Four days in Saigon - Part 2

Day 3 - Ending

I headed back to 3B and it was nice, but before that, I found tacos.  Yes, tacos.  And not like in BKK tacos.  Also, not like in LA or Zihau tacos.  Vietnamese tacos are tacos, not some “stretch the itch” type taco, but it’s also not Mexican.  It’s just very very Vietnamese.  I think that, because if the bread and the French influence in cooking, they got good at tortillas and also fusion type cooking ideas.  That blended into the Vietnamese taco.  Also, the spice and seasoning is a little off.  It’s not wrong, just more SEA and not Central America.  It’s good, trust me on that and if you ever get a chance to try; do so.  

After that, it was back to 3B and trying some tapas and hanging out with a small expat crowd.  It was nice.  Nothing of note, besides the tapas were wonderful.  Very much Barcelona style with tomato rubbed on the bread and then drizzled in olive oil.  At least, I’m told it was Barcelona in Style.  I was told in other places, they will put slices of tomato, rub garlic, or even sprinkle some sea salt after olive oil and before the meats.  Then again, who am I to judge and it all sounds wonderful to me, so let’s go and give it a try.

I stayed for two rounds, got some new contacts and connections and had a nice two hours out.  I got a car back and I had gotten myself a coconut water earlier in the day.  Like, from a coconut.  I had half of that left and it was in the fridge that was provided in the room, so I took that to the roof and just sat for a half hour enjoying the breeze and the water and my last night in my favorite city.  I also made a little friend.  

Day 4 and back to Shanghai

I woke early, knowing that I had to repack for the trip home and I was unsure of how long the check out procedure would take.  I also wanted to make sure I got to breakfast.  I got up to breakfast at 7am and that was wonderful.  I got some rice and had the egg station make me an omelette.  I asked for that to be placed on the rice and the cook was happy to oblige.  Then, I got some bacon and cut that into pieces and made myself a ghetto creamy eggs and bacon.  People who know about our BKK adventures and breakfast spot (early years) will get the joke.

After that it was showering and sweeping the room.  I sat in bed and read for a half hour before starting to move.  Check out was quick and simple and the desk asked what time my flight was and if I would need a cab.  I told them flight was 18:35 and no, I would order Grab, unless cab better price or faster.  They told me no, Grab best.  However, they did ask if I wanted to keep my luggage with me all day or if they could hold it.  I was happy to let them hold it, as my plan had been to just take it with me to coffee, tattoo, and lunch.  

Since I didn’t have luggage, I decided to walk to the Tattoo place.  Google Maps told me it was a 20 minute walk.  I was certain I could find coffee on the way.  I was right.  It was great.

I arrived at Mix and man, was it something.  Down a little alley, a whole bunch of scooters, a vegan noodle place, a hostel/air BnB/IDK, a scooter repair/storage place, and a little grannie tea and coffee shop.  I walked in and I was told that they still needed about 10 minutes to set up.  We finalized the design and all was good, but I’d have 10 minutes, then print the design onto the contact paper, get inks, etc.  Probably a half hour.  I told them I’d be back in 20 min or so and walked over to the Grannie Tea shop.  Milk teas, herbal teas, pearl teas, strength teas, you name an adjective, this lady had a tea for it.  I asked for an iced coffee with milk.  As I thought, I got a Vietnamese coffee.  Perfect.  I walked back and we started to get to work.  

It was great.  Fast.  Homey was confident in his lines and steady.  He commented to the English speaking guy in the shop that I was a rock and easy to work on.  Not flinching or moving.  Took two hours and I’m happy with the look.  Ecstatic, really.  We had to cut out the Saigon from the design, it would have been too small and gotten muddy, but that just means I’ll need to go back next Sept. (Looking at you B) to get that added.  I’ve already got some ideas.  The tattoo I got, I should note, is based on a statue on Tao Dan Park of the Lac Bird, the national bird of Vietnam.  

Walking back, I found pho and why not!  It was good, really good, lots of star anise and beef in the flavor and the holy basil at this place… WOW.  That was the star.  Just jumped out the bowl at you.  

Finally back to the hotel, I got my bag and hung out for about 15 minutes before ordering a car and heading out.  

The adventure started at the airport.  I got checked and needed to pay for my bag again, but it was the same price as before.  Got through passport and security with no worries and then sat.  I thought it would be about a 90 minute wait until boarding.  That’s when the rain started.  It wasn’t rain, it was RAIN!  So, things backed up and we boarded a hour late.  Took off 2 and a quarter hours late.  I was scheduled in to Shanghai at 12:05.  We landed and taxied in and it was 1:09 as I got off the plane.  The good news was, a whole slew of flights had just gotten in from Japan, UAE, and South Africa and there were 4 (FOUR) people on the forgiven passport lines.  That took another hour and here I was, in another post, citing the efficiency of the airport at Shanghai.  Oh well.  I finally got thru and having a visa helped.  The woman I got look at me and then looked at the visa, flipped back a page and saw the previous year’s visa and went straight to the fingerprint verification while doing her photo inspection.  She stamped my book and gave me a smile.  It was, I am not lying, 30 seconds.  Just in and out.  If only the returning visa line was open, instead of an hour, art would have been five minutes.  Sigh.

I got my bag and a car and was home at 3am.  A quick shower and I fell into bed and I’ve spent the day napping and unpacking and just being back.  And I can not wait to do it again.