Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Trailor on Tour
Hello again,
We spent the last two days on a tour of the Mekong Delta. The Mekong River winds it's way from it's source in Tibet, through China, Laos and Cambodia, before meeting the sea in southernmost Vietnam. This delta plain is flush with rice paddies and fish farms and certainly takes you back to rural Vietnam.
Our giude for the two days was Ky and on our way down to the delta we stopped at a market in Mytho. It was primarily a produce market, with fruit, vegetables, fresh fish and dried fish, which absolutely reeks.
From here we boarded a boat, which was at least covered as the mid-day sun was blisteringly hot. We stopped at various locations to look at the local farming methods, including fish and coconuts.
The boat then took us to Ben Tre, which is famous for it's coconut candy. We watched the manufacturing process and tasted some, and yes, we then obviously had to purchase some. Very nice and came in 4 fantastic flavours - plain, chocolate, tea and peanut. However, the snake wine was not so pleasant!
Back to the boat and on to a honey farm, where we tasted honey tea and listened to an awful dirge, which was the local music. It just sounded horribly out of tune to me, but then I am tone deaf!
Back to the bus, via the boat and on to Cantho where we were staying the night. We had to get a ferry at one point in this last leg of our journey and had to get off the bus and travel as foot passengers. Our giude indicated that it might be a bit cool and we should take a jacket - insane - it must still have been 30 degrees.
Up at 0600 today to visit the floating market at Cai Rang, which starts at 0400, due to the heat. Sadly, there seemed to be more tourist boats than traders, but some good photo opportunities.
Next stop, to see rice paper being manufactured and back on to a very small uncovered boat to our lunch stop. Very hot and the tour people handed out the typical Vietnamese pointed hats, which must have a name, but haven't managed to find it yet. These were a godsend as they cover your entire head and neck, which was just as well as I'd managed to lose my sunglasses in the river. Fortunately they weren't my expensive Gucci ones! The 2 day tour, including hotel and all meals except dinner cost us less than 3 pounds each - unbelievable value.
Back to Ho Chi Minh, arriving at about 1700 today and I decided to get some clothes made. They are on order and tomorrow morning I go for a fitting and pick them up on my way back through HCMC. I'll let you know how they turn out.
Tomorrow lunchtime we head north to Dalat, which is supposed to be much cooler and far less humid - can't wait - and I'm there until 9th, when I fly back to HCMC, before flying to Singapore on the 10th. From Dalat Maria and Alan will continue north on the final leg of their journey. It will be very strange not travelling with them, as we have now been together for 2 months.
I'm hoping to find my sweetcorn boy on the way back to the hotel tonight, as I got the best corn on the cob ever on my way back the other night. It was cooked in a little bit of butter with fresh local herbs and spring onions.....mmmmmmmmmmm.
Missing the fireworks, but I don't suppose they've ever heard of Guy Fawkes over here. Light a sparkler for me.
Sherry xxx
- comments