Vietnam
2014 - Day 6
March 03, 2014: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 95 - Sunny
Journey Day 01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 HOME
Wasser. Leaving Ho
Chi Minh City for the Mekong Delta is like starting a
trip in a funnel. Newer perimeter
boulevards
with separate motorcycle lanes
lead into a new toll road. However,
these roads continued to their
ever so sure approach of the original road
system where all of humanity is vying for the same strip of asphalt.
Our tour guide
Eric was very prompt at 07:45 am for the very
full day tour of the Mekong Delta.
It is a two hour
journey in the new Mercedes Sprinter van –
no other passengers, so, a private tour in a large van.
In the
distance, the industry follows the Saigon
river and rice fields filled the gap between river and road.
Interestingly,
memorial tombs of farmers’
family dot the agricultural landscape.
This allowed the past generations
to literally become “one with the
land”.
Arrival at a
small port leads to even smaller boats – just
two fold up seats wide with a generous shade cover.
Our water
course started with the floating
water markets with every type of local produce or utility item.
Just look
for the main
item centered on top
of a bamboo post. See the watermelon on
the top of the bamboo ship mast?
Now
look down to see stacks of ready to purchase watermelons.
Life on the
boats is in essence self contained – Cook, wash,
sleep, and all else on the boats. School
for children is
not part of this section of
agricultural life. Propulsion was based on archaic engines and
10 foot long propeller
shafts. The
smaller boats were everyday human propulsion.
Next leg was a
stop was a family owned candy factory located
on the bank – included a full end-to-end process
of rice hull
separation, rice
popping, rice paper creation, coconut shaving and toasting, and
infusion of
multiple
favors from local sources. “The
land giveth” is an understatement in this tropical region.
Back to the
cool breezes on the boat again and next stop was
a walking tour of a remote village with insight of
local tree
produce. Newer homes in the village looked like they had
been transported from Greece
- full of concrete
with endless
tile covering.
Kitchen was front and center to allow for entertaining. We had
the opportunity to stop
in a home,
enjoy samples of local fruit, and listen to local performers covered in silk
and linen (heat survival gear).
One
interesting diversion was transferring to a gondola type
boat that included a short trip down a narrow stream
trimmed with
mud
banks. Seems a large group of Germans
could not go the full length of creek due to mass.
The wasser (German word for water) was not
deep enough.
Time for lunch
and we carried on to another island. Arrived before the next
batch of Brits, French,
Germans,
Russians, and various Asians joined the restaurant
which was technically
another home. An upright cooked fish
is
presented with a brief demonstration of how to prepare spring
rolls. Easy steps of 1) pick up rice paper from
very
tight stack, 2) insert mint, lettuce, and cucumber, 3) pull off
sections of
fish and add to mixture, 4) roll up
tightly, and 5) dip into fish sauce. Superb!
Rest of the
meal included small breaded sausages and (2)
large shrimp inserted into a carrot for presentation.
(Due to Louisiana trained eating skills, it took just
nano-seconds to consume the shrimp). A
large bowl of Pho
(beef broth soup) followed.
Final boat
ride back to the original port was quiet and
reflective. Located in the rear was a
hammock which called
out several times to be
used. Finished a few more sips from a fresh coconut
and watched the hyacinth filled
placid water scenery go by.
Another two
hour ride back to the hotel and bid adieu to
Eric. After a few snacks in the club
room, time for
early slumber. The
magnitude of the Mekong Delta tour created a very full day.
Country Travel Map
Return to www.ellerbroad.com (All Rights Reserved 2014)