Sista's flight at 11am..and before she went back home she took her clothes from Cantik boutique.We were not having a breakfast together because its already late. Only a cup of quaker oat and shared by two people.As she went away, I'm continued my journey alone.
So start with having a breakfast -prawn fried rice at halal restaurant as I not planned to have my lunch. Met again the Malaysian couple and have breakfast with them. We chat and I'm suggest them to have a walk to city center.They agreed and invite me to join them.
They went out first as my food still not coming yet. After having my breakfast, I went out and just explore the area. Until one rickshaw came and show me his 'guest book'. Usually I'm not speaking with these people coz I know they usually trick people to ride their rickshaw.But the guest book really fascinating. It wrote his guest comment for his services.So creative...he differentiate his services with the others by having this value.
He offered to show me an dong market-chinatown area-mosque-mekong river-back to hotel. This distrinct quite far from where I'm currently located. Its dinstrict 5 and I'm districnt 1. I asked for how much and he said 150,000 dong.okay considered cheap and I'm agreed.
So, with the rickshaw, I saw many other places differently from what I saw by cab or walk. You know the road there-motorcycle keep hon to each other and suddenly come from no where. But it's exciting to be there and to feel it...although I'm also close my eyes at certain time.
Au Dong marketPeople here not really know in English.N not really nice and clean as Ben Thanh. I think if you want to shop for baby clothes, this is the best place. level 2 is full of baby clothes.
ChinatownThis market is the place to buy beg. I bought two bag here with the price much more cheaper than Ban Thanh. But hard to bargain here as the seller here not speaking english. They also not as friendly as people at Ban Thanh. Consider them like at Petaling Street, where we afraid to ask more for cheaper price and then at last we cancel to buy it.
For the bag, basically it is the market of backpack such as Deuter and North Face. For 75+15 l, I can get 19 dollar-the same price for my Crumpler sling bag bought at Ban Thanh.
MosqueN then finally went to the mosque at Chinatown area. Have this kind of China influence at the building architecture.
Then, I asked the driver to return back to hotel. N he said he want to show me the Mekong river as it is just near there and along the way when return home.
N then...grrr I had to share this.But I believe this is their modus operandi and for you to be careful.
He stop at the middle of no where..n I ask me to write his 'guest book'.i give my good comment about him.N he asked for money first because he can't park his rickshaw at my hotel. Okie that time sounds not logic. he asked for money and I gave him 150,000 dong....as he mention before I'm agreed to accept his services.
N...huhhh
He show me his price catalog which he not show me earlier.150,000 dong is only for one way and not return.N for one hour, it should be 500,000 dong.
Damn...feel like really stupid that time. I always praise this Viatnamese people coz I think they all really kind people and still use the concept of trust. He really make a shame for his own people.After argue for few minutes,and I'm also not dare to be more mad (alone at place I see no taxi)..so I just paid. Few item that I planned to buy-now cancel...due to my stupidity.huh geram lagi...I try to find the positive inside this negative story. I had the chance to ride the rickshaw while I'm actually want to try the motorcycle-went to this two market Au Dang and Chinatown which is really far and bought bag for myself..positif positif...
So,while return back to hotel, he asked me the hotel name and direction. Okay..for those who know me..u know my sense of direction very bad.While I'm also in a bad mood that time, I just make a guess where my hotel is. He said at the right while me at the left.N of course la expected..it wrong. I think he mad at me that time coz I show him the wrong location.Fair enough..
As had being cheated,I do not have mood to went out. I took a hot shower,watched movie and relax.
Went out back at 5pm to Ben Thanh market.My shopping list-Viatnamese coffee for my colleague, keychain and tshirt I love Viatnam to my father.
At nearly 630pm, went back to hotel and lepak at Hajah Basiroh shop. She also sold nasi lemak,nasi ayam and bihun goreng at small stall in front of her shop.See...the menu pun turn out to be Malay menu.While waiting, again met the Malaysian couple and lepak there nearly one hour.There are many others customer coming who majority is Malay-either Indonesian or Brunei.You know exactly from where they come from their languange and veil.Brunei people with the bling bling veil and Indonesian with the owning veil.
So,my dinner-nasi lemak ayam for 60,000 dong aka RM10.
While lepaking with those Malaysian couple, I'm agreed to help them did the web check in.
Tips:
Better to go anywhere by taxi meter rather than motor or rickshaw.Or if you can ride motorcyle, try one.
