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Published: March 8th 2009
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Traffic in Saigon
This just a small sample of the traffic in this city.There are no traffic lights or stop signs. Just constant honking and roaring of engines. To cross the street you just step out and walk,(praying helps too) Mekong Delta
Ho Chi Ming City, the city is buzzing with people. Our ladies in Hoi An had reserved a room for us in Saigon down a long narrow back lane off a very busy side street. In Canada we do not go down back lanes in a city as they are usually dark and dangerous places. In Vietnam this is where the people can get away from the traffic. They are about 5 feet wide fully paved, and much quieter than places on the road. Because, the city is so old, these little narrow streets are everywhere. This also an explanation for the motorcycles, in a city with so many people and streets that are only 5 feet wide they make sense.
We booked our trip to Cambodia through the Mekong Delta with a tour company by boat and bus. For both of us with 3 nights accommodations, all our transportation, 3 meals and tour guide it was total $95.00. They even helped arrange our travel visa for Cambodia. Ok, it was not 5 stars, or 3 stars. But it was very local type of travel and it made the trip colourful to say the least.
Buildings
Sample of buildings here, it is not all like this as where we stayed the restaurants and some things are pretty americanized. We had a great meal in Saigon. I did not know at that time that it would be my last for 5 days. Now, here in this busy world on the corner we found a really nice place to eat. I guess the American influence is in evidence here, as the meal had no rice or noodles, actual meat, potatoes and veggies. Not only was the food great but we sat back and watched tourists trying to cross the street for about 2 hours. Now that we are used to (or sort of use to) the idea of just walking in front of moving vehicles it is fun to sit back and watch others ,guessing who just arrived in Vietnam. It was pretty obvious, some just stood on the street and waited for a break (which never happens) others walk then panic and stop, and the funny thing is nobody gets hit. One arrogant man tried to hold up his hand and stop everyone so that he could cross; I think he thought he was Moses parting the waters. It did not work. The excitement was over, time for bed as we had an early start for the next morning.
Before I even start writing about my trip through The Mekong; I want to explain
vendors
The streets are littered with them. They sell everything this is cigs(at home they are hidden behind blinds). They will also have beer in coolers being sold as well(Can you imagine what the Man Liquor Comm would do if we tried that) it was more like a camping trip with a group of strangers. We had backpacks, most of the times a tent would have been cleaner than our rooms. Bathrooms that are similar to the ones you would use at those camp stops along the road (not the best but they will do).
But keep in mind that while I am writing this, I am on a beautiful second floor balcony at 7:30 AM in Siem Reap. Listening to roosters. It is 30 degrees already, but I am shaded by bamboo and palm trees. So I made it though the Mekong.
We left in a very good air conditioned bus to Cai Be .Which was about a 3 hour trip. The scenery is beautiful and the traffic on the road is always interesting.
When we arrived at Cai Be ,they transferred us to a to motorized boat and we went on the Mekong river to Cai Be floating market .The local people here are all selling, buying, and exchanging goods from their boats . It appears that these people live on these boats as they are washing dishes, bathing their children
power system
No wonder the hydro goes out so much in this country.I would hate to have to fix a break in the line . and everything. Considering the Mekong runs all though Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and China I can only imagine how polluted it is.
After we left the floating market, we traveled further into Mekong swamp. We got off a little village and were taken to a place that made rice paper for spring rolls. I was amazed at how much work they are, and then they are laid out to dry on the riverbank (and I thought making cabbage rolls and perogies was tedious). In the same building they made coconut candy. Everything here is done manually the rice paper person cooked each one in a covered wok then carefully placed them on the wicker mats. The coconut was shucked on a spike then they cut out the coconut, boiled it with sugar and some kind of leaf for 45 mins all the time it is being stirred until thick. Then it was laid out on a board cooled and chopped with a machete into exact sized pieces and hand wrapped. It was almost like a toffee when complete yummy. We then walked down a narrow path along the river about 2 feet wide, with motorcycles, locals and bicycles.
Wow look somebody got a new computer
This is just a samll sample of the things we have seen piled on a motorbike and transported. I have seen complete dining room furniture all 4 chairs and the table moved on 1 bike. The amazing thing is we are such a novelty that everyone stops to smile and all the children come out to look at us and wave ,from the very smallest, they all know how to say Hello. You start feeling like a celebrity after awhile as they literally run out off their houses to greet us along the way. This behavior happens all along the river even when we are in the boat. We eventually got to a place where they are making puffed rice. It is actually cooked in sand that is burnt black over a fire, it puffs in about 2 seconds almost like popcorn. They then make a syrup out of sugar and it is like a popcorn ball except they press it into a large wooden tray and again cut it into squares, and hand wrapped for selling at the markets.
We then went by boat all the way to a small island, where the tour company had arranged a free lunch for us. We were given some free time to walk around the island. They had a bunch of corralled crocodiles in a pond that they caught and we were
Where is the car seat.
I have seen as many as 3 children all under th age of 5 on a bike with their parents. Requirement by law is that you where a helmet.The adults all do but none of the children. allowed to feed them. It was very interesting and it made you realize just how dangerous this jungle and swamp can be. About 20 mins before we left a band came out to entertain us, they played traditional Vietnamese music. They even had 2 women singing; it was like a play and really was very moving. The music carried over the water; and you were very taken up in the feeling, that yes, you were in Vietnam sitting on the edge of the mighty Mekong.
After this we continued on the Mekong to Ving Long. We got on another bus and proceeded on to Can Tho which is the largest city in the Mekong Delta. The biggest event of this bus ride was the ferry ride as we were not allowed to go in the bus we had to walk through the heat a crowd on to the ferry with about 500 Motorcycles. All the bikes were running so the noise was horrendous and the smell of gas fumes in this small hot enclosure was almost choking. Please while you’re reading this remember the temperature is about 38 degrees, and the humidity is so high
Boat on the Mekong
After 3 hour bus ride,this is the boat we travelled on the Mekong with. that even after you shower you are sweating in minutes. The roads are dusty and your feet are covered in dirt all the time. Sometimes you wonder how these people can stand it, but when you see them they are fully covered with cloths, even jackets and hats. This is also their dry season, in the summer is their wet season, where they get so much rain the Mekong overflows its banks every year and covers all the land. All the houses are on stilts because that is how high the waters will get all the time. Because of this constant flooding their land is very fertile, they literally just throw a seed and things grow.
Can Tho is actually a very beautiful city. It is obvious that they are not catering to tourism here. You see no English on the signs and all the food is Vietnamese. I really am not fond of the food here, and have taken to eating pizza as much as I can. I try to avoid meat, since we have seen it out for sale in this heat for hours. In this town we were in a restaurant that
Living on the Mekong
Typical life on the Mekong the tour company indicated was a very good place to eat. On the menu I saw fried field mouse, and every different way possible of cooking frogs. I ordered fries.
I should be losing weight however living on pizza, fries and bread is not good.
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