Day 5: What a pearler - Happy Anniversary Baby

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Geo: 10.7592, 106.662

Woke up to celebrate our wedding anniversary! How lucky are we.

Breakfast AGAIN but definitely toned down to the bare essentials of cereal and fruit. It seems like a marathon of gluttony and it is not so much "at the table" that hurts it's the aftermath of continually feeling bloated.

We tried to walk it off with our APT tour guide Twee. But really didn't get into stride. It was a bus tour with stopovers and inspections of some of the architectural highlights of District 1 followed by a walk of a couple of blocks back to the hotel. Took in the Notre Dame Cathedral (people were refused entry because of bare shoulders), the Post Office and the Independence Palace.

And this is for @Fiona and @Andrea,: the tiles on the floor of the Post Office were the "tumbling tiles" pattern - my next project. Speaking of which, this is the first trip where I haven't brought a project with me AND been so busy to date, have not read a word of my book and Mac has not read a paper or watched a news programme on TV. Days are definitely so full.

The biggest block of time was spent exploring the opulence of the Independence Palace along with what seemed like thousands of school children who were there to top up their history curriculum. It was definitely "palatial" although it did seem as if it had never been used and was "set up" to give THE message needed. Twee, like all the guides we have met in the south, gives two parallel stories - one with the rehearsed detail that literally represents "the party line" and the other story that is implied that carries with it the beating heart of capitalism. The south definitely supports "freedom of will and enterprise" - and the failings of communism are summed up in the repeated story of the "lazy" ones who don't contribute and take advantage of the government.

Everyone is keen to make a dollar. The ingenuity of the small businesses on the side of the road is admired, applauded and celebrated. The owners are there for extended hours and may earn just a few dollars a day. But that is respected much more than doing nothing and being "lazy."

Back at the Sheraton for a quick shower and a discard of the dripping clothes, we made all the deadlines and handed in our passport and the additional photo so that Long (Cruise Director) could organise the Cambodian visa. Mac tied the obligatory yellow ribbons around the relevant bits and after an hour's muster in the lobby of the Sheraton we were on board the bus - holed up in the back seat for WayJay and the front seat for LO_RI - for the 90 minute journey to My Tho Port. Again, our guide Tang talked non stop for the entire journey as we passed villages, rice fields, fruit groves, workshops and factories, learning about enterprise and the validation of the abandonment of "socialism" because of the "lazy ones."

All aboard the AmaLotus. Smiling crew, hot towels, cold drinks. Information, instructions, food, food and food, beautifully appointed rooms, emergency drill, cupboards, coathangers and drawers. Looks like we have easily embraced the familiar rhythm of a cruise.

We have 102 out of the 104 passengers on board and they have converged from all parts of the country and at different stages of their holidays. We are hearing amazing stories from all corners of Vietnam - it seems that nothing disappoints in this part of the world. Can't be complacent though - the missing two passengers, like us, are at the very start of their trip and both are in hospital with a stomach complaint and the lady is particularly dehydrated and is on a drip. Supposedly they are joining us tomorrow. Wow, it strikes so suddenly and intensely.

Lunch was anything you could fit in with lashings of soup (I had three different varieties, each one more delicious than the next) combined with sea perch and garlic chicken. Just because we could, Mac and I started with a chocolate mousse dessert! And when it was really dessert time, Mac had a selection and I sampled a creation based on sweet corn. Yummy.

Wiled away a couple of hours on the upper deck with LO_RI, Sue and Chris, Howard and Donna and Robyn (my new name for anyone I don't know.) The brown of the Mekong just slips under the Ama Lotus as the miles disappear. With wine and beer and rum there is plenty of choice and Chris has been working overtime to book the exclusive restaurant on board for a surprise party for Sue on Wednesday night to celebrate her 50th. We are looking forward to it!

Dinner was a delight with another Luke Nguyen inspired feast. Do love this concept because the serving sizes are so reasonable. You get the flavours and enjoy the combinations but are protected from yourself. Always choice built in so we were able to cover off on the menu options with LO_RI. Every dish was a winner.

Thank you to LO_RI for adding to our special day. Besides the personal messages of celebration, they somehow found time to organise champagne and pre dinner canapés right on the dot of 5 pm in the Captain's suite and topped that by adding a dimming of the lights, a personalised cake and a love song serenade at dinner. So very much appreciated. And we shared the celebration with an English couple who were rolled in gold for their 50th. 3-3-3 - the 27th......continues to be lucky in love for us.

Dropped into the Saigon Lounge on the second floor for the nightly entertainment from "the local guest." Have to confess I have no idea what the instruments were but got to make some notes with the help of a very kind band member. Took groupie to a whole new level but was definitely told not to give up my day job when they heard my thwacking and twanging on what I have classified as a zither.! Wait till they hear me at karaoke!

We were last to leave but didn't want the party to end so made our way to the sundeck (under the moon) ready for a bit of a PAR - TAY..... but everyone was a piker! The deck was totally desserted! Not even Sam was there to splash around a few more drinks! Whatever happened to him working till the last man was standing!

Have never been one to worry about coffee and sleep. But a word for the uneducated. Three Vietnamese coffees is definitely two too many. My watch lit up the room hourly as I struggled to do any more than drift in and out of sleep. Note to self: as delicious as it is - I need to cut down on the dripalator and condensed milk! I have had my quota for the next few days.

We are a little technically challenged. Got the usual air conditioning debate going - Mac says the room is too hot. I am saying it is too cold. And the toilet has a mind of its own. Sometimes it flushes. Sometimes it doesn't. And Mac all of a sudden has become a "Greenie" and is keen to save paper by opting for the hose! Who even knew it had a hygiene purpose!

Moored on the Mekong. Magic.

Steps: 9 565
Temperature: 33 degrees

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Comments

[Denise franks]

Happy anniversary love birds. Xx

[Aunty Gail]

Happy Anniversary, you two 'love birds'.......what an amazing way to celebrate....another awesome day....pity about the 'party poopers'!!!!!!...xxxxxx