Christmas Eve HCMC
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 24 Dec 2017 23:57
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Christmas Eve
HCMC  Tired after our long hours of
journeying yesterday, spent the day watching favourite films (me blogging as
well), Bear had had the bright idea of bringing our media player now plugged
into the back of the TV. We also booked a couple of sightseeing tours and nipped
across to the corner shop. I had a fancy to eat at an Argentinian restaurant and
the time we were given was nine o’clock. Strolling past the wonderful smelling
Spice Bistro just down the road from our digs at half
past eight.
 At the corner a
sea of motorbikes. The trick to crossing the road is to walk
unflinchingly as the riders plan for your movement and avoid you, they has
incredible spatial acuity and judgement. I find it reassuring to say
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO as I go. Slightly alarming, until you get used to it is when you
cross a minor crossing on a green man and cars as well as bikes nip around,
completely ignoring the lights. It’s a local thing apparently only bested in
Hanoi. Look forward to that city
then......... Meanwhile, I have renamed
this as Ho Chi Crazy City...........
   At the corner we look up at Times Square, walk down a road crammed with eateries amazed
at how many Christmas decorations there
are.
 We bimble smoothly
past this particular establishment...........
  We arrive at El
Gaucho and the very sexy manager greets us. He hands us over to the
seating chap and we follow him to the third floor.
  Earlier Bear had shown me the online
menu and I had arrived fancying the lamb shank. Not on the printed menu our
lovely waitress went to ask, also having taken note that I cannot eat herbs, big
grin on her return. We enjoyed a cocktail while we waited, Bear a Singapore
Sling, me Sex on the Beach. Bear joined me and our heavenly
smelling food arrived, we both ordered sautéed mushrooms and Bear had a
portion of creamy spinach with a cheese topping – delicious.
   As it’s Christmas we sipped our way
through a bottle of Roubine (my first wine in a very
long time), a fresh, crisp slightly tart rose. We were real baddies, Bear had
vanilla ice cream with hot berry compote and I had
ice cream with a shot of espresso coffee. All the
waitresses giggled when I did an impression of a sumo wrestler, they were all
about four feet six, wearing size one shoes to my sevens. They taught us to say
“hello”, “bye bye”, “Merry Christmas”, “Thank you” and “delicious”. We’ll be
fluent by morning.................Oh, this is a really hard language, the
written word sounds nothing like, I had to write my own phonics beside the neat
hand of the ladies. Our parting gift was homemade iced vodka and caramel, had to
sample a few of those..........
  We left full, happy and knowing there
was another El Gaucho in Hanoi, may have to repeat this experience. Opposite,
the stunning Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel. What a
stunning, clean-lined building.
 Bear like the lights on the building to the right.
  Hampers in
a window, with lots of old favourites.
   Santa Claus,
Mouton Cadet and a Mediterranean Bistro all so
Western.
 Loved this guard
outside a posh off licence, hot to his duty.......
  Next door
and our digs, trigger finger at the
ready.
 Well.............It
Is Christmas...............
ALL IN ALL A SURPRISINGLY
GOOD NIGHT WITH GREAT FOOD
WONDERFUL |