Better in hindsight?

Thanks for the short trip report. I'm somewhat confused when you say:
"But, now, I look back, and hey....that was fun after all!!!" I don't understand
why, "Ho Chi Minh City, which might rate as one of the most unpleasant places
I have visited, together with 50 choral members, led by one of the least organized
individuals I have met. As an example, several times, by the time we all gathered
for our evening meal, after being left behind by the bus and taking a taxi through
hordes of scooters, we would have perhaps 15 minutes to gulp down our meal,
and still ended up late for practises. Then, I would be dropped off by a surly driver
on dark roads, and have to make my way back to where I was staying.", would
seem like fun now. Do you think you might be experiencing a delayed onset of
something like the Stockholm Syndrome?

Hmmm, maybe I wasn't clear. It really wasn't to be a trip report. Just a reflection that sometimes when I am on the road, I am not enjoying myself as much as I had hoped. I used an example (venting, I suppose) of why I found this particular trip so frustrating.

However, later, when I look at my pictures, or when various anecdotes come up in discussion of a trip, I realize that I really did have a good time.

Depends if you are the half glass or half glass empty sort of person.......that will be 30 dollars consultant fee thanks.

Bexperiences become our favorite stories.

I think it was Mark Twain who said, "An adventure is something that , while its happening, you wish it wasn't."

LOL gawk.... that certainly says it well! Looking back at some of my more stressful travel experiences, they have provided me with some of the best travel tales...especially when I manage to emerge relatively unscathed!! ;-)

Amen to that, canayjun.

I've just been telling someone on another branch about a taxi ride over some Greek mountains where corners were being taken at 160km per hour (the road signs said 40 or 60) - we simply had to make that train connection ...

#4: I love gawkabout's Mark Twain quote. That suits me perfectly.

I very much enjoyed Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - the people, the varying cultures, the architecture - definitely the food - all was terrific.

# 7, how long were you in HCMC? 3 weeks living in District 7, and having to make my way around just didn't cut it for me, especially when I had just come from up north. But, glad you had a good time. Possibly enough time will allow me to enjoy it too. That being the point of this thread. (smiles)

We chose to stay in District 1 - stayed off and on for 2.5 weeks. I have heard it referred to as the centre of HCMC. I understand that District 7 is a much newer zone. Making my way around to all districts was enjoyable – often challenging – and always interesting. We travelled about a great deal, either on foot or by hiring a cyclo. Visited the different Districts - accessing District 2 took the most daring. I really enjoyed the reality in that of any building in District 1 – no matter how high or small – being without greenery – was an impossible thought. And the parks were always well attended. Enjoyed the classical buildings and the varying markets. A continuously welcoming people.

I loved the north – a totally different ball game. I look forward to returning.