It's been another busy couple of days in Vietnam. On Wednesday we decided to do a tour of the Mekong River. We were up early and into the city to catch our bus. We drove for an hour and a half, before boarding our boat. The tour took us to the coconut candy factory, where we had a tour (very nice too!). Then we walked through the island and headed to lunch at a little noodle place.

We got the boat to another island, and tried some of the fruits - we weren't too impressed with some of the combinations that were suggested, such as fresh pineapple with salt and chilli! I'm also not a huge fan of the traditional Vietnamese music we heard, which to me sounded a little too close to fingernails on a blackboard! We had a row boat trip through the small canals (like a gondola in Venice but twice as big), before heading back to Saigon.

As much as I enjoy the touristy stuff, it still doesn't add up to actually spending time with the people of the country in their culture. Yesterday we had out big party at the Long Hoa Orphanage, which was a result of fundraising effort by the kids from my dance classes in Australia and their families, through support of the Swim 4 Africa and Kwinana Community Spectacular.

When we arrived with 7 big boxes full of stuff, plus another 20 plastic bags also crammed to the top, the kids came running from everywhere - they were more than happy to help us carry it all to the hall, I suspect because the short walk gave them extra moments to try and inspect the contents of the packages!

We began with a game of musical bobs, followed by a dance lesson with the combination song we did at the show. We then taught the art of paper chains, so the kids could make decorations for the hall. The concentration in those kids was amazing, and once they pick up the art of something, they are like machines, the speed they can do anything crafty or repetitive at is just amazing.

We had been and bought a heap of modeling clay (plasticine) and dominoes, so we got a few boxes out for the kids to play with. Again, the concentration with the modeling clay was amazing, and some of the things they made were so detailed and in depth it was amazing.

The older boys especially loved the dominoes, and what was even more amazing was how they looked after things - when they were done with the dominoes, they were not only put back into the box, but put back into the box in numerical and colour order, as they were when they got them. At this point they still hadn't realized that we were actually going to give them to them to keep.

At lunchtime, all the boys rest for a couple of hours, and there was nothing for us to do. By this time, we were dripping with sweat like nothing you've ever seen, we were soaked. The heat over here is just incredible, and when combined with the humidity makes you sweat within two seconds of being out of the air conditioner. We figure that we can eat anything we like while we're here, because we sweat it all straight back out again, plus more! So we went to a restaurant for lunch, and cold drinks were the first thing we ordered! We experienced a monsoonal rain storm, and I nearly had a heart attack when a rat ran across the floor behind me . . . I'm not a fan of rodents at all, especially not in the place where I'm about to have a meal!

After we'd eaten and relaxed for a bit, we headed back to the mayhem! Our next challenge was to cook dinner - macaroni cheese with fruit salad for dessert - for all the kids and staff. Now, I've cooked bulk food before, at my camp in America we used to do it every day. But I've never cooked bulk food in a kitchen that still lights wood fires, doesn't have Western utensils, where no-one speaks English for you to ask them for things, and where the kitchen staff who are very set in their traditional ways are watching over everything you do with a very worried look on their face!

It was certainly an experience, and luckily for us, the girls who have been showing us around and looking after us were very keen to learn how to cook Western food and helped out as much as they could. A few of the little boys also came in to lend a hand, although I suspect that it was more to see if they would be able to get a free taste test!

Naomi and I had to make a trip to the supermarket and had a dodgy taxi driver again. I think sometimes the taxi drivers see Westerners and think "aha! Someone I can take for a ride - literally!" After less than a week, we've learnt to make sure the taxi meter is on, that we make sure the driver goes the right way, and that we make sure the driver doesn't do a couple of laps of the city before heading where we want to go (had one the other day that did that).

We eventually made all the food up, and had it there to reheat just before serving it, but the kitchen ladies insisted on serving it straight away (while cold), then once they had the plates on the table, we had to wait for the big boys to get back from school, so it had to sit there for another half hour - they were not bothered in the least, it looked to me like lukewarm food was often the go there.

While waiting for the big boys, we played a game of pass the parcel, which was an experience as the kids all just wanted to rip open the layers!

When the big boys got back, we had dinner, and the cold macaroni cheese was a huge hit with about half the boys - the others weren't too sure, as it is about as opposite from their food as you could possibly get. My table at least told me it was "delicious" and "good" and gave me the thumbs up sign.

It was then present time, and the smiles and excitement on the faces of these boys was amazing. Each of them got a wafer biscuit, a brand new toothbrush and tube of toothpaste and a gift - toys, modeling clay and little paint sets for the little boys, rubix cubes and dominoes for the older ones. By giving them toys and games, it then creates something for them to do when there are no volunteers around, and helps build skills as well. They also only cost us less than a dollar at the shop! The kids were very happy (check out the photos!).

We also presented the orphanage with books and stuffed toys that had been donated by people in Australia, and five soccer balls we'd bought (soccer is one of the favourite past times).

After that very exciting dinner, I did a dance lesson with everyone, and we said goodbye. Our older people who have been our lifeline - helping us catch buses, taxis, translate and with directions - are all coming to out hotel tonight for us to buy them a drink, very well deserved too, as had it not been for them, we would probably have been killed by a scooter (or a bus!!), or gotten miserably lost!

By the time we were in the taxi on the way home, our clothes were soaked all the way through to our undies from sweat, our muscles were aching and we wanted to sleep. We were convinced it had to be about 2am, although a look at the clock said 7pm!!

Naomi and I had been hanging out for an iced chocolate (one of the specialties here, everyone drinks them like Aussies do tea and coffee) since 9.30 in the morning, but hadn't had a chance. The second the taxi stopped, we were out, ran to the bar, grabbed the menu and ordered. I swear a drink has never tasted as good in my life!!

We were in bed and asleep by 9pm after the longest day ever. Today is our rest day (I've actually come down with a bit of a tummy bug), then we are going to visit Caroline, the lady that runs the orphanage, in the hospital. Tonight out helpers will all come for drinks, then tomorrow it's off to Da Lat to start work in the village!