something home, hit alfresco's as it's a western restaurant and discover a bar or two i missed from last night. Till then keep fit and have fun!