Today started with the question of what to have for breakfast ?
The answer was Yum Cha.
I saw Peking duck on the menu for 360,000d / A$16 so I had to have some.
What I didn’t know was that price was for a whole duck i.e enough for an entire family.
The pork spare ribs were delicious but too much bone and not enough meat.
From here we go to An Dong markets to have a look at some jewellery and fake stuff.
The An Dong market is the original marketplace which consists of 4 levels.
It’s mad ghetto !
With nothing to buy & over zealous shopkeepers, we move onto An Dong 2 which is the newer air-conditioned marketplace above An Dong 1.
This complex is only marginally better with again not much to buy.
On our last visit in 2006, this place was full of stalls selling fake/replica goods but since all the major fashion houses/brands now have legit stores in the city,
there must have been a crackdown on counterfeit goods by the Government/Police.
We stumbled across a stall selling watches which looked to have better stock than the others.
The quality of some watches were terrible which asks the question of which dumbass is stoopid enough to buy them ?
At this particular shop, she had two grades of high quality replicas.
1st grade @ 1,800,000d / A$85
2nd grade @ 850,000d / A$39
The difference is pretty noticeable between the two in regards to the finish quality and weight.
Before buying, she sent us down to the other end of the market to inspect quality of a rival vendor.
Sure enough her point was made and we returned to buy these:
(left) 2nd grade
(middle) Replica Mont Blanc pen 220,000d / A$11
(right) 1st grade
Yet again we retreat “home” to rest and shower before heading to a Vietnamese Taoist temple.
Upon entry we were offered to buy a turtle.
The story behind this is to buy a turtle and set it free in the pond.
As you might be thinking right now – what a scam, the turtles are probably caught and sold many times daily to be released over and over.
The selling point of the particular turtle offered to us was that it was pregnant, so MEH what the hell we bought it.
I was a chicken shit who didn’t want to get bitten so i told Cat to carry it.
Unfortunately it’s not wise to take photos when inside the temple so i’ll try to describe it.
Step into the darkness and it feels like you’ve just stepped into a portal to ancient times.
The mystical, intricate, towering statues of the various Buddhas and Gods are freaky and demand respect.
Not being accustomed to this sort of temple i needed to be a bit reserved in my thoughts and actions.
I tread carefully in the dark, guided only by the sight and smell of burning incense.
Tape recordings of chanting prayers play on repeat loud enough to send chills down my spine.
Then the neon lights turn on and it’s not so bad… phew.
Back in the city now and it’s time for ice cream and shopping.
In the centre of the city, we window shop at the high end brand stores.
This city is a haven for those who can afford it with brands like Chanel, Dior, Burberry, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Milano, Dolce & Gabbana, Chloe and etc.
Needing to spend money, we entered an affordable store – Polo Ralph Lauren – and bought a new wallet.
Around this end of town, the hotels are full of baller cars.
While posing for this photo it felt like i had a mullet just like a lebbo back home, but a mullet of sweat not hair.
Before entering the LV store i made sure to wipe the sweat and stuff off my face and neck to feel somewhat respectable.
The range is the same as ours back home + a little more.
Enquiries were made about certain things and we calculate that it’s cheaper to buy here than back home.
With Cat in a state of awe – I approve of a purchase.
Sensibility kicks in and she declines.
How does that 50cent song go ? Sounds like I don’t need a pre-nup don’t it ?
StIll full from our cheap and cheerful late lunch, we skip dinner and fall asleep.
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