On the Road from Phu My to the Mekong River Delta
Today was totally filled by a very long shore excursion exploring various aspects of the Mekong Delta, the largest rice-producing area in the world. Travelling on a variety of transports--including a tourist boat on the Mekong River, a shallow canoe steered by locals through a dense bamboo swamp, and a modern bus for travelling from the ship to the river and back again--we covered a large swath of the countryside around Saigon as well as two islands in the Mekong itself. Some of the older roads are little more than glorified trails (and quite bumpy) and some are brand new expressways (still bumpy). But the bus itself is far advanced over the buses at home, offering free wifi for the whole trip.
Before describing the details of today's excursion, I am going to post a few more photos from the end of yesterday. Uploading photos on ships is very slow (as I have mentioned several times in the past), but since Oceania offers free, unlimited wifi time, I don't mind the lack of speed. I set up some photos for upload and then go about doing other things in my stateroom while the process goes on.
Saturday, 26 March 2016
Shore Excursion from Nha Trang
Fresh Fruit at Country Estate
Small Private Home with Kitchen
Sunday, 27 March
Shore Excursion from Phu My to the Mekong River Delta
Last night was another pleasant night at sea. Despite the captain's warning about rough conditions, there was little more than a gentle rolling that hardly affected me at all.
The “Mekong River Cruise” begins this morning with a two-hour drive to the city of My Tho, in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Because the Nautica is docked significantly farther from Saigon than originally scheduled, the bus trip is also proportionally longer than originally planned. We pass through lovely tableaus of waving green rice fields and small villages with their ramshackle shops and homes before a brief pause at the Mekong Rest Stop, an elaborately landscaped rest area for travellers (just like on the NJ Turnpike!).
The main attraction in My Tho is the elaborate Vinh Trang Pagoda. The terms "temple" and "pagoda" are used interchangeably in Southeast Asia; unlike in Japan where a pagoda is a specific type of architecture. This pagoda is home to two giant Buddha statues: a seated laughing male Buddha and a serenely elegant sleeping female Buddha.
From the pagoda it is just a short bus ride to the riverfront, where we board a local "tourist" boat (capable of seating about 50, the load is much smaller today), that takes us downriver and under a new suspension bridge to Thoi Son Island, one of 11 inhabited islands in this part of the delta. We are regaled with a lunch of local specialties, which a server prepares individually for each diner at the table: crunchy spring rolls, Elephant Ear Fish meat wrapped in rice paper (the fish is so named becaus of its appearance), a broth with chicken and shrimp, large prawns (which the server delicately beheads and peels for us), and a sticky-rice ball.
After lunch we take a short trek across the island to the swamp where small boats (four passengers in each) take us on a 15-minute trip through the dark waters surrounded by immense bamboo trees. I can't see any life in the water, but I do recognize the large termite hives hanging from the higher branches. Each boat has two local rowers, whose only English is about money and tips--which gets a little annoying. I have already handed out a few dollar bills to some young men (partially paralyzed by polio), who are trying to sell books and postcards to support themselves.
After emerging into the sunshine from the cool darkness of the swamp we head for another small island to watch demonstrations of coconut paper-making, honey gathering, and the serving of local fruits. Unfortunately it is somewhat marred by the aggressive sales techniques offering Royal Bee Jelly, which if eaten is supposed to prevent diabetes, and if rubbed in the skin provides a beautiful smooth complexion. At ten dollars each for a very small jar, I decide that I am fine with my wrinkles and will use my diet to prevent diabetes.
After a return boat trip to My Tho, it is time for a peacful two-hour drive back to the ship that gets us her eshortly after 7pm. I have dinner in the Terrace Cafe and skip the entertainment so that I can prepare for tomorrow's day on my own in Saigon.
It's already after bed-time, so I'll save today's pictures for the next posting.
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