The Mekong
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Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam
Friday, July 1, 2005
Hello Y'all,
I just got back from a three day Mekong River tour and would like to share this experience with you, as it is fresh in my mind. I am in Saigon now and will be heading to Phnom Penh tomorrow.
Our first day along the Mekong River was a disappointing experience. We started out by filling ourselves in to boats fit for three as guides on both ends paddled their way through a maze of scenic greenery. Unfortunately the paths were man-made and predetermined and felt more like the Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios. And as we sailed through this cookie cutter waterway, I couldn't help but feel like a robotic dinosaur was going to pop out of the river at any moment and squirt me with water. Fortunately, that did not happen.
Despite its touristy feel, the Mekong River tour is definitely something you should experience. Other activities we did included:
Visiting a coconut candy factory. I never really liked coconut candy because when you buy it at the store it is very hard. The candy here was fresh, soft and tasty.
We also visited a rice noodle factory, which interestingly enough had a marijuana plant growing out in the open. HMMM. Interesting. I wonder if the rice noodle factory was just a cover up for something more covert.
The floating markets here are filled with merchants in all sizes of boats selling fresh fruits and vegetables.
The crocodile farm we visited, as our brochure states, is an "amazing care project of wildlife by a family farmer." HMMM. Questionable. When we got there, our bus driver told us that the crocodiles were to be sold for their skin to neighboring countries. At least that's what I thought he said. Maybe I misunderstood what he was saying.
I also got to climb up Mount SAM (240 meters high). The overhead picture you see of the sunset is where the Vietnam/Cambodia border meets. In the center of one of the pictures you can see a canal. I was told that that is the border. But then again, I was told a lot of things during this trip. J
Overall, I had a good time. The people were friendly and the tour guides spoke American very good. Just kidding. They spoke English very well.
Peace,
Paul
