After I got back from my field program Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, I rushed back to my cabin; however, I had to go through the security check outside the ship, something we had to do at every port. I had to take out my packing cubes and empty out my clothes, showing that I was not bringing back anything that was not allowed on the ship. Now I was not the only voyager that had to do this, we all had to do this every time we wanted to get back on, it just was more tactic when coming back from longer programs or when you were gone for a long period.
Okay, so I got back to my cabin, and put my larger overnight backpack in my cabin, and then met up with my friends Kelsey and Callie. We were going to go into town for a bit, as they got massages. While they got the massages I waited in the waiting room where the door was locked to the outside world, I felt very protected. It was also very calming actually, listening to the music playing, and having free WIFI which was convenient. As I waited for Kelsey and Callie to come back from their massages, I played on my phone, and sent messages to my family and friends, also checking social media, what we do not have it very often so I was taking advantage of it! Kelsey and Callie came out, and we soon walked to dinner.
As we walked to dinner it was a bit chaotic, as all the cars and motorcycles ( the main form of transportation in Vietnam) rode in the street, and did not stop for anyone. We learned in our pre-port for Vietnam, that when you cross the street, you have to walk in a straight line ( like when you cross with your friends, and walk not to slow, but not to fast either) because this way the traffic will slow down and you will not get hit. Okay, so we got to dinner, a place that Callie had recommended, since they I guess have this restaurant in California as well. The first thing we did when we walked in was, Callie asked that question, "Are you guys a chain? Because I think you are open in California, where I am from." The staff said yes, or maybe they just nodded their heads to be honest, as they took us to a little booth, opening the door, letting us walk in, and then closing the door on us, allowing us to have some privacy.
We looked down at the menu, and giggled, with the big grill like area in the table. Soon we ordered some food, vegetables and meet, and started grilling it. It was a fun experience. After dinner, we headed back to the ship. Resting up for another full day ahead of us.
The second day of exploring in Ho Chi Minh began when I woke up in my cabin. My roommate was out, exploring on her own, so I had the cabin to myself. I woke up in time to go to Lido, the dinning hall that was open for when we were in port (we rotate between Lido and Berlin when we are in ports.) So I made it in time for breakfast, making my usual peanut butter and jelly on bread, and drinking some of the coffee that everyone complained about was awful. After breakfast, I was heading back to my cabin when I saw my friend Lindsay, who I had explored with on day 1 in Vietnam. We chatted for a bit, but then I left her, for she was working on her college essays, trying to apply to other colleges. I WhatApped my friend Kelsey to see if she wanted to see the pink church, one of the popular areas in Vietnam that I wanted to see. Kelsey and I finally met up, where we decided what we would do.
First we decided on walking to the Pink Church also known as the Tan Dinh Church. We walked with Mackenzie, who led the way. It was a long walk and we kept wondering when we would get there. We finally arrived to the church and it was beautiful!! It was worth the walk. There we took some pictures of the church, together, and of each other in front of the church, coming up with funny captions like on Wednesdays we wear pink! After taking our pictures, we sat down, for a bit, and we saw that our friends Max, and Lindsay had also walked to the church. There we decided what to do as well. We decided to keep exploring and walk to the museum near by. Once we arrived at the museum, I asked everyone how much the tickets were, unsure. They then told me it was a certain, amount. I looked in my bag, and reached for the right amount of Vietnamese currency to hand to the person in the booth. Once I handed the right amount of currency, I was given a sticker, which I could put somewhere on my body to show that I paid. The group that I was with then wandered into the museum. I was a tad bit nervous of going in, wondering what I might see. As I entered I wished I could have turned around. There were signed talked about the Agent Orange, a deadly chemical used on the Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. How the United States caused harm to Vietnam, and why the Agent Orange is causing birth defects for future generations to people who have been exposed to Agent Orange. As I kept walking through the museum and seeing the pictures on the wall, all I wanted to do was cry. I know the United States was trying to protect the country but they also harmed and killed incident people in a different country.
We shortly left the museum after spending roughly two hours there. Mackenzie led the way, again, as Max saw a Crocs shoe store, and wanted to go in. We all followed, and were ecstatic because the store had air-conditioning on this extremely hot day. Max ended up getting a pair of Crocs and Kelsey ended up getting a pair of Crocs Jibbitz for Olivia, because it was going to Valentines Day soon, and her boyfriend was not there but wanted Kelsey to get something for Olivia to surprise her! All of us continued to walk, as we headed to a little cafe for a little afternoon snack. There we got a little treat, and again enjoyed the air conditioning that the building had to offer. Soon we started heading back near the ship. We wandered in the Ben Thanh market one last time, looking for anything else for Olivia. Kelsey found a little stuffed elephant for her, made out of different fabrics. She got her the elephant, and also got a fake Coach black backpack. There was nothing else that I felt that I needed, and the ladies in the market scared me, if you would look at something for to long, they would come over, and try and sell something to you, so there was no going back! After Kelsey got the fabric elephant and her backpack, we zoomed on out of the market, and walked back to the ship. It was a time productive day. As I headed back onto the ship, I looked forward to the next country, and all the things I would see!
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