Saigon is a unique place – different from other cities in Southeast Asia and even different from anywhere else in Vietnam. As has been documented by almost every visitor to the city, the proliferation of motorbikes is unreal, far beyond anywhere in Thailand or China because automobiles are generally limited to use as taxis or shuttles.

Here are some more of my favorite quirky things in Saigon:

Electrical work: the photos below are similar to what you see in parts of Cambodia or Thailand, but again the sheer VOLUME you can find in Saigon is unlike anything in other places.

Typically, the repair work on these lines is done by an electrician who climbs the post then sits on the bundles of wire while he works on one of them.

“Don’t throw anything away.” As much as that may apply to food and a predilection for salvaging trash, the best example I have is this apartment building, built on top of an old A-frame brick house. They didn’t even plaster over it to LOOK like the rest of the building.

European architecture. While much of the city is filled with typically compact, narrow buildings you find elsewhere in Vietnam, there are some buildings that still show the French influences. Churches, the Reunification Palace and several of the historic hotels showcase European style.

This:

Oktoberfest: The last quirk to share (for this edition) is the revelation that one of the biggest parties of the year (other than Tet, the celebration of the new year) is Oktoberfest. Massive celebrations in some of the city’s hotels and German restaurants occur every year.

That’s enough for now. Do you have any favorite quirks or aspects you love about Saigon? Share them in the comments below.

One thing I particularly enjoyed – watching students carrying violin and cello cases instead of backpacks with books. I really should have gone to a concert of some sort, but I needed a break from activities any more complicated than sipping coffee on the Kartnerstrasse.

I loved the colored tiles on the rooftop of St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Michaelerplatz – under refurbishment, unfortunately (as were many places in the city).

The very beautiful Charles Church.

One of the best views of the city is from Victoria Peak. The tram is the best way to travel up and down. Unlike a funicular, this doesn’t keep your seat horizontal throughout the ride because the grade changes several times on the way up. It gets very, very steep in spots and you’ll be holding yourself up if you’re standing.

Once you’re at the peak, you’ll arrive at a fairly large and fairly new mall. There are great vantage points located on the terrace, including an observation deck. For a few dollars, you can also go to the top of the mall for the highest view. I didn’t bother with paying to go to the top – the views from the free deck were just fine.

Just before sunset, as the building lights begin to come up.

This one is during the nightly light show from Victoria Peak. From this perspective, you can see the lights flickering on and off, but you won’t see the laser show or get the impact of the music (more on that below).

A view of Hong Kong from the Kowloon shore, during the light show which happens at 8pm nightly. 33 of the office buildings participate in the show, which features music, flashing multi-colored lights and lasers. As a light show, it’s primarily impressive because of its expanse. The best vantage point for the show is the observation deck between Avenue of the Stars and the Star Ferry terminal.

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. I’ve never actually read the book (or seen the musical), but I’ve always felt a kinship with Quixote. There’s something about his combination of a little crazy and a little starved for attention that speaks to me.

Architecture in Madrid is wonderful. While it lacks the consistency of Paris, the varying styles mesh together nicely.

The Palace Hotel – the place where Mata Hari often stayed, along with other notables like Hemingway, Dali and Picasso. And Lamar Odom.

The Atocha train station. Another beautiful station. Inside this one is a complete garden and restaurant, as the newer section of the station is behind the old station pictured here.

Parque de Madrid. The park is huge – even on a bike, it took me nearly an hour to cover it all. Beautiful fountains, gates, flowers and activity areas throughout acres of park built in the 1800s.

Place de Espana.

I’m setting up a contest on the site called “Identify This Photo.” Because I need serious help with about 7,000 photos that are a total mystery to me. Seriously, I don’t even think I took most of them. My working theory is that they just came with the camera like that generic family in a new picture frame. You may not know them, but damn, they sure look pretty.

Do you know where this is? Me neither.

The stories behind the sights are always fascinating when they’re narrated by Sam Brown or Rick Steves, but when I’m actually traveling I never stop to investigate what things are. When you’re new to travel, the singular focus is to “check off the box” rather than actually experiencing why you’re there.

But, here’s the thing. The world has more to offer than just a lot of pretty pictures. I can appreciate looking at Gaudi architecture, but it’s far more interesting to also know the history of what he designed and why. What were his inspirations and influences? Is it true that La Sagrada Familia isn’t going to be finished until 2026? Can’t they import cheap labor and shitty working conditions from all those out of work people in Dubai? But I digress.

Whether it’s a piece of art, a local square, a festival, a statue or just a scenic vista while riding through the countryside, I snapped off shots first and figured I’d ask questions later. Unfortunately, I never ended up asking questions more meaningful than “Can I get another beer?”

Some building in Barcelona

Five steps to take for future trips:

1. Keep notes! My ego is so gigantic, I believe I’ll remember everything at the end of a trip. The irony is that I always seem to forget that I never remember stuff. Whether it’s paper and pencil or geotagged photos, keep track of what you’re seeing so you can remember it and share it.
2. Do some research. I know, studying seems like the most boring thing possible when you’re on the road. You want excitement, not READING. But the strength of the memories afterward yield some serious payback. Read the historical notes on monuments, look places up online, read local newspapers to find out exactly what those French people were protesting (believe me, you’ll see people protesting something if you visit France).
3. Talk to the people, ask them about their town, about what they do, appeal to their sense of local and personal pride to strike up conversation. It may be tough to understand that Italian man’s tale of his glory days on the town’s middle school football team, but it beats watching a Michael Bay movie in your room.
4. Join organized tours – this doesn’t mean you have to pay to hop on a bus with a bunch of Midwesterners wearing black socks and sandals. One of the most interesting parts of my bike trip through the Pyrennees was joining a free tour of a family owned cheesery. (is cheesery a word?) I didn’t pay enough attention at the time, but it was one of the most unique opportunities to learn about the people and the culture of the region.
5. Slow down – instead of running from room to room to see 4,000 works of art in the Louvre, stop at 20 pieces you really like and then learn everything you can about them. Contrary to popular belief, there is no prize at the end of the Louvre scavenger hunt.

Travel is thrilling and exciting, but after it’s over it should still be inspirational and enlightening. Quiz your family on which they would rather see: 20 slides and the stories behind them (with a sample of a regional recipe) or 1000 photos you took from your seat on the tour bus. There’s a reason travel shows don’t just put up random pictures for 30 minutes.

Click on any photo to see the rest of the gallery!

A model home in the "World" island cluster

The Burj al Arab

The Atlantis Hotel under construction

Perhaps not the most glamorous location, but let’s get started with a little pic I took in central Wisconsin.

I’ll start:
“Is that a chainsaw or are you just happy to see that bear?”
“Only YOU can prevent the five knuckle shuffle.”

More?