Mekong Delta

So the Mekong Delta turned out to be not quite as exciting as I had hoped it to be. I think a lot of it had to do with the guide, who was definitely not cut out to be one at all - he wouldn't make eye contact or answer questions! The first day of the tour involved taking a bus for 2 hours to the town of Mytho, but none of us really felt we saw the city at all. Instead we were taken to a coconut-candy making factory (this was pretty tasty), and then to a honey farm, which consisted only of sitting down and drinking honey tea, which was also very good. Otherwise, we were walked to and through several tourist areas that were selling the typical Vietnamese souvenirs, like we had all been seeing throughout the country. We were allowed 20 minutes on bikes before lunch, and only went about 1 km before turning around, but I think most of us were just worried that our bikes would break while we were on them! Then we got on the bus again for another 3 hour ride to the town of Cantho, where we were to spend the night. 6 of us had booked (for an additional almost $5) a homestay. This was definitely the highlight of the entire trip for me! We weren't sure what we were going to do, only that we left the others at a hotel and took a taxi for about 15 minutes, and then we got into a boat, and proceded to go for 20 or so minutes down actual canals of the Mekong that weren't full of other tourists and boats! Then we arrived at the family's home and were welcomed by their little boy, who was probably almost 2 and very adorable!

We got settled into our rooms and had time for a short walk before dinner and before it got too dark. Dinner was delicious, but I was disappointed that the family didn't eat with us. They ate separately inside their home, and we ate outside. Then we just lounged around for a few hours in the hammocks until bedtime. The next morning, we had to get up early and head back to meet the group. I think we were all sad and wished we could have spent more time in that remote area, like at least half of another day. But, we met back up with the group and went to see a floating market. Here, they sell mainly produce and meat from their boats, and advertise what they are selling by hanging it from a pole.

Several of the small boats had hot coffee and fruit and other snacks, and were run by a parent and a small child. The kids made me sad - they were probably 3-5 years old and already working, and were clearly unhappy about it. After that, we went to a rice noodle-making factory. These are the main noodles in pho, the Vietnamese soup. Then we got back onto a bus again to head for the border town of Chau Doc, where we would spend the night. On the way there, we stopped at a crocodile farm, and at a pagoda where we could see the Cambodian border. The town of Chau Doc itself wasn't too exciting, and Heleen and I splurged on a bottle of Dalat (a town in Vietnam) wine for $3. I had been craving wine for a month, and let's just say this stuff was worth the only $3 we paid - it was pretty bad! Definitely didn't calm my craving, but oh well.

The next morning, we got up early again to start the long trek to the border. Thankfully, at that time we left our tour guide and got a nice new one. She took us by boat to see a fish farm that is underneath a floating house, and then to a minority village. Then we went for another two hour by boat to the border area, where we had lunch, and then were taken to the border area to get our stamps. This whole process was actually very easy, probably because we did it through a tour. The guide was great and helped us a lot, and told us absolutely not to pay anything beyond the required $20 fee. They actually never asked us for any extra money, so it was fine. Once we all had our new Cambodian stamps, it was back onto a different boat for 3 more hours, although this journey felt like 5 hours and was the most difficult part. The boat was set up differently, so that we all sat on benches with our backs to the windows, and were down low in the boat so there wasn't much wind at all. That plus the sun that came in the sides made for an extremely hot and uncomfortable ride. By the time we eventually arrived, we were all badly in need of a shower. Then we had to get into a mini-bus for another hour to get into Phnom Penh! At least there was AC in it! So it was pretty easy for the first tuk-tuk driver that asked to convince me to let him take me to a hotel. I obliged, and although I knew I could find a cheaper place, I just couldn't think of trying to do so on my own, with my pack on, after dark. So, I stayed in a private room for $7 and went to find a dorm this morning for cheaper. It was nice to get a good nights sleep in a private room, though, and I woke up feeling re-charged and ready for a new city and country!