We are aboard the Song Xanh Sampan which is our luxurious river boat that we will call home for the next two days.
We were picked up at our hotel by our driver and made the two hour drive to Cai Bei where we met Lan our host with the most! We walked through a small village and Lan pointed out different plants and fruits that were just growing alongside the path, such as Papaya, Jack Fruit, Pineapples, Mango you get the idea.
We walk to a building where we are greeted with some Chinese tea and a rendition of Que Sara Sara by Lan while he took our photo......brilliantly awkwardly funny!
We got to our boat and climbed aboard helped on by the young lad who took our bags for us, he must be about 16 yrs old and about 6 stone wet through, but he had my rucksack and Gemma's to contend with!
And we then got a rendition of Eternal Flame as Lan took our photo again! I joined in this time, as you do!
The boat is lovely, all warm wood and bamboo detailing with white wicker chairs looking out over the front of the boat (yes Roy I know it's not called the 'front' probably the aft or the stern or something) there is a tv mounted on the wall for our viewing pleasure...My boss Mark will now be interested to know that its an unbranded universal flat mount, looks like Brateck.
The real brilliance of this whole thing is whoever employed Lung and his crew, they are outstanding!
We have been cruising for a few hours, and have stopped off at the Coconut Candy shop in Tinh Tien Giang and bought some peanut brittle type stuff, some sesame rice crackers and coconut chopsticks.
Saw a massive fish, a python and some cobra wine...yummy.
We have passed through a floating market where the boat owners advertise what they are selling by attaching an example of their fruit or vegetable onto a stick...ingenious!
Now we are heading down to pass underneath a bridge that was built by an Austrailian, no idea who! Before going to Sadec where we are going to get off and go for a bike ride.......in the rain.......monsoon rain........on a bike........wish us luck.
Location:Mekong Delta
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