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Published: December 7th 2006
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Elephant ear fish for lunch
This was a most tasty dish! You take some of the fish and place it on a portion of rice paper along with some noodles and vegetables (like cucumber) and roll it all up, and eat it. Tasty! Good morning (from) VietNam!!! We had to say that, although Robin Williams is nowhere in sight!
Another day, another adventure. Started with breakfast at the hotel (see pictures) and then on the bus........and what a day it has been. Hot and humid! (and many of you know how much I just love that........) BUT, I'm not complaining (much) because I know you are all sitting there feeling sorry for me, right?
Lots to see from the bus along the way (check out the picture of the little piggies going to market).......interesting landscape from rice fields to farm yards to the Vietnamese version of "strip malls" (food vendors, scooter repair shops everywhere, etc.). First of all, such a major contrast from city to country. Our bus ride was 2 hours to the Mekong Delta river and we saw lots along the way. The 'strip malls' were essentially corrugated tin huts with brand new, colorful apartment buildings right behind/over them. Beautiful flowers (lotus, etc.), architecture, people everywhere and very crowded. Yan, I can say that your images of VietNam are reality when it comes to the farm country area. We saw lots of poverty today, as you can see from some
Breakfast buffet
The breakfast buffet was unbelievable! Wide choices of Vietnamese food and western food. of the pictures.
Some interesting tidbits of information from today:
1) that 50% of the 7 million population of Saigon City were born after 1975;
2) that the young women, when driving their scooters, cover their arms, hands, faces, etc. so as to keep their skin as white as possible (and I thought it was all about pollution/smog prevention!!); Vietnamese men prefer fair skin women;
3) the very best brides are tall, fair skinned, and they are usually farmer's daughters;
4) women go to the market twice a day (lunch and supper) to buy meat, etc. for their meals; refrigeration is limited in their homes;
5) a sign of a successful woman is the one who negotiates well at the market!
6) there are no graveyards in the area because the elders return home to the country to live out their last days and then are buried on their property;
7) average income is $40,000USD a year;
8) the Vietnamese ask the following questions when meeting each other: what's your name, how old are you, what do you do and how much do you earn? That gives them insight as to whether or not they are Government workers,
Breakfast along the road
This is what/how the local people have breakfast. They stop along the road (kind of like a "drive through"); check out the raw meat! educated people, etc.
Very interesting people!
We had our own "African Queen" adventure today as we got into boats and went down the Mekong River. (and yes, I did it too.........to those of you who know that being in a boat is NOT one of my favorite activities. I was very proud of myself because, as I've said before, I'm doing it all on this trip!) We had to keep our fingers/hands in the boat because of the crocodiles in the river! I felt like we were in a movie! It was so much fun. We also had a tea break at a little tea house in the island area where there were little kiosks everywhere. People were making food, selling purses, selling snake wine and other various items. A real eye-opener.
The difference between city and country living is apparent. Farmers are extremely poor. Children are often seen trying to sell things (t-shirts, hats, etc.) and we are told not to buy anything from them because if they realize they can make a living at this, they will not continue their education. Children here go to school half days only.
It was a very hot
Some school children
I just love the look of the young girls in their white school uniforms. The Vietnamese girls have 2 "official" outfits: white for school, and the red dress for weddings. and humid day today, but a very fun day. This is one stop and one adventure that I would not have missed for anything! (even with the chaos of the driving)
Back at the hotel, we had the rest of the day and evening to ourselves. Most of us hit the pool (to cool off) to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. It has a "swim-up bar", which you will see in the picture. After seeing our picture, we have affectionately dubbed it the "boob bar"! (Thanks Kevin for taking that great shot.......of me, Gail, Tina, Anne and friend). The pool time was most enjoyable and I got my exercise again for the day after doing some lengths (sticking close to the side of the pool 'cause I'm not really a swimmer). Then it was back to our hotel room (now affectionately dubbed "the internet cafe" because so many people are following the blog, inviting their friends and family to subscribe and follow along, etc.). Because of that, I have solicited others' input into the content so that we don't miss interesting things to share with all of you out there in the world! Dinner was in the hotel
Our version of the African Queen
Oh my gosh, this was so much fun! ....and a bit scary too! restaurant. What an amazing selection of food. My favorite was the stir fried squid and fish pizza. Yum! Poor Tina had a whole glass of wine dumped on her (accidentally, of course) by the waitress. We sat with more fun people: the "sisters" Lynn and Lorraine, Diane and Remo from Montreal, Rob and Betty and John and Bette....all from BC. In the next few blogs, we'll share a bit of information about the people who are with us on this trip. We do have all types here! But there is a core group of us who are having a grand time together!
So, that's it for now. Early to bed tonight. The adventure of the day has worn us out (in a nice way)!
We're off to Cambodia tomorrow and that's one stop I am really excited about! Stay tuned. And keep the comments coming. We're loving 'em!
Tam-beet! (that's Vietnamese for "good-bye")
Thought for the day: Life is short.........eat dessert first! (that's appropriate because for the first time on this trip there was actually something chocolate to choose for dessert at supper........and I had some!)
Happy Pat
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