Day 12- April 28, 2009

Day 12: Saigon

I started my day off at the New World Hotel's buffet breakfast, there was a huge selection of Vietnamese food. I had a small bowl of beef noodle soup as usual. There was lots of food to chose from but I stuck with the steamed broccoli, green beans and dumplings. The kiwi and water melon juices were fresh and delicious too! Our bus left the hotel around

8am and took us to the Cu Chi Tunnels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cu_Chi_Tunnels),

which was 43 miles from Saigon. The tunnels were used by Viet

Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during combat. They were also

used as communication and supply routes,

hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous guerrilla fighters. People were amazed while walking around on top of the tunnel system. The secret tunnel entrances and exits could have been anywhere; like under a layer of leaves. Most people walked through a

60-feet narrow tunnel. It was funny to watch one by one everyone come out of the little hole with smiling faces.

Miss Ruth bought a hat and a pair of sandals which were used by the guerrillas during the Vietnam War.
Our second stop was the nearby Cao Dai Temple (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cao

_Dai) in Tay Ninh Province, which is 55 miles from Saigon.

We got there while a funeral ceremony was going on. Hundreds of Caodaiists in white dresses were moving in the main hall which was divided into 9

spaces by columns and 9 different levels. I was not allowed to enter the main hall as the ceremony was happening, but some ladies were happy to show me good spots to take pictures from the lobby and stairways. Our group stopped at a local restaurant for lunch before heading back to Saigon. We enjoyed steamed shrimp, barbecued shrimp, sauteed vegetables, and

roasted chicken legs, all topped with the entertainment of karaoke singing from a couple of our members. Mr. Georg, cha cha cha, couldn't help but dance with his wife Miss Ellen, as our group cheered along.
Our last cooking class of the trip took place at the famous Rex Hotel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Hotel,_Ho_Chi_Minh_City). The lesson was fried

pumpkin flowers stuffed with pork and shrimp. The certification ceremony took place afterwards.
After the cooking class, the group came to the upscale Royal Court Restaurant for dinner. The wooden and detailed setting

was amazing and welcoming. The food was delicious with beautiful presentations. My favorites were the grapefruit salad with shrimp, crab and shrimp soup, seafood spring rolls and beef stew with peppercorns. The entertainment included the royal-styled singing and ethnic dancing.

When our final days came closer, I felt like the group had become more like a family. I felt kind of sad that our trip was coming to an end.