Saturday thinking on Saigon
Like with some of the blogposts that come upon me this came up this morning writing in my journal. I had decided to not go to Saigon in early August or late July because a friend from Hanoi is visiting in August on a visa run for a week. I thought this through the last day or so and on a nice walk yesterday for a bit. Looked at what it costs to go at a basic level. Going via minivan and bus is cheap. The hotel I found in District One is not some wonderful place but it is close to Bến Thành Market. It is not far from the Walking Street thing there that I don’t particularly care for. Getting to places I do like is easy walking downtown and for the number of days I’d spend, I am not looking at some huge tour things but just doing the usual wandering around. It’s been a few years since I wandered the city. I’m looking forward to coffee in the city, some food places here and there including one Banh Mi stand which looks like it might still be there, and a nicer place to eat a little bit away from downtown. I’d like to walk down through Japan town there and see it again.
So I thought I would write a little on the how of things from here.
getting from here to there
- LarryTA evening bus Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. This evening bus or van will go at about 1130pm from the LarryTA central station. It takes about 5 hours to go. I also thought I would spend a night perhaps in Phnom Penh and leave earlier. I’ve had my fill of cheap hotels in Phnom Penh and prefer the vRest Hotel with its free breakfasts and beautiful rooms still for cheaper because of my Genius discounts on booking.com. If I do the hotel room, I’d leave earlier in the day and have time to spend in Phnom Penh.
- VET Bus from Phnom Penh to Saigon. There are other choices like Giant Ibis and even more. I just chose this one because I’ve done it before. It takes about 6 to 7 hours to go. 12go offers some choices to consider too. There’s lots of choices for this part of things.
- Hotel in Saigon. Easy piece of things. Many choices in District One. I found one I will likely do. I also get a genius discount there so the price drops a bit. Not looking for a palatial estate but not a dump either. I guess I am somewhat spoiled with places.
Returning is just the reverse of things really beside the hotel stay in Phnom Penh which I don’t think I would do again.
You will notice I am not including my wife and saying “we”. Reason is simple. She is not going with me. I just don’t feel confident that her health is up to it. I tried doing Malaysia with her and it failed because of medical issues. That trip cost a lot more than money to me. It basically cast a shadow on what we can do out of the country. I also need something and I’m being selfish here. I need to go. It’s about seeing Vietnamese friends I have not seen in years but it’s more than that. It’s my mental health. I’ve said before like here that Vietnam for me is about my mental health. I just need this thing. This going. I don’t think some times I am particularly happy with how life is here and its an inside to outside thing for me. Most of my things start inside with a feeling good or bad. Other times something on the outside penetrates to my core. This could be a both ways thing. My daughter here has told me repeatedly I must go alone to stay sane. I will see her Monday for coffee and I think she’s wanting to know an update on me going.
Meanwhile, I’ll go walk on it this morning after some beer last night which both felt good and left me wondering why I need to do it. There’s some relief just going and sitting somewhere there’s lights and people. The one Khmer waitress counts my beers and knows how many I will do and smiling tells me my count. Last night I exceeded it by one sitting outside this market where I like getting a tuktuk from and eating a bag of Cheetos and drinking a Cambodia beer. Drinking in public is not a deal here and I enjoy just sitting at the store at the bench out front. The tuktuk comes and takes me home then.
thinking over coffee
I think will walk down to V Cafe down the street today for a nice local coffee. Sit and watch this place spin around. See you then.
Here’s the V cafe scene. Saturday morning on the Main Street where we live. This could be the closest coffee shop that I like.
It’s a local little place where I can sit and feel the moment sink in. Busy with motos and cars going by. The Khmer folks are friendly but non intrusive and let me just sit which I appreciate.
I can think on Saigon. Think on going. How I need it. I’ve never wanted to be mean or mistreat my wife but I fear sometimes we are at this crossroads of life. We have lived two years and some where we do. It’s been that long I’ve told her I don’t like the place. For awhile I just lived with it. This doesn’t work. It’s hard to just take a place when I feel I don’t ever want to be there. It leads to more beer drinking and disagreements. Worse of all though where we live has caused arguments and fighting with my daughter and wife. TN is very open. Says what she feels about most things. Of course this irritates my wife because we are supposed to just withhold critical things and keep things happy. Of course it doesn’t work. It never will.
So the other reason I go alone to Vietnam in late July is because I don’t want her with me. It sounds mean and low. I admit it. I just cannot do this thing with her. I need me time. Away. Saigon offers an away.
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