More shopping & some random things...

Sunday morning...who doesn't love a Sunday morning.  We started a little later with breakfast and then went back to the Market to look for some items I wanted to get before going back to the States.  We were asked by the hotel folks if we'd have a British couple come along with us in our taxi to the Market, as they have never been to Saigon before and he said that we were professionals and very experienced.  So, of course, we said yes and they jumped-in along with us.  They are here for a few days before heading to the southern tip of Vietnam ~ the beach.  We chatted a bit and then after a bit of a round-about way to the market, finally arrived.  We showed them how to cross the street (step out, keep walking and don't stop and the cars, buses, taxis and motor scooters will move around you) and how to enter the market and then left them on their own.  I was successful in some of my shopping and getting to the market a little earlier in the day proved to be a good plan.  We then walked out to stroll around the area and although it wasn't terribly humid, it was warm as the sun was really strong.  So, we were a little warm, I got some shopping done and then we retired to our rooms to cool-off and relax for the afternoon.  

At the Ben Thanh Market looking for some silk.

Which fabric do you like???

More and more fabrics...all in a 5 foot x 5 foot space

Anything and everything you'd want

Found what I wanted...for my sister!!

Get your PRLDA...aka PRADA

This was a super-cute t-shirt.  Amy got these for her nephews. 

Anyone need a tiara????

Guitars, mandolins, etc.

Disco balls, maracas and sheet music

Life in Saigon...on the street

These brooms are really neat, I think, and these are what they use to sweep the streets every night.  This is how the trash is collected and managed.

Front wheel of the bike is off the ground...gentleman standing on the back doing some electrical work higher up on the building.

Found the Jazz Club in Saigon

Sidewalk repair

Park...on a Sunday

Play park...which looked very new

Our former hotel in the backpacker district. So glad we have found Ma Maison.

Construction...and lunch.

Snowee creamery...liked the name.

Elderly lady carrying her wares

These are very heavy.

Bike with a cart for a rider...seems kind of unfair to make someone pull you around in this heat.

Found a donut shop...for those who love donuts.

Vietnamese donuts are likely very sweet.

And...my favorite...just sitting on the sidewalk waiting for a baby to be dropped into its lap.  Yikes...these baby walkers are everywhere!!  Thank goodness they don't have Bumbo seats here!

Here's a talking scale which we finally found.  These tell you your weight, give you health tips and this one was playing 'Jingle Bells.'  Oh, and in the background, the girl in the yellow shirt was piercing the ears of the girl in the black shirt. 

On our 1st day in Saigon, it began to rain hard just moments after we arrived.  Amy took this great video of the rain and the best part is just listen to how loud it is. 
 

For dinner tonight, we went for Com Chay (vegetarian food), based upon a recommendation by Natasha here at the hotel.  After a slightly more perilous street crossing, we found our way to the restaurant.  Clearly this place hasn't seen too many Westerners...there were lots of interested folks in what we were doing there and ordering.

This cat was sitting on a table when we arrived...watching over the place, I guess.

This was a delicious mushroom soup with rice that I had for dinner.  It was so delicious.

Enjoying the Com Chay with the Vegan/Vegetarian 'Hall of Fame' behind me on the wall.  On all of the walls, there were photos of famous folks who ascribe to a more vegetarian lifestyle.  It was quite funny.

I thought the can was cute.  Had this tonight, as I have a bit of a sore throat and wow, was it sweet!

'Hall of Fame'

Amy's meal is called Ban Xeo (pronounced 'Baan Seo')...it is like a pancake with vegetables and mushrooms inside,

 We have 2 days left of work, which usually goes by quickly, so I am glad to have some down-time.  Tomorrow I am seeing patients who have Brachial Plexus injuries (a nerve injury in the neck that typically happens during delivery) and then on Tuesday I am doing a lecture on the topic.  I need to do a bit of reviewing, as I don't see a lot of these patients ~ in the US, Occupational Therapists typically manage these patients ~ but it will be fun nonetheless.  Many of them are infants, so that will work just fine.  Amy will be in the day care center that is attached to the Rehab department at the hospital.  This is for children with special needs whose families can afford to pay for day care.  She will be working with their speech therapists and on Tuesday, she will be talking about the development of pre-language skills. 

Stay warm, all...

xoxo
Stacy