A big day was planned, we were off to the Mekong Delta, an hour or so by bus. Arriving at the dock we boarded a narrow vessel and chugged out onto the delta. Our first stop was Dragon Island and we hopped straight off and into the coconut candy shop. The coconut is grated and squeezed and what comes out is boiled with sugar to make a fudgey type of candy. We also could try coconut wine banana wine and snake wine. I took a coconut wine and it smelt like whiskey and then I was told it was 30% alcohol so I passed it to Lance.
We had an opportunity to cuddle a python and Lance got up close and personal.
The guide told us we would be boarding tuk tuks and we thought these would be like in Thailand, however they were motorbikes with a tray on the back that held 6 of us. Huong said that they also call them motorcarts.
These contraptions took us through bush paths, we had to wear helmets in case a coconut dropped on our head, and we whizzed through a coconut jungle. A quick stop at the cafe for fruit tasting. The cafe is a few thatched pergola type things with small plastic chairs and mango, pineapple, jack fruit and water apple with chilli powder mixed with salt. And free wifi!
A quick ride for another 10 minutes and we were at the restaurant set with similar pergolas. We sarted with elephant ear fish. The most disgusting scabby looking thing, a lady took pieces off and added pineapple and stuff and rolled it in rice paper and it was actually quite nice.
After lunch we were encouraged to have a rest in the hammocks
We clambered back onto our bigger boat and headed for the mainland. The guide saw Lance and I sweltering and pulled down a tarpauline to get the sun off us. He told us it was 37 degrees.
The heat has been almost debilitating at times, so heavy and humid.
Back at the hotel I left Lance and went to get more cream from the pharmacy (update-they seem to be getting a bit better but I have reacted to the plasters and have had to leave them off today. Hope this doesn't mean it will spread).
I found the pharmacy easily but they didn't have any so kept walking and found one close by. I felt very successful and thought I'd have a quick poke around. I had only travelled about 100m but when I thought I was on my way back to the hotel I quickly realised I was in the wrong place. Oh oh and I didn't think I had my phone. Carefully retracing my steps back to the original pharmacy I was back on track but I have to admit a moment of panic. I haven't shopped much, it is so overwhelming. And all of the clothes are tinsy. There is a lot of junk as well.
Our evening meal was a farewell meal as our tour finishes tonight. Huong took us to a place called Koto. This is a place started by an Australian guy who had lived here and felt he needed to do something for the street kids. So he set up a training centre and the chefs, waiters and other staff are all kids who had been in unfortunate circumstances. I think it was the best meal so far. And the premesis were very nice as well. While we were sitting after dinner we heard a noise, something hitting the floor. It was a fork that had fallen from the upstairs balcony and it hit Peter,who was sitting next to me, right on the head and took a small chunk of skin. Lucky I wasn't a foot in the his direction.
Huong had booked us into a Kareoke club. He had told us earlier that Vietnamese are shy people and like to sing in private rooms rather than to the whole bar. The place was really funky with textured painting like a hippy, Dr Seuss stuff. Our room was really cool with couches around. The sound was awful, echoey and we all sounded Asian. But is was a great night and we all got kicked out at 12pm.
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