HO CHI MINH ESCAPADE- DAY 1 (BEN THANH MARKET)

After an enjoyable lunch, we find our way to Ben Thanh Market which is about 10-15 mins walk from our hotel. But it took us an hour to reach this place after so much hassles of going through terrible traffic jam, looking at the map and asking direction from the local who can't communicate in English. Luckily, along our way, we hopped into a travel agency and managed to get them to show us the location.

For your info, majority of the locals ride motorbikes and also cars on the road. We were terrified with these vehicles which comes from all directions eventhough when the traffic light is red. Most of the time (day & night) , we got caught in the middle of the road surrounded by motorbikes/cars and noisy horns which is very dangerous but rest assure the driver knows when to stop and let you walk passed.

The biggest & popular market in Ho Chi Minh, District 1

We were stunned and speechless upon entering the market. It was so huge and there were lots of traders selling handicrafts, souveniers, textiles, local cuisines and etc.

Assorted designs of Vietnamese Traditional Clothing /'Au Tho Than' for female


colorful paintings and t-shirts

textiles/fabrics


fashionable shoes

assorted snacks

pickled fish jelly, soft crabs, salted vegetables and etc

variety of dried tea leaves & coffee

different grade of rice & beans

female accessories

food stalls

There were too many stalls selling the same item in the market which we did not visit all. Feeling tired, we quenched our thirst with a glass of ice cendol, 1 whole coconut water and sourplum juice which was indeed refreshing.

drinks & dessert stall




My glass of Ice Cendol (VND30,000)

Irresistible!

fresh coconut milk, red beans, cream corn, cendol, jelly and etc

HO CHI MINH ESCAPADE - DAY 1 (HOTEL & LUNCH)

It was an ad-hoc decision made by the three of us to backpack and have a vacation in Ho Chi Minh City also known as Saigon in Vietnam. Armed with information and recommendations (from a friend's colleague who had travelled to that country early this year) such as cheap air fares, budget hotel and tour packages, we quickly booked AirAsia tickets for RM676 per person and hotel at USD23 per room per day. For this trip, each of us allocated a budget of RM1200-RM1300 per person only (including spending money) and true enough, we spent within this limit.

We left LCCT via the morning flight and touched down at Tan Son Nhat/Ho Chi Minh International Airport after 2 hours of flight. The airport was not crowded and thus we managed to go through the Immigration Counter without any beeline.

Our taxi driver (pre-booked from the hotel) had waited for us at the departure lounge holding a sign board bearing my friend's name. After loaded our luggages into the car, he drove us to the hotel where we will be staying for four nights.

Phan Lan Hotel located @ Pham Ngu Lao Street

Double bed + 1 single bed @ USD23 per nite

(air conditioned + ceiling fan and window view)

Clean toilet with hot shower
tv, mini fridge and wifi
After settled down, we started our itinerary by searching for good authentic Vietnamese food and exploring nearby attractions.

We spotted this small shop and decided to have our lunch here.

Condiments i.e slices of lime, pickled onion, chili flakes & sausages wrapped in banana leaf

Our order (fm l to r)plain beef noodles, spicy seafood noodles, a plate of mixed roasted meat, sausage + savoury cakes) & a portion of mixed greens

Do note that whenever you order beef noodles, you will be served with a plate of mixed greens containing basil leaves, shredded lemon grass & herbs/ulam which I enjoyed it so much.

Total bill came to VND96,000...indeed cheap

BANDUNG - PLACES OF INTEREST

Sight Seeing

On the Street!

Hope you find some of these places interesting....

BANDUNG - HOTEL

Outside the airport!

Cassadua Hotel!

... next up on places of interest

BANDUNG - FOOD

Have you been to Bandung, Indonesia?

If you have not but plan to visit this country for a business trip or vacation with your loved ones, here are few photoshots taken to give you a preview on the

hotel, places of interest and food in Bandung.

There is not much descriptions cos' pictures tell a thousand of words!!!

....next up on hotel

LAPIS LEGIT

LAPIS LEGIT ZULAIKHA

Add:Jl Mojopahit No.62, Medan Indonesia

LAPIT LEGIT ORIGINAL
Add: Suan's Bakery- Suan's Plaza, Jl Tarama 9B Medan,Indonesia

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Few weeks ago, my boss who came back from Medan, Indonesia gave us two boxes of lapis legit i.e.normal/butter and pandan flavor. Feeling so excited and hungry at the same time (we didn't have our breakfast), my colleague cut the cakes and within a second, the whole plate of cakes was 'missing in action'.... gone into the mouth of 10 'hungry ghost'.....

I prefer the pandan flavor cos' the texture is firm and less sweeter as compared to the normal one which is moisted but sweeter and expensive.

Lapis Legit is a spice-flavored multilayered cake which is very famous in Indonesia. It takes a lot patience to bake this cake. Each thin layer is made by pouring a small amount of the batter, baked one layer after another in the oven until golden with heat from the top. Milling and mixing the spice before baking produces a cake with an excellent aroma.

**Ingredients **
Wheat Flour, Cane Sugar, Eggs, Margarine, Pandan Flavors, Salt, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardamon, Mace, Tartrazine CI 19140, Potassium Sorbate