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Published: November 29th 2006
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Although my orginal plan was to head down to Sihanoukville, it would mean I'd have to go south then back to Phnom Pehn, so I decided that I head along with everyone else to Vietnam, crossing the border at Chau Doc. To get to Chau Doc we would be getting a boat down the Mekong river. I rather stupidly did an all nighter so I literally got in and left at the same time, but even in my sleep deprived zombie state the boat down the Mekong was pretty breathtaking. The Mekong is the 10th largest river in ther world by distance and goes through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. I've been through all but two of those countries amd it was nice to have a nice sail down the river instead of the mayhem of the 7 hour death ride in Laos! The border crossing from Cambodia to Vietnam was fairly painless, no real hassle at the border, the usual kids trying to steal our football and people trying to sell us water. Once I was in Vietnam I decided I'd get all the vietnam stuff out of my system, Unfortunately for me some of my favourite films
are from the infamous conflict so my brain has been corrupted by hollywood to think its a country of Huey Helicopters, tanks, GI's smoking dope and the bad nasty VC, all with a 60's soundtrack blaring over the top of them so I listened to Jimi Hendrix and the doors floating down the river said all the catchphrases, done and dusted. Approach Vietnam with an open mind and take it as it comes.
It wasn't nice was seeing a dead body in the Mekong. It was fairly bloated and its not something I'd really like to see again. Another first for me.
We got to Chau Doc which is basically just a simple town, stayed one night, moved on the second day to My Tho and the Mekong Delta. Again My Tho is a fairly small town, little tourism we could see, at times I thought Me, Gaz and Chris were the only white guys walking around! It certainly seemed like it to some of the more pushier locals who followed us around constantly trying to force their boat trip down the Mekong on us. They would hang around our hotel, at one point one of them followed us into
a resturant sat opposite us then came over still trying to sell us this trip. In the end we got really, really angry with them, its one thing being pushy but following us around is a little too much. The great thing about Asia is you also sometimes see things you haven't seen in England for a while. While walking down the main road where our hotel is stationed we found an arcade with some great games in there. All the classics, Puzzle Bobble, Super Hang On, Lethal Enforcers. No Street Fighter 2 though, probably a good thing the last thing the Vietnamese Police want to deal with is an English Tourist who made some poor 7 year old cry cause he gave him a shoeing on the street fighter 2 machine with Ryu. That night Chris and Gaz continued the crazy eating when they ordered chicken, well attempted to order chicken with rice. Noe of the staff spoke english and the menu was a bit of a struggle, even with my guide book. After a heated game of Sherades in which Chris Mimicked a chicken, the chef brough out a live chicken and he played Sherades as well, mimicking
cutting the chickens throat! Neither Gaz or Chris was really down on being the men or send the death-row bird to the chopping board and they declined however about 45 minues later the chicken returned......On a plate.......head and feet as well. It was probably the best I've ever tasted but I'll stick to my Beef and noodles.
The following day we went to the snake farm which is recommended in the Lonely Planet book Gaz had. I can assure anyone who reads this its not reccomended by any of us. Its not really a farm, its a zoo and an incredibly bad one at that, none of the animals look particularly happy, especially when the local scumbags wind them up, the turtle they had looked ready to die. It was heartbreaking and Lonely Planet is getting some pictures along with a very firm email.
The morning we were to leave we did the boat tour down the Mekong. It cost us more than the touts that were constantly hanging around our hotel were charging but it was worth it. I took in some honey tea and went down a canal on a boat wearing the cone shaped hat you see
everywhere in Vietnam called a nonla. Its usually worn by women but we gave it a go, the locals probably thought we were daft anyway.
The final thing we saw was the Coconut Monks Island. What a guy. This French-Educated engineer returned to Vietnam, set up his floating pagoda and started bringing about world peace, first showing how this could be achieved by getting cats and mice to live together!!! The pictures are crazy, He then tried to run for president, his manifesto consisted of bring peaces to Vietnam and Indo-china within 7 days, resigning on the 9th day. Not sure what he would do on the 8th day but judging by his harem he had of 25+ women I'm sure he'd find something. He also had loads of kids by these women. These cult leaders always have at least 10 women! Other madcap schemes included a one-man peace mission to Hanoi, by bicycle in 1969. He pedaled up through the Mekong Delta, continued north of Saigon and got as far as the highlands, about 300 kilometers from his floating pagoda. In the highlands a tribe of Montagnards intercepted him and he was forced to turn back. All in all
he was a little crazy, also believing to be a buddha . Bit of a 'coconutter' as an Australian tourist pointed out, to which Chris replied he was just a little shy. We're here all week!!!
We also fed some crocodiles with some meat on a stick before heading back to our hotel, from here we got on the back of a scooter and a got the local bus to Ho Chi Minh City......
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