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We had no idea what to expect from our boat trip down the Mekong to the floating markets, though we fervently hoped we wouldn't be on one of the huge boats we'd seen with 'Mekong Tourist' emblazoned down the side (such snobs). Thankfully it was just the Pie and I boarding a small wooden boat with a local woman and her small son. We set off at 5.30am while it was still dark, and the fact I was so sleepy was more than outweighed by the fact it was so lovely and cool. Early morning on the Mekong was busy - other boats going past (including a huge tourist one! how smug we felt...), people sat in dimly lit sheds drinking coffee and men exercising by the riverside.
The floating market was fascinating. Boats piled high with produce, one stuffed so full with pineapples they were even pressed up against the windows inside! Most boats displayed their wares hanging from their masts. It was funny to see tomatoes on a string swinging around as the boat bobbed.
Wikipedia describes the Mekong Delta as a 'biological treasure trove' as 10,000 new species have been discovered in previously unexplored parts of it. The river was mainly just brown to us, though we saw mud skippers on the banks, and some of the narrow tributaries were stunning with overhanging jack fruit trees, papaya, coconut, rose apple and water lilies.
The highlight of the journey for me was the 6 year old boy, 'Bai', who we soon realised was our non speaking guide. Whilst another tour boat next to us was shown traditional rice paper making on the riverside, Bai led us straight to the pig pen to see the pigs instead. I wasn't complaining! The only real downside to having a 6 yr old guide was that he insisted on tapping us on the shoulders from his seat behind us so we'd each think it was the other. This went on for well over half an hour, with us pointing at each other accusingly and then with mock surprise realising it was him each time. The only other less enjoyable surprise was turning round to see him unexpectedly weeing into the water...
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