Taking to the tunnels and shooting an AK-47

Me heading down into a tunnel

I discovered I am slightly afraid in small dark places a couple of days ago. We went out to Chu Chi tunnels and crawled in the tiny tunnels underground which we used during the war. You had to squeeze in down a small hole and get onto our hands and knees. I had a small freak out and wanted to get out, but there was a guy behind me, so I had no choice but the battle through. The second one was much easier as they had widened it for Westerners comfort and there was the odd light along the way.

Me shooting

Spike getting his aim on

Spike really wanted to shot an AK-47, as the first time he went to Cambodia he regretted not doing it, so he got amongst that and I had a go too. We had a military dude guiding us. I was pretty fun and much less loud down in the bunker thing than it was waiting up in the cafe. The guns were mounted though, so there wasn’t much kick back or anything.

I had my first manicure in Saigon too. Yeah, I know, pretty weird I had never had one. But I have always done my own nails as it was a cost I just couldn’t justify. She made one of my cuticles bleed though, although she was very very sorry. It was quiet fun really and took also an hour for only 2USD (meanwhile Spike was getting a massage, birthday present from me, as it was something non material so he didn’t have to carry it).

Normalish things become little adventures when you are travelling. Like riding on a moto from a train station to find a hotel and navigating traffic. Or going to the post office. The post office in HCMC is really big, and like many buildings here hosts a large portrait of Uncle Ho himself. A trip to the post office means yes, even more things to post home (too much shopping..... if there is such a thing?). We went to a massive electronics store the other day too. First time both of us have checked out 3D TV. 

Spike on a moto wearing one of the many pretty helments he has worn

Spike was pretty sick yesterday so we just had a quiet one and today hit up the War Remnants Museum and are just about off to the airport. The museum was really cool, lots of journalism photographs from the war. Pity we got there just after 11am and it is closed between 12 and 1:30, so we didn’t get to see it all. I saw a copy of the Kim Phuc photograph too, which was cool (I have just read the book “girl in the picture”).

Well that’s about all for now. Off to Bangkok. 

The girl in the picture