So Fresh, Pretty Clean.

The first whiff of hot Saigon air makes you wanna drop what you wear, get off your comfy chair and also reminds you how you're never prepared. This is the city as dense and diverse as any metropolis in existence. The history as old and complicated, the culture as bold and traditional, the development as fast and uneven, the climate as unabashed and visceral.

The streets of Sai Gon remain familiar where my eyes and skins meet, with added construction and murderous heat; I do say this in almost every city the record shows, but my memory fades with the sun so merciless. Dry season I suppose, but I digress. Despite all the sweat drops off my nose, for this city there's more love than hate that I want to express.

The first whiff of hot Saigon air makes you wanna drop what you wear and get off your comfy chair, but also reminds you how you're never prepared. This is the city as dense and diverse as any metropolis in existence. The history as old and complicated, the culture as bold and traditional, the development as fast and uneven, the climate as unabashed and visceral. The streets of Sai Gon remain familiar where my eyes and skins meet, with added construction and murderous heat. Despite all the sweat drops off my nose, for this city there's more love than hate that I want to express.

And I have to give credit where it's due; I owe all of my experience here to basically one man, and his name is Applesauce. One of the most distinctive musical voices I had a privilege to work with, and a standup human being. Without him in this town, I'd be at a complete loss. Literally. He introduced me to places, food, language and some beautiful folks, inside and out, as he is - such a boss. Look out for his upcoming album, and it'll look like this coming to you.

After all is said and done about gorgeous sights and people you meet, there is no denying this one; I basically come here to eat. I admit my lack of knowledge regarding all things Vietnam, but I can say wholeheartedly that Vietnamese food is my favorite. Equal to my native cuisine. Its texture dressed with heat, the bold strokes of sweet, the complex mixture of raw and neat - All provokes the thought that with this, life is complete. And that, they know. The number of eateries in this place so overwhelming, with many of them simply an extension of their dwellings. Seems that every household is sharing their family recipe for a small fee, and their set up often out in the open for all passers-by to see. Literally, every meal was a delight; on the little street I stayed, every food stall offered something that I didn't know but felt right. So I stopped googling and was not afraid.

(​I do not claim to be a specialist, just a fan. Please leave a comment below to correct any info on the caption when found.)