Saigon, Anyone?

Anyone reading this ever been to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh,Vietnam?)

I am scheduled for a business trip from May 10-15 and I am thinking of staying an extra 1-2 days so I can see the place.

I would really really appreciate recommendations :-) plus cheap hotel accommodations (company only shoulders May 10 up to evening of May 14, and I don't want to stay there because they usually pick expensive hotels..)

Cu Chi Tunnel Adventure Tour or Mekong River Adventure Tour or just a City Tour? But I heard Saigon is just like Manila.

http://www.viator.com/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/d352-ttd

I'm thinking of doing an adventure tour the whole of Friday and go see the city on Saturday morning. But flights on Saturdays are so early - so I'm having second thoughts... I don't think I want to stay up to Sunday especially if I am alone :P I hate crossing streets and I heard Saigon's streets are worse than Manila streets!

Help ?

Shop at the Alfa !

It's something new :-) I hope I can keep this moving ! Selling stuff I love that I hope you'll love too! Please add alfacompany as a contact in Multiply. Thanks so much.

Our goal is to sell Hanna (kikay) stuff or Sam (guy) stuff. So far it's all kikay. But the camo laptop bag is reallly nice. :-)

Academy Awards

With all the work lined up for me today, I totally forgot about the Academy Awards.

I am a big fan (together with the whole family) and we used to have a VHS collection of most of the Best Motion Pictures. They all sank (literally) and pardon the pun, right after we bought "Titanic" when a monster flood destroyed the bottom part of our house. :-(

A friend and I back in college used to always dream about attending the Oscars together. Or even just catch a glimpse of the red carpet on the day itself. He's probably on the right track (being a media/ movie professional) , and I am way off! Hehe.

At least I've seen the Kodak Theater :-)

As for this year's Awards (thanks to the Internet postings) , I'm just happy that Heath Ledger won. And I'm looking forward to seeing Slumdog Millionnaire, which really dominated the awards.

Reviving this Blog

This blog, www.bananaspinworld.blogspot.com - was primarily created for my UWP adventure in 2007. I know that the Multiply address of this one is kept updated since that one's also linked to my "normal" blog, www.bananaspin.blogspot.com

But I'd now like to revive this blog as something that's related to Travel. I am yet to determine how I'll define the boundaries from my regular blog to this one, but we'll find out sooner or later.

I love going places. My parents made it a family goal to visit at least one new place each year.. we still try to up to now. So, the love for travel is really in my blood! I've had a passport since I was 3.

I am so fortunate because of all the travel opportunities that were made available to me throughout my 27 years.I've also been lucky to have had jobs which require me to travel, therefore allowing me to cover more ground with less budget implications!

So... welcome to my travel blog! Reminiscing OLD adventures and seeking new ones!

To save 65 Pesos a Day

... was a pact that I made with my friend Ana and Melan last Tuesday.

This was made so we can afford to go on a Mt Pinatubo trek in March! I am so excited :-) We need around 1,900 for:

* Roundtrip Van Transfer (Manila-Tarlac-Manila) inclusive of toll fee and gas
* 4 x 4 wheel drive to Mt Pinatubo
* Service of a local tour guide
* conservation fee
* lunch and drinking water (500mL)
* souvenir

(Ana, ang nakita ko, P1,950 daw sha!)

Let the "saving" begin! I am posting this here as motivation - as a way to pressure me to stick with this goal.