But I'm not feeling too great. I think it's pretty much standard, jetting to the other side of the planet with very little sleep and stepping into a rather hot, muggy and very chaotic environment. My belly feels weird.
So I'm hiding in my room for a bit.
I got scammed today. I went out to see the famed water puppet show, which was pretty cool. On the way back I stopped to take a photo, or maybe a video of this crazy intersection with a jillion scooters, bicycle taxis, buses and pedestrians all sorting it out. All of a sudden this kid runs up to me kind of shouting and pointing at my flip flop. It might have been on fire or something, the way he was acting. Before I know what's happening he's got it off me and is putting super glue or something on the bottom and slapping a piece of rubber on to "improve" it. Then cutting away the excess with a sharp and scary looking knifeOnce he'd done one side I had to let him do the other. He demanded 300,000 vnd for the job. I gave him 200,000 (about $10) which was still a rip off. I just walked away while he yelled at me!
Worst of all, the flip flops aren't as comfortable now. I guess they'll last a lot longer, but it kind of shook me up.
It's hot and muggy here but not nearly as bad as I expected. Nor is crossing the street as bad as rumor has it. The architecture here in the old quarter is amazing- all tall and skinny buildings, some modern and very fancy and some ancient and ruinous. And the streets go every which way!
I think I'll go out again soon. The sun is down and the daytime stools will be all rolled up by now. I was out last night but way too tired to enjoy it. I needed to eat and couldn't find restaurants! Not in this neighborhood. Just tiny stools on the street with some kind of noodle soup on offer. Not so good for a vegetarian....
Not that many westerners about either. Not like in Chiang Mai at all! Which in some ways is very cool. This isn't such a tourist ghetto. But a little daunting on first arrival.
And here's the iconic family on a scooter shot. Wouldn't be SE Asia without that!
1 comment:
Loving to travel but rarely having left the states, I love travel stories! Thanks for sharing your unfortunate interaction with the little scammer- that rascal. And I love your photos. Never having been to that part of the world, it is all fascinating- the weather, buildings, culture... I hope you feel better soon!
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