MEKONG DELTA DAY 3
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2008
1
64
319
Trip End
Sep 02, 2009
Chau Doc,
Vietnam
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Up early again, breakfast and then our backpacks were put on a big boat and we got in little rowing boats and went to see a floating village, a caged fish breeding area where they have white fish and then catfish they grow and sell to the community.
The houses are little, made of wood or bamboo or tin. Some seem to be a boat on the bottom with a house built on top. It is so far from our lifestyle and so hard to believe families exists this way.
We stop at a Cham ethnic minority moselm village. Our guide points out how high the tides and waters have risen each year as marked on the stilts of the home. In 2006 it was way above our heads and up into the house I am sure.
Then went on to watch towel weaving, then down the street to look at the mosque. Outside of the mosque the town looked like all the other towns we had passed through. The women did not cover their faces now wear the black burkas. Some did have a little hat like cover on their heads.
We take the little row boat and go to the large boat. Len had wanted to try rowing the little boat, but no time. I am sure these boats were on one of the Amazing Race shows, they might be harder to row than one would think.
It is now a 2 hour trip to Vinh Xuong the border crossing into Cambodia. It was a big boat with chairs and we could get up and walk around. The trip was closer to 3+ hours.
We are on the Mekong River and we pass all kinds of farms and different industries along the river like brick making and a forestry mill. Lots out fishing or fishing from the shore. We spent most of the time talking with a couple from Calgary and another from Australia. We told the couple from Australia about our trek in Everest region. They were so interested, as most are, but when I told him I was 62 he just was dumb founded and could not believe it, nor that I had done the trek. Sure made me feel so proud of my accomplishment.
Finally we get off the boat, receive our passports with the Cambodia visa. We have lunch here and then and taken to another small boat with wood benches along the side. We figure, this is just to take us across no man's land to enter into Cambodia and surely there would be a bigger boat again. Wrong, this was the boat we would spend the next 3 hours in, actually it was closer to 4+. The motor was noisy so we used ear plugs once everyone got tired of talking. The seats got harder as the day went on. We could not move around too much as we had to keep everyone equal on each side so the boat would not tip to one side too much. There was a toilette, didn't risk having a look.
Once we arrived just outside of Phnom Phen we got into a Mercedes Van, 14 of us in our van and the same in the other. The road was terrible, but just until we got to the highway and then it was very smooth. Not much traffic, very few scooters or motor bikes and hardly any horn honking. The roadsides appear to be cleaner too.
Soon we arrive at the Okay Guesthouse. The woman from Calgary said they had checked it out and it should be o.k, suppose to be a 1 star place.
Well, I think the star took a fall. This is the moagyest room yet. We tried to move, but it is also a cheap place and was full.
Now for diner. Len ordered chicken and cashews and I roast chicken and mashed potatoes. These are truly Cambodian dishes - after all we are in Cambodia. Len's meal arrives and I wait, when mine arrives it is a fried chicken breast and french fries. I signal to the server.
(The dinning area is packed. We are all sitting at long tables with about 26 chairs and there are 6 such tables and then 5 small tables for 2. The TV is on and the movie the Killing Fields is on, how ironic. When the guy across from me asks what it is the guy beside me tells him. I said, I think I saw it live on TV and they looked strangely at me and then discussed when it took place. They were 1 and 2 years old back then.)
The server explains it takes too long to make mashed potatoes. I was very peeved to say the least. Len ate the fries and said it's o.k. I was frustrated as it wasn't o.k. I really was looking forward to roast chicken and mashed potatoes.
We finish and then go out for a walk to find the internet - right across the street, and then look for another hotel. Lots of places to eat and then at the end of the street we hear music and see dancing water and coloured lights. It is a very large park and on Saturday and Sunday nights they have this display for the entertainment of the people. It is quite a happy and festive mood. I feel better already. We walk around and then go up the street.
We meet a greeter at a restaurant who speaks very good English. He calls his friend and gives us the name of 2 hotel options not far from here. We plan to meet to check them out tomorrow morning.
We stop by a fast food/ice cream parlor. Len says would you like to sit down. I look at the floor and say the floor is a mess. They have small serviettes and all the used ones have been dropped on the floor. We buy one ice cream to go. It is chocolate, but has a coconut flavour in it so I get to eat it all.
We go back up the street and come to a main intersection, on the corner there is a party going on at an outdoor restaurant. Men are dancing to a live singer accompanied by a keyboard player. They are having lots of fun so we stop and watch. Next thing you know one of the men comes and gets me to come and dance and then they bring Len in too. We are dancing and enjoying it all, the men get other women up to dance with us. They were all dressed in beautiful dresses, maybe another wedding? Then a man comes over with a bottle and glass of ice and pours Len a drink - straight up, and then pours me one, but the woman comes to my resuce and puts some pop in it. I am given 2 white lotus flowers from one of the table centre pieces. The one song is still going on even though they have now changed singers. We bow and thank everyone and slowly back our way to the streets edge. We wave good-bye to all and the man with the mic says "say good-bye" and everyone does.
Life seems much better now.
