Day 39 Fiasco

12/04/13
Yet another early start at 06.00, a habit I really don't want to get into. I packed the few things I had left out last night, ate the last banana and walked 5 minutes to the main road, where I hoped to pick up a taxi to take me to the port. The first 3 people I asked didn't have a clue where/what the port was, they kept saying the airport and didn't understand the word ferry. Eventually I found I motorbike who would take me, so I pointed on the map where we had gone for diving, it took me nearly half an hour to realise that we were going to the wrong port, I dug out my map, realised my mistake and asked my driver to turn round. It wasn't a short way and I would have only a couple of minutes to get on the boat if we made it in time. The guy performed majestically, driving like his life depended on it, a couple of times I thought my life depended on it too! We made it, with 10 minutes to spare. I ended up sitting next to the manager of the restaurant I ate at last night, a nice chap who helped me buy a bus ticket to Ho Chi Minh (HCM) when we docked. Just after we had bought it a man with a placard, with my name on it, came up, asked who I was and the proceeded to say he was there to help me buy a ticket. I then had to go sell my first ticket and buy one of another company. The I hopped on a minibus transfer to the bus station and climbed aboard my bus. We stopped just once where I bought a pack of fake oreos, hardly enough to stave off hunger. We got to the HCM bus depot just after 5, it was piddling it down so every ran under shelter. Another free minibus transfer took me closer to the city centre, but it was still far too far away from the main tourist area for me to walk. Yet again I had to hire a motorbike rider to take me there, it was easily the scariest ride I have ever been through, the roads were the busiest I have been on, the driver was a little bit crazy, I was clinging onto the back with 2 rucksacks on and the road was slick with rain, the whole 10 minutes I thought we would wipeout on any corner, it was a relief to get off. I dropped my bag off with the bus company who would take me to Cambodia ths eening and went to get some food as I was starving, no prizes for guessing it was more street food. I then hit up a internet coffee shop where I have been for 2 and a half hours, having bought only one drink. I am getting hungry again and I saw 60p kebabs down the road that look appealing. But I am sure I will be back as I have another 2 and a bit hours to kill before my bus leaves at 23.30.