Day Fourteen,

going shopping,

so a quick breakfast,

and we are out,

we are going to two markets today,

one a local market,

the other although selling foods,

is more aimed at the International market,

this bike aimed at us, the pavement is a an extension of the road as far as motorcyclists are concerned,

looking at the map, we sort of knew where it was,

anyway it was a bit of an adventure, as was crossing the road,

we made our way past the Bitexco Financial Tower,

and past a few shops,

and then found the start of the market,

again I was surprised at the number of flowers for sale here,

the market is in just one street, perhaps 200 meters long,

as with other markets here,

there is no refrigeration or ice to keep produce fresh,

plenty of produce to choose from,

behind the market these buildings looked so French with their balcony's,

more butchers,

and seafood,

lots of it,

still room for a few more bags and boxes,

a few more buildings behind the market,

after walking the course of the market we stopped here for a coffee,

deciding to sit outside,

our coffees arrived,

rather neat they were too, a single measure of coffee drips down onto a layer of condensed milk, mix and pour into ice, delicious,

we had walked for some time and were getting a bit hot, so we called in here for a coffee,

a cold one this time,

we were told the second market we were looking for was up that street, 

so off we went, past some food being dried by the sun,

it should be at the end of this street,

and it was,

the next problem was getting to it,

between us and the other side of the road there are 4 dual carriageways,

so here goes,

nearly there,

one more to go,

made it,

as we walked in,

we were greeted by clothes stalls,

and then food stores,

lots of them,

I was intrigued by the coffee peculators we saw this morning so I bought some, US$1 each,

so many stalls selling souvenirs,

so we bought some of those as well,

the aisles were crowded and seemed never ending,

as was the selection of goods on offer,

a few more to take home,

jewellery,

shirts,

dresses,

back to shirts,

materials, 

and back to dresses again,

did I mention shirts?

on to more fancy good stalls,

past the artificial flowers,

and into the main part of the hall again,

taking a different route,

we passed through the household goods section,

through the food court,

and into another souvenir section,

this shop had my vote, as Diana shopped I was kept cool by this young lady and her fan,

smile for the camera,

we criss crossed our way back past the food,

and more souvenir stalls,

and out,

shopping over,

all we had to do was find our way back to the hotel, it was at this point that Diana said I looked like a tourist, me, a tourist? no way!

we walked,

to the restaurant we had the peculated coffee at this morning, but this time a for a beer,

whilst cooling off I took a few pictures of passers by,

on foot,

or on bicycles,

like these two,

cooled off and beer over,

we were on our way,

I was following Pathfinder General, what was it they said in the army, what is the worst combination of 2 things? an officer and a map!

but keeping low, 

we were getting near,

not much further now,

this looks familiar,

as do these, by now we were hungry,

so where else?

Burger King and Popeyes,

Burger King for Diana,

Popeyes for myself,

sans hat,

 after a shower and change we were out,

a quick one on the mezzanine,

 and we were off,

 it seemed strange,

 walking past shops in the heat of Saigon,

 with Christmas displays,

 but there it is,

 and here was the opera house,

 the show we are about to see is about rural life in a Vietnamese village, The Mist,

 the show was titled, and performed by A O Show,

 we had good seats near the front,

 the theatre was soon filling up,

 on both sides of the stage musicians were in place,

behind each seat there were some clappers,

there was obviously going to be some audience participation! on one side the message burnt into the bamboo,

 on the other side the name of the show,

 looking behind nearly ready,

 then the show began, pictures were not allowed,

after the show there was a free hand out,

that I scanned these from, 

and this one from the website, the show was so good, in fairness there were a few parts that we were slow and we did not quite understand, but what a nice night at the opera,

 the actors and myself,

 we walked down the steps into the square,

 and looked back,

 the sign in the arch way says?

  Saigon Opera House,

 one of the posters outside,

 by now we were hungry,

 we made our way past a few restaurants and bars,

until we came to this one, 

 the Hog's Breath Cafe,

 where we ordered steaks for both of us,

 a small one for Diana,

and a large one for me,

 and for dessert,

a banana split,

 which we shared,

 meal over we enjoyed the live music, the singer coming over to say hello to us,

 the group was actually outside,

 by now it was late and we were the only customers inside,

we made our way,

past both buildings putting on a light show,

and arrived back at the mezzanine,

for a nightcap,

also to give the Pathfinder General time to study tomorrows route, with that we were off to bed.