Off at 9am to see the Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh province to the north west of Saigon. A bus load which included French, Dutch, Spanish, English, Italian and Australians. Before we got out of Saigon the busmotor caught on fire and caused a hurried evacuation right on the edge of a major intersection where we were installed in the flower bed. Eventually we made it to the curb and waited till a replacement arrived. I've been impressed with the speed at which the Vietnamese respond so far on our trip despite the seeming anarchy surrounding us on the roads and generally in the streets.
The bus had filled with smoke and to make it worse the driver left the motor running and poured water on it
......hmmmm, as I found out later he rode the clutch all the way to Cu Chi and the rear universal clunked each time he engaged and disengaged......good way to wreck a clutch I thought.
The guide, Den, (which means black in Vietnamese) gave us a talk on the way. We were going to see the cer-remmony at the Cao Dai temple which he repeated a few times with just that pronunciation. Cao Dai was more or less invented in 1928 and is a blend of mainly Buddhism, Christianity, Muslim, Confucianism and Taoism. During the American War the disciples put aside their peaceful ways and formed their own army and fought alongside the Vietcong to help win the war. Their reward was to be banned by the new communist government and only in the last ten years are they making a comeback.
See Photos...The temple I found beautiful in a garish way and the chanting which accompanied the cer-remmony was hypnotic. The sight of the monks, male and female lined up in rows was a beautiful sight. The chanting was done by a group above the lower floor level with the viewers
.
On to Cu Chi and right into rural Vietnam. One thing which strikes you is how open life is here. Every house or shop along the highway is open to the world. The people conduct their lives on the street. Moto cycle repair shops abound, but also food sellers, sawmills, brickworks, coffin makers, mobile phone shops, flower stalls, and of course Pho stalls. Either Pho Ga (chicken) or Pho Bo (Beef). I assumed at first sight it was pronounced Fo, but although research suggested Far I now think it is more like Ferr, but cut off short. It seems to be a staple diet and is basically chicken noodles or beef noodles, but not to sell it short, it has other spicy ingredients.
We were given an introductory talk when we arrived in a sort of bunker 3/4 below ground. Den explained how the tunnel system worked and explained how the Americans went to great lengths to eradicate it seeing it was only 60 km's from the heart of Saigon.
Later in the tour he showed us the ghastly traps the VC made out of simple materials. Traps designed to maim and injure the unlucky soldier who stepped in them. War is horrible and this exhibit together with the War Remnants museum really brings it home what a savage war this one was. I was reminded of a cartoon I saw during the Vietnam war time where an American GI is walking through thick jungle carrying a heavy pack and rifle and suddenly is confronted with the skeleton of a french soldier in full battle dress lying propped up beneath a rubber tree.
After lookin at tunnel openings and at a dismembered American tank and a Viet Cong tableau we came back to the cafe where we could, if so inclined, shoot off rounds from an M16 an AK47 a fully automatic machine gun or a Garand. Marley and Sally had a few potshots which brought a response from some Spaniards, "Why would you want to come on holiday and shoot shoot?".
Finally got home about 7 and went out again to the Bier Garden, oh yes, go there if you ever come to Saigon. The best food. Two serves of traditional spring rolls, and three main courses and many many cocktails and beers came to 1million 450, 000 Dong....hehe lots huh? well about $30 a head.
Cao Dai and Cu Chi
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Củ Chi, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Other Entries
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1Getting ready
Sep 0510 days priorDaylesford, Australiaphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 1 -
2Ho Chi Minh City
Sep 114 days priorHo Chi Minh City, Vietnamphoto_camera14videocam 0comment 1 -
3Day 2 Ho Chi Minh
Sep 123 days priorHo Chi Minh City, Vietnamphoto_camera11videocam 0comment 1 -
4Ho Chi Minh Day 3
Sep 132 days priorHo Chi Minh City, Vietnamphoto_camera13videocam 0comment 1 -
5Cao Dai and Cu Chi
Sep 15Củ Chi, Vietnamphoto_camera17videocam 0comment 1 -
6First day in Hoi An
Sep 15later that dayHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera9videocam 0comment 4 -
7Hoi An Day 2
Sep 161 day laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera21videocam 0comment 0 -
8The Old Town visit
Sep 172 days laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera20videocam 0comment 0 -
9Trip to Hue
Sep 183 days laterHue, Vietnamphoto_camera11videocam 0comment 1 -
10HUE DAY2
Sep 194 days laterHue, Vietnamphoto_camera23videocam 0comment 0 -
11Down Perfume River
Sep 205 days laterHue, Vietnamphoto_camera41videocam 0comment 0 -
12From Hue back to Hoi An
Sep 216 days laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera7videocam 0comment 1 -
13FAMILY Bizness
Sep 227 days laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera17videocam 0comment 2 -
14Never enough Bahn Mi
Sep 238 days laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera9videocam 0comment 3 -
15Swallows nests and Cao Lau
Sep 249 days laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera12videocam 0comment 0 -
16The noise, the noise
Sep 2510 days laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera15videocam 0comment 0 -
17Quiet day
Sep 2611 days laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera13videocam 0comment 0 -
18Final Supper
Sep 2712 days laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera20videocam 0comment 1 -
19Leaving day
Sep 2813 days laterHo Chi Minh, Vietnamphoto_camera5videocam 0comment 0 -
20Back Home
Sep 3015 days laterDaylesford, Australiaphoto_camera16videocam 0comment 2
2025-02-12