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Published: December 3rd 2006
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Undignified!!!
Me slurping on traditional rice wine Sun 26th: A long day in the bus as we headed back down the mountains towards Ho Chi Minh City. The scenery was spectacular, passing through areas full of coffee and tea plantations as well as veggie farms and vineyards. Arrived in HCMC rather weary but not too weary that a night of traditional Vietnamese food was not taken part in. Again it was the traditional BBQ fare on the table and a "cook=it-yourself" washed down by a couple of local beers. Mmmmmm, beer. I've certainly taken a liking to beer. Guess because it so hot and humid here and the cycling makes you very thirsty (well, that's my rationale, and I'm sticking to it :0). Found the bgest ice cream place as well.
Mon 27th: We spent the day doing the tourisy things around HCMC. Went to Ho Chi Minh Square, The Opera House, the Cathederal, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum (which was supposed to be full of anti-Americal propaganda but I didn't find it too bad), Chinatown and finally finished up at the Wholesalers markets. WOW! Now here's a place I wouldn't want to get lost in....one of those places that you would just go round 'n' round
in cirlcles never to come out the other side. Becdause it was a wholesale market we weren't hassled to buy anything which was a change. Afternoon was free and I went around to try and finalise some details for my trek into Cambodia.
Tue 28th: An early start for the trip down into the Mekong Delta for an overnight stay. Arrived at a little village on one of the tributaries where we boarded our boat to cross to the island of Binh Hoa Phuoc where we were to stay. Passed the floating markets which all but finished for the day as it was already 10am. Across the mighty Mekong in this ricketty old wooden boat...the top of which was barely out of the water...into a tiny canal barely big enough for 2 boats to pass side by side. It was low tide and our boat was having trouble moving in the low water. Stopped off for lunch and after lunch we boarded some local wooden rowboats for the rest of the journey. Arrived at our "homestay" and there were our trusty bikes waiting for our bums to sit on the seats. Went to investigate our "digs" for the night.
HCMC
Statue of "Uncle Ho"....Ho Chi Minh in Siagon Vey primitive but a real experience. Bamboo shutters for walls (open top and bottom), bamboo leaves for a roof, timber floor and a thin mattress on a wooden slat bed on which to rest our weary heads, clod showers BUT western toilets so who could complain? However, there was a mosquito net to keep all the critters at bay during the night. Went for a ride through the back streets(!? more like metre wide tracks which took pedestrian, cycle and motor bike traffic) and over the most narrow ricketty bridges ever seen.). Didn't enjoy the ride at all. Not much sleep was had . The clacophony of sounds made sleep impossible....dogs barking, critters scurrying over the roof, chooks, frogs, lapping of water around our accommodation, boats plying up and down the waterways. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Wed 29th: A rather quiet trip back to HCMC due to everybodys lack of sleep overnight. Free arvo where we did nothing. Dinner then more ice cream. Mmmmmm.......
Thurs 30th: A trip out to the Cu Chi Tunnels which was an absolutely awesome and thought provoking place. I now have a better understanding of the inticacies of the Vietnam
Mekong Delta
Houses along the banks of the Mekong War (or American War as the Vietnamese call it). We did our last cycle of the trip around the Cu Chi area. A lovely ride as it was pretty flat and coolish...but still bloody humid, past acres of rubber tree plantations which are govt. owned. Back in HCMC we went for our last dinner together again at an authentic Vietnamese restaurant where the group were offered crickets and scorpions to eat. Most had a try and it was at this point that I was soooo glad I'm vegetarian. Good excuse not to try them!!!! Was told the crickets were delicious but the scorion was only OK. Ended up in a kareoke bar...Vietnamese style...with Tam, the local guide we'd had since Hue. What a hoot that was.
Fri 1st Dec: The day had come to bid a teary but fond farewell to all my cycling buddies. Coul not have asked for a nicer more adventurous bunch of people to spend 3 weeks with. I boarded a place for Phnom Penh at lunchtime and there ends my VIETNAM ENCOUNTER.
HELLO CAMBODIA.....may you be as awesome, contradictory, frustrating, beautiful, colourful, hot and unforgettable as Vietnam.
Till later.............................................Unable to download photos
Mekong Delta
One of the boats in the Floating Market on the Mekong at this time so will add some later. Luv youse all!
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Melly
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Lovin the photos
Heya mumsy... so glad to hear your havin a good time! I'm loving the photos of asia..... takes me back and makes me smile :-) You'll have to include some of spunky men in Cambo for me hehehe Love ya lots xoxoxoxoxoxoxox