Tourist Stuff

So I am blogging quite a lot - Since I don't meet with my university or the embassy until next week, I've been doing most of the tourist spots and trying to get a grasp of the city.  In theory, I should be a bit more busy once school starts and less a tourist...   =)

Don't tell my parents this (even though they are readers of this blog) but I kind of "freestyled" my way through these locations - Taxis in Vietnam (and most other countries) are not to be trusted, especially if you don't know the city.  They can take you in loops or to the wrong location and won't let you leave until you pay a large amount, etc.  So basically I just walked on the streets, no real map, and try to every once and awhile stop, look around, and memorize key locations so I could find my way back (A Samsung Mobile Ad with a very happy white family saved me) .  I also tried to only make one direction of turns and always knew at least what direction I need to go to get back to my hotel or a major landmark.  However, there were some moments where I really was lost (The Old Quarter is tightly packed with narrow streets and many vendors - Almost a maze). 

Anyways, I'll try to give a lot of pics...

So as my previous post alluded to, the largest attraction near my hotel (besides the Cathedral) is ho Hoan Kiem, or Lake of the Returned Sword/Sword-Restored Lake.  Legend has it that an Emperor gave a magical sword he used to defeat the Chinese to the Tortoise God in the pond.

Here is the Turtle Temple.  A theme I am trying with some photos is to contrast the old with the new, the socialism with capitalism.

The Post Office

My next stop was the Ngoc Son Temple in the same lake.  It has a pretty red bridge (which I really didn't take a picture of...) but here is a panoramic view that distorts the bridge.  Read the sign for info on the temple.

 

You may be thinking, "Geez Tony, this looks like a holy place.  Should you be taking pictures?"  Well, I thought the same thing but then I saw this:

 

I also paid to enter the Temple (10000 dong ~ 55 cents) so it is considered a tourist spot anyways.  Across the street from this ancient temple?

You have to admit, that is a very large KFC

Ummm...I wonder if they have a double down?  They don't, I checked.