Breakfast is included at this hotel, and it is okay, but not as good as Hanoi. Collected on time at 8:30, and off for the drive to the Mekong Delta.
First stop was at Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tao and it was absolutely beautiful. The two pagodas that Hai has shown us here have been very different to those in other areas, the lines of small statuettes around the top are amazing. From here, we go down to the river to catch a boat, and meet our local guide.
The Delta is about 3 km across at this point, and there are 4 islands in the river: Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn and Turtle. One is quite small (only 3 km long), while another is quite large (11pm long). Each has a resident population, ranging from a couple of thousand up to 6000 (I think I remembered the figures correctly).
Our first stop is to see Coconut Candy being made - all natural, and made and wrapped by hand. They do have a small machine now that does the whipping, but that is all. It was really nice, and we bought a packet. Errol and Hai also tried a sample of another local delicacy, snake wine - yes, there was a large jar of rice wine, and it had a reasonable sized snake soaking in it.
From here we walked through the back around a few paths through heavy vegetation, and past some very basic houses. We met a local lady who took us for a ride in her pony and cart. Through a few more paths, beside small channels that link up with the river, checking out all the different vegetation, we finished back at the river, and the boat again.
Off to another island, where we were going to a local restaurant for lunch. The local speciality of the area is Elephant Ear Fish, which we ordered, along with some spring rolls. While this was being prepared, we looked around the area - some information about a local called the Coconut Monk. Lunch was okay, although the spring rolls were a bit ordinary.
Back on the boat again, and another island. First stop was for honey tea. The local beekeepers say that the bees are very fond of the rambutan flowers. They use the honey in a special tea. Honey, bee pollen, lime juice and green tea - it was delicious.
Then a little further on we tried tropical fruits: rambutan, longan, dragon fruit and pineapple. While we ate it, a couple of the local men played traditional instruments, and two girls sang songs. At the same place, there was a python which Errol had draped around his neck. We then walked down to a small jetty on yet another channel through the island. Here there was a small flotilla of canoes. We climbed onboard, and with a paddler front and back, set of for a ride through to the river again. You had to be very careful not to upset the balance of the canoe, so taking photos had to be done 'gently'!! At one point we were passed by another canoe, racing to catch up with friends, and there was much calling out and joking.
Back into the boat again, and back to the dock. The driver met us there again, and we headed back to HCMC, arriving around 3 - 3:30. Freshened up, then headed around the corner to the market.
First had to try to get HK and Chinese money changed. We kept asking different people where the money changers were, but seemed to go round in circles. Finally asked a gay jeweller, and after running back and forth between a place unknown to us (around the corner somewhere), and making several phone calls, he changed the money for us. Moved on, looking at different things, but before long, our jeweller friend caught us up with a problem - apparently he shouldn't have changed the smaller Chinese note, so we had to do a swap back.
Errol was looking for a top that he had seen yesterday, and it took us ages to find the right stall. After a little joking and bargaining, checking sizes, colours and quality of fabric, he finally bought a top, then asked what they had for me. So we started again. I found one that I liked, but was not convinced that their largest size would fit (tiny Asian ladies!!) So the lady said I could try it on behind her counter. Hilarity followed as the stall owner held up a few shirts for cover, while I ducked down behind the counter, in a space barely big enough for a child, pulled off my hot sticky t-shirt, and tried on the new one, while trying to control fits of the giggles. Luckily, Errol had forgotten that the camera was in my handbag which he was holding!!! Anyway, the top fitted fine, and we bought that too.
By this stage, most stall owners were beginning to pack up, so we headed back to the hotel, freshened up, and went back to the same restaurant as last night for dinner. Took a longer look at the menu this time, and ordered different things. Again it was lovely. Boy they pack in the customers, it was a Tuesday night, and there was a constant stream of people in and out.
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