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Published: January 13th 2013
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I am not a morning person. Not at all. But somehow I am ready at 5am when Etienne arrives in a minivan to pick me utp for the photo tour. It's last he's running for the year so it's a pretty big group, but everyone seems friendly. This is going to be fun. The plan is to head out to a fishing village. We take a boat across the river and then we'll be able to see the fishing boast coming in and practice some of the things Etienne has been telling us. First though, we sit in a local cafe (think of a shack, but with one wall left open) and sip the strongest coffees I've had in a long time while we wait for the boat. And then, we hear it. A little bit of rain. I'm worried but apparently it'll clear. So we get into the boat.
It doesn't clear. At the other end of the boat ride, Etienne kits everyone out with colourful plastic ponchos and we walk along the riverside as the boats begin to come in. By this time however I'm beginning to wonder if it might really be monsoon season. Nobody is getting
cameras out in this! Fortunatly, Etienne has another plan - he takes us to a fish sauce factory where we can practice some photography inside. For some reason, I'm expecting a western style factory, but am relieved to find it's far more interesting than that. An hour or two later, after walking for a few blocks through knee deep water and another very wet boat ride I'm back at my hotel. Drenched but very happy with a few photos, a few new techniques, and an outing into the Vietnamese countryside I won't forget anytime too soon!
The day is far from over however. Sitting down to breakfast at the Hai Au guesthouse plan out our day. First, shopping and a proper look around the old town. While Jane continues to shop (nothing can stop this girl) Craig and I head back to the marble mountain to explore the parts we ran out of time to see yesterday. The highlight of the day however, is dinner. It's all thanks to Mr. Ba. The cute old Vietnamese man who has the restaurant (ie one table and a kitchen kart) at the furthest end of the local style food outlets. Somehow we
end up deciding to eat there, despite some concerns about whether we are about to give ourselves food poisioning. Mr. Ba's food is excellent though (nobody got sick) and he and Mrs. Ba are very patient with me taking quite a lot of photos as they prepare and cook each meal in front of us. Something about these guys is endearing, though they don't speak a word of English and Craig's best efforts at buying a beer keep ending on orange juice. At the next restaurant (ie table) over, a bunch of Korean guys have turned rock, scissors, paper into a drinking game and coerce Craig to join in for a couple of rounds. The restaurant owners are all highly amused and joining in with the frivolity. All in all, an excellent night.
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mum
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rain
can you send some here please. now you know what your Dad was talking about with monsoons