The Mekong Delta and SEAHORSE WHISKY

Out of hotel at about 9am.

Tonys eyes after ?7 glasses

Minibus for about 4 hours with a couple of stops at Rice paper making shop and a sweet factory.....great burnt sesame seed sweets, and peanut brittle. Never quite sure though how many people have handled things but took the chance and purchased some bits for our Homestay tonight.

Arrived to get our own boat for trip around some of the Mekong. Quite a wind and boat hitting the waves and soaking us but good fun providing you can swim.....our holiday guide Thiep could not so was keen to land.

Visited a floating market and then a fruit restaurant  to hear some local music.....decided not to buy the CD! Great meal with some fab fish.

In afternoon most of us went for a cycle ride through the local area and back. All the kids and many adults shouting out Hello and Bye Bye.....all quite genuine with marvellous smiling faces and nobody begging.

During the ride I found some money on the road, about 4 pounds. Decided to give it to the 7th child who said Hello on the way back to restaurant.The lucky winners were two small boys who were sitting fishing with their dad using a twig and bit of string. The idea of giving money away seems easy but I did not want the man to think I was buying one of his sons, not that he would have. It was however quite difficult to explain that I found the money and did not want it. Eventually I think we understood each other and both boys gave me a nice bow and big smile. There really are some lovely people here in Vietnam.

Back to boat and then to our Homestay at Ba Linh in Long ho.

We all had to sleep in one bunkhouse with mossie nets. Great host who was 78 years old and was a former soldier. He joined us after our meal and introduced us to Seahorse Whisky. This was Rice wine that had 6/8 Seahorses put in the bottle alive. This was then kept for 6 to 12 months before drinking. The seahorses drowned quite quickly and when I first drank it I did not realise that this was hoiw it was made and the old boy was quite canny by giving out the first round without declaring how it was made. Tasted reasonable but not like any whisky I know. Most people had some , even Hels had a sip. After 4 cups I declined a 5th. Was supposed to be good for the spine..........just as well because the beds are hard as hell.