17th October

We leave Tay Ninh this morning after a great breakfast. The breakfast room was the busiest it's been since we got here. After breakfast we went for our last walk along the streets of Tay Ninh, back to the motel to check out and wait for our car to arrive to take us back to Ho Chi Ming city. On the way back we plan to stop and see the Cao Dai Holy See Temple.
We check this with Dat, our driver, and we are on our way. This was the last thing we wanted to see before we left the area. We had planned to go there yesterday, but mother nature intervened. Maybe it was for good reason. When we arrived, the whole place is just absolutely wonderful. And to add to the magic, we saw some monkeys run across the road. Dat, the driver stayed with the car, although he said he had not been here before. We walk around in awe of it all. I am totally amazed. The building is bright, and yet so reverent. There are people milling around, but not that many, but as always lots of scooters. There are separate entrances for men and women, so Bob  goes to his side, and I just walk about looking. I fear doing something that might offend the monks and the women of the temple. I take a couple of pics, and Bob  calls me over to go inside.

So I go to the ladies entrance, and am to fearful I may do something wrong. I don't want to disrespect anyone. I take my shoes off, as is the custom, and I am ushered in by one of the ladies, still uncertain. There was a group of younger women going in at the same time. I reunite with Bob, and I begin to struggle with where I am, and how over powering it is. Looking around at the intricate carvings and brightly coloured figures is beyond me. A monk encourages us to walk all the way around. I want to drink in this whole event. I dare not take photos, as I feel it would be intruding on the sacredness of the temple.  So I absorb what I can. I feel a flood of tears welling up inside, as I think of mum. Tears spill out, and I do try to control myself. It was a very emotional moment. The blind faith that these people have in something that can or can't be disproved, and to build such elaborate temples is over powering. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined experiencing this. I have so much to be thankful for, and to give thanks about. It takes me sometime to recover emotionally from the experience. Bob tells me afterwards, that there was a funeral about to take place. Imagine waiting to start while visitors look around. Very humbling.
We continue on our way to Ho Chi Ming city. Watching the landscape change back to cramped and busy again. It is very different watching the scenery changing. The shops vary, with bike repairers and trye places, and all manner of things, the out there in the mix, is a bridal dress shop, or a beauty place, and as always food vendors. There are lots of empty buildings,  and some appear to be abandoned.
And some 2 hrs later we arrive back at the GK  Central hotel. Check in, regather ourselves and brave the markets. Our aim is to get another suitcase for me, as the handle on the one I have won't extend out. We look about, and hunt one down, now the haggling begins. We don't get the price we want, so we go away. Further into the murkyiness of the markets. Bob and i get snaged at a stall selling shirts, and as always, they say, " we have your size Sir, " to which we reply and say no, I don't think  you would. So Bob sets about to prove them wrong. But they are correct, and he is sized up. Then one lady starts on me, and I say, no, you wouldn't have anything for my size. Hmmmm, how wrong I was. So I walk away with 5 tops. But at a good price. We then high tail it back to the room as the heat is stifling. An hour or so later, we head back to the markets. Bob is on a mission. The night markets start at 7 we are told.
Now this is something to behold, on the streets, there are scooters pulling all manner of stall equipment, but nothing is being put together,  so, we decide to sit and watch what is about to happen unfold.
Well, seeing is believing. At about 15 mins to 7, organised chaos erupts and everyone is busy assembling gazebos, putting goods up for display, plugging in electricity, and ready to sell in 15 mins. AMAZING. We duck and weave our way though the night market, and eventually decide on a suitcase. So we have seen it, haggled for it, and now fleeing from the markets. A wonderful day, starting from a slow paced day, to a frenzied evening. And all along the way, lots to be happy about.