We started the day by getting on a boat at the river walk to take us to the Cai Rang Floating Market in the Mekong River. Basically a fruit and vegetable wholesale market on boats, it’s even divided in sections based on what is being sold, which can be identified by what is hung from the poles. Among the market boats, small boats slip by — sort of becoming retail shops, selling both the good from the larger boats, as well as convenience store items like water and soda and snacks. All the boats have a gerryrigged motor system with a motorcycle motor attached to a long pole with a propeller on the end, serving as both motor and rudder, which is managed by the boatman’s legs! We stopped at a pineapple boat and watched as they beautifully carved them into fruit sticks — an art form. Some of the market boats stay on the river for a week or more, until they sell all their produce. It was fascinating to watch.
We climbed on our bikes after that tour, and had a most delightful ride through the Mekong Delta villages. The paths were mostly smooth, and there was lots of shade from the large banana leaf trees and other trees with large flowers and leaves. It was even more hot and humid than yesterday, but having all the children shout hello has we rode past made us all feel like celebrities. We stopped for a water break right outside a small kindergarten in a quiet rural area. There weren’t many children because it was fairly remote, but the teachers invited us to come say hello and so we had a delightful few moments interacting with some 4 and 5 year olds. We also stopped outside an elementary school, and the children rushed to the gate to greet us. The first lessons that children have in English are to say “hello”, “how are you?”, “i’m fine”, “what’s your name?”, so we heard those phrases quite a lot, although anything beyond those basics tend to make them run away!
Our lunch was a do-it-yourself hot pot, with a base of either chicken or seafood, and we added the vegetables and scooped it all over rice noodles. I stuck with the vegetables — the chicken included the feet, and the seafood included bits of squid. And on the side, “river chicken” — fried frogs. I’m able to work around the things that I’m unsure of, and there’s always rice and vegetables at every meal.
On the next leg of our journey we passed through a small town and came across a local television show being filmed. The contestants were low-income people from the area, and working in teams they had to undertake some challenges which reminded me of Survivor, albeit “light”. The first contestant had to walk backwards across a plank suspended above some muddy ponds. Once across he had to grab 2 chickens from a pen and deposit them at the start. The second person on the team had to crawl blindfolded through some haystacks, and then grab a frog from a bin. The third, also blindfolded had to crawl across upended canoes, and then grab a snake from the bin with the frogs! And then they had to answer a riddle/puzzle. We didn’t stay for the other contestants, but it was interesting to see the local cheering squad, and the cameramen using drones!
After our ride, we had a 2 hour transport to our hotel. And then dinner along the river. Then bed.
Fascinated by the floating markets and floating villages! And the food, although I think may be a struggle for me, is so incredibly beautiful. It is amazing how the colors pop – a rainbow of simplicity. Keep it comin’!