TravelBio

By early August, following over a week in Singapore, I was ready to move on to Indonesia.  I hadn't really been researching the country or thought much about my route.  While in Vietnam I had planned out my return to the US.  I would first fly from Bali to Seoul, spend 10 or so days visiting friends in South Korea, and then return to the States.  So in the weeks leading up to my Indonesian excursion I was busy thinking about the stopover in Korea and my post trip plans. As it often seems to do, the lack of planning still worked out in the end.  Now that the trip is all over (I'm trying to catch up on the blog here in the US) Indonesia sticks out as one of the highlights of the trip.  It's a tough and frequent question you get back home: "So what was your favorite country?"  I don't really like to pick my favorite - kind of like parents don't want to pick a favorite kid - each one is different and has a lot to offer.  But if pressed to pick on...

I took a lot of pictures during my time in Singapore, so here are a few more before I move on to Indonesia! These buildings form a hotel and Marina Bay Sands Casino complex The Marina Bay Sands mall has an indoor canal! View of downtown from outside Marina Bay More of the Korean pop culture Wave A temple on the edge of historic Chinatown This sign looks serious! Buddha Tooth Relic Temple inside the main hall of the temple part of the main pedestrian zones in Chinatown

Earlier in Vietnam I had booked my flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore.  I left Vietnam on the 27th of July, the last day of my visa!  There were certainly things I didn't see that I wish I had - Halong Bay and Dalat being two of the biggies - but overall I felt as if the four weeks I spent in Vietnam was sufficient.  If I had more time or had planned it out in advance, buying a motorbike and driving the length of the country would have been amazing.  For any of you who would consider it, just a piece of advice: try to avoid highway 1 and take the road less traveled! The difference between Vietnam and Singapore is enormous.  Ho Chi Minh City is like the wild west compared to the clean, organized, and modern streets of Singapore.  The country is only 276 square miles (716 square kilometers)!  With a little over 5 million people Singapore is basically a city state with little undisturbed natural habitat remaining (although there are s...

Before I wrap up my time in Vietnam, I want to mention a few trips I made around Ho Chi Minh City: One day trip was to the Cu Chi tunnels.  These were a series of underground tunnels dug by the Vietcong during the American War (as the Vietnamese call it).  The tunnels were used as supply routes to the South and was a main base of operations for the 1968 Tet Offensive.  Tunnels even ran under a US military base and went unnoticed for years! A sample map of the tunnels Before reaching the tunnels we first had to stop at an art warehouse, just in case anyone was interested in purchasing a souvenir.  Why would we be solicited on a group trip we prearranged?  I was wondering the same thing.  I don't recall anyone buying a piece of art, but at least it was cool to see a few people at work creating it. Back to Chu Chi; overall the tour was interesting and somewhat informative.  Our guide spoke English, if that is what you want to call it...

Ho Chi Minh City: formerly Saigon, the old capital of South Vietnam.  After the war it was renamed in honor of the late leader of Vietnamese resistance, or Uncle Ho as his admirers still affectionately refer to him.  Despite the name change many locals and foreigners alike still use the name Saigon.  Whatever you call it, with over 7 million inhabitants (and more in the greater metro area), the city is the largest in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon Ho Chi Minh City is also the only place I was visiting in Vietnam that I had seen before.  Five years ago - hard to believe it's been that long - I went to Vietnam on my Semester at Sea trip.  Unfortunately I only had 6 days to stay.  I spent a few in Ho Chi Minh and also visited Cat Tien National Park, northeast of the city. Upon my return I recognized several famous spots, and even stumbled upon a bar/restaurant where I first stopped the day I arrived with my SAS friends five ye...