Writes of Passage

Shinagawa Prince Shinagawa
Main Tower, 39th Fl
4-10-30 Takanawa, Minato-ku,
Tokyo, 108-8611, Japan

… more pix on Google, Yelp, TA

On the 39th floor of the Shinagawa Prince Shinagawa, with Tokyo Tower glowing in the background, the server led us to a high table. On the way, I spotted a vacant table right by the window and asked if we could sit there instead.
“It’s reserved,” he said.
“Where’s the reservation sign?” I asked. He didn’t answer and settled us at the high table anyway.

As the night went on, the window table sat completely empty. Just for fun, I asked a different server if we could move over. Without hesitation, he smiled and agreed.

The next night, we decided to go back. I called ahead to reserve a table, only to be told they don’t take reservations—it’s first-come, first-served.

Oh, well.

Today, at our book club, re Erik Larson’s 2003 Devil in the White City, about World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago 1893 (and the series killer Holms). One of the clubbers shared her trip to Osaka’s 1970 World Fair when she and her husband stationed in Japan. A ticket for adult then was $2.23 / ¥800.   

As it happens, Osaka is running it again right now, 2025, from April 13 to October 13, and (the ticket sale has just reached the break-even point with the operating expenses) it’s ¥7,500 ($50.94).

It’s August. The annual ritual is about discussing nuclear weapons. The major media outlets always giving the floor to Japanese survivors, letting them speak about the horror they experienced.

This year is the 80th anniveraary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9) in 1945 forced Japan to surrender unconditionally, which would end World War II.  China was one of the primary beneficiaries. Who knows, we might speak Japanese nowadays, as the French speak German, if not for the A bomb. 

I’m all for peace. But it seems no major media outlet talks about why President Harry S. Truman authorized the bombs, and how many lives were saved, Chinese among them.

Đ. Trường Sơn, Phường 2, Tân Bình,
Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

… more pix on Google Maps

Tan Son Nhat International Airport / Korean Airline is the first airport that made me to check my carryon, that would set off a troublesome chain reaction in Saigon‘s SGN.

How did I leave Saigon, or about to leave.

1. It’s the first time ever that an airline made us to check in our carryons: over weight by 2kg. One of it has a charger, which will cause problem soon.
2. Customs. The agent asked for my eVisa, on exit the country. I always throw away unnecessary items, including used papers. As something unusual this time, I’ve both eVisas inside my passport. Before handing him my passport, I took the two folded papers out. Only when he asked me, I thought to myself, good heaven that we kept them, this time. So I handed him both. He looked at them and returned the first one to me. … SO I’d think if I threw away my eVisa, the likelihood is, pay more to exit.
3. After clearing the customs, I walked pass the booth, toward the security check. A woman was directing traffic, right after the customs. Some go left and some go right. She mentioned me to go right. But I waited for my spoons to clear the customs. When she saw me standing there, she barked in language I don’t understand. But after I pointed to my spouse, she was ok with it.
   Then my spouse ISN’T ok.
4. The same agent demanded his eVisa and of course he doesn’t have it. So he was pulled. Of course he was sweating … after nearly ten minutes, little Irene suddenly thought, oh, maybe he needed his eVisa and that piece of paper the agent returned to me, was his eVisa or exit visa – thinking Casablanca.
   For that short period of time, I did feel unease. We could see each other, separated by the bank of customs booths. I was inside and he was out…
5. We finally reunited, to go through the security check. He was cleared. And me, NOT. The problem? My checked in luggage has a problem, and they chase me down or find me.
6. Someone led me out of the security check point. Being told where to stand or what to do with sign language (or I call it) isn’t too fun. Seeing the green uniform, I told myself, this is no joke. So, when a stocky agent in the green uniform, used his finger to make a circle motion, and I went it. Soon a Korean Air agent came to collect me. The stocky asked for my passport – nice of him, so I don’t have to clear it again.
   KA girl: you’ve battery in your suitcase.
   Me: “no, I don’t.” Thinking all electronics, which is my iPhone is WITH me.
   She said a bit more, I chose not to answer. Then she led me to a tiny shallow room: it isn’t a body check place or torture chamber -:). I took a pix of it. A man jumped out and barked something, I’m sure it’s NO PHOTO. I put up my two arms as surrender. He said no more, and took no action. I kept the photo. I went into the tiny room. A worker pulled up my carryon, (wondering how did they know so precisely …). “Battery” or I think he said battery. Without saying a word, I pulled out the charger …
7. It’s all easy peacy for the security check. Although they did make me to take off my shoes, scarf …
   Reunited with my spoons again.
   …

By now, I’m pretty spent, have no desire to go to a lounge. I just wanted to wait by the gate and leave. As I was waiting, I remembered the hotel or our tour manager insisted to pack me a breakfast bag. AND when I looked into the bag, I see a bottle of water! This is the only airport that let me to bring a bottle of water, unknowingly, because the hotel packed the bag.

Oh well. It’s 6:51am, the morning has just began.

Củ Chi District
Hồ Chí Minh/Saigon, Vietnam

… more pix and video on Google Maps & TA

The tunnels at Củ Chi (Địa đạo Củ Chi) are a complex underground network. It was used by the Viet Cong. One of their operations was the Tết Offensive in 1968.

It had everything, from kitchens to bedrooms to hospitals. It also had happy rooms where 6,000+ babies were made and born.

We left hotel at 8am, spent two plus hours on site. The traffic is heavy both ways, two plus hours to and from the site, getting back to the hotel at 2:30pm. We could have returned a little early but some mates enjoyed the shooting of AK47, we all waited.

The site is shaded, part of the paths are slightly uneven.

The first exhibit is a bobbie trap: 11% of Americans, about 7,000 were killed by the bobbie traps during the war.

A park range demonstrates how to get into a tunnel. (Our tour manager took out his wallet and tipped him, and urged us to do so too. Our groups are mostly Americans and a few Canadians. I wonder if he would do so with a European or Chinese group?)

A tunnel rat – me following it, getting into the tunnel …

… more tunnels

By the shooting range (yes, it’s AK47), there is a rice paper making hut.

… the day trip

战壕入口
下面的地道错综复杂
几十年战争的生存空间
有医院 有厨房… 还有happy room where 6k babies were born 开心洞 六千娃出生

Ok more tunnel
… down the rabbit hole [偷笑]

他们那时只有早上做饭 供一天用 冒烟的地方经常换树叶 免被发现
现在是他们的冬天 下去几分钟已经热的不行 …

45 Mạc Thị Bưởi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh / Saigon 700000, Vietnam

… more pix & vid on Google Maps & TA

Will return.

Clean. Efficient. Polite and gentle young staff. And they take credit cards / contactless. I went in for my French but ended up getting a 30 minutes foot massage as well. The young lady who did my nail, painted the tips differently. They provide a small bottle of water.

185 Đ. Cách Mạng Tháng 8, Phường 6, Quận 3,
Hồ Chí Minh / Saigon, Vietnam

… more pix & vid on Google Maps & TA

The Venerable Thich Quảng Đức Monument

A small square to honor the monk who burned himself: Thích Quảng Đức (chữ Hán: 釋廣德 (1897 – 11 June 1963). He was protesting Diem’s persecution of Buddhists – Ngô Đình Diệm was a Roman Catholic.

Bến Nghé, District 1,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

… more pix on Google Maps

Can’t miss Watsons -:)

This one is at the ground level at Bitexco Financial Tower. It’s the 2nd tallest building in Saigon, we can see it, and an easy walk from our hotel.

The Tower has a simple lobby. The lower floors have a shoe bazaar, a famous hotpot from China – 海底捞 Haidilao that offers free nail polish service.

Watsons: it sells a lot of more products. Not sure because it’s in Vietnam.

43 Hai Bà Trưng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh/Saigon 700000, Vietnam

… more pix videos on Google Maps & TA (1st)

Pricy cigars: an upscale cigar shop in the upscale location.

There is a small table with two chairs near the entrance, obviously for decor – this is not a bar.

02 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam

… more pix n videos on Google Maps & TA

A beautiful building in Saigon but too many tourists, and way too many social medial personalities, like everywhere in SE Asia.
“Why so many girls or young couples dressing up?”
“…they’ll post it on Facebook and social media…”

Across the street, is their Notre Dame but is under renovation, as well.

Next to it (northwest) is the lovely Book Street, and the yellow building locates at 22 Gia Long Street, that is southeast of the post office, was where the last American helicopter left.

… The Book Street next to the Post Office is nice to visit.

36/7B Huỳnh Tấn Phát, Tân Thuận Tây, Quận 7,
Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam

… more pix on Google Maps & TA

Chee Hsin QX #113b/163b?

We stop at the Chua Ba thien hau after the wild ride in Saigon.

It’s a Chinese-style temple, deified Chinese Goddess of Sea (Mazu 妈祖) Lin Mooning (林默娘) on the busy Nguyễn Trãi Street in the Cholon (“Chinatown”), in District 5 (or 7?). It was built in 1760 by a group of Cantonese.

Again, many young girls or couples are dressed up for photos.