Mekong Delta

Onto the boat we go. The seats are rush benches, more or less bolted down. The aisle is a bit dicey as some benches are closer together than others. Getting this American butt through requires a twist and a turn. Eventually figuring out that the two benches in front don't require squeezing, we sat there.

Onto the Boat

Twist Through That Aisle

The delta furnishes the country with rice, honey, fruit, and fish products. We got to sample most of them. If the rest of the country is green and lush this part of the country is emerald and (I asked Dennis for another word for lush, he heard lust and he's dying to know what we're writing about). Emerald and verdant!

Jack Fruit

Pineapple

We started with the fruit, tasting bananas, mango, longan, a fruit that was a bit like a loganberry, jack fruit, and pineapple. Very sweet and delicious. Going down the path along the irrigation ditches we sampled water apples right off the tree.

Clockwise: mango, loganberry, Jack fruit, pineapple. banana

Fresh Water Apple

Dennis met the boa constrictor, an immediate relationship began but ended too soon when the snake began to caress and slither up his arm trying to give him a hug. After meeting the snake we went on to meet the bees who seemed properly trained after Mr. Boa. The honey lime tea, banana chips and coconut candy were a tasty little snack.

Honey, hold still!

Snacks made from Honey

Cindy learned to balance and carry a basket, it's supposed to be useful for carrying a man home whose had too much drink. Swear to Buddha, that's what she said!

Get in this basket right now!

Next a trip to the candy factory for a taste and then a rice "wine" tasting--coconut, banana, rice brandy, and several types of snake rice wine. Yum!

Yummy Snake Wine

Tasty!

Dennis is thinking of gifts for the neighbors who watered his plants and picked up the mail--something unique but great for a party? Down to the canal we went and onto to a four person boat for a trip down the river. The most dangerous part of the trip was getting on and off the craft.

Row, row, row your boat...

Load up!

Cindy bought a "non" hat, a conical hat which gave her great shade but limited vision. She kept bumping into people and getting into pictures where she wasn't meant to be though it was perfect revenge for those tourists who had no idea what a que/line is.

Watch out, Sonny is everywhere!

Then after the candy tasting, wine tasting, sitting in the boat, we had worked up an appetite and it was time for lunch. Emily had a riceball, which was a kind of a rice crepe--a large air filled ball of rice with a pool of sweet coconut custard at the bottom. Yum! Yum!

Beach Ball

Surprise!

After lunch, back on the boat, sit in the front, those aisles have gotten narrower. The trip ends with a bang when the pilot of the boat comes into fast, doesn't reverse and slams into the dock!

Back at the hotel, a quick change and back down to the lobby to go to the performance at the Opera House.

Saigon Opera House

The Beautiful Cast

The Performance was astounding. The young performers were so talented and athletic, a combination of gymanastics, dance, story, and music. It was Cirque du Soliel without the technology, pure beauty.

Our Last Night in Saigon