Vietnam 5 - Can Tho Floating Markets

Thursday we three got up and onto a boat at 5:30, lots of stilt houses and boats selling giant fruit.  Our guide didn't speak much English but was cheerful enough.  Ate lots of fresh fruit from the market, bought sweet coffee from a boat, our guide made us some insects and flowers out of leaves.  Think plant origami.  Grabbed lunch (and beer), stole some milkmelon from the restaurant garden and saw lots of other fruit growing - did everyone else realise pineapple grows straight up out of the ground?!  Maybe I'm the last to know..

Got talking to another boat group by the market when one of the other boat ladies started hitting me!  So here I am, floating along a river in rural Vietnam, being slapped by an old toothless lady boat driver, despite the language difficulties I decided to deal with this carefully and quietly.  Not.  I actually started shouting to her about our children and that a bad honeymoon night wasn't the end of our marriage.  I don't know if she understood but next time she saw us she hit me again.  I think that means she liked me :-P

Next stop was the rice paper factory where we found out how they make the round wraps.  Lots of the kids only go to school in the morning still so they can help out their parents at their work.  It was cool to see the rice paper drying out in the sun.  Back onto the river and we made our way back into town.  
Grabbed a couple beers and then got a late bus back into Saigon and immediately went back for beer and DELICIOUS PUMPKIN JUNGLE CURRY!  Wow, it was good.  Sat in the warm evening drinking cold beer and fending off street venders - whatever they offered first they'd switch to something else if you refused.  "You wan book?" Nope "Lady?" Nope "Marijuana?" Well....  The restaurants and bars in the backpack area had set up kids tables and chairs along a road, it was  fun and super busy for a Thursday.  Until the police showed up and everyone scrambled!

Vietnam 4 - Phu Quoc - Rach Gia - Can Tho

Rach Gia to Can Tho
Booze, cigarettes and a minibus

On Thursday we got up early (yeah, seeing a pattern here?), grabbed a quick breakfast and rented a moped. Ken taught me to ride a motorbike one afternoon in Bulawayo but that was one afternoon years ago. And I didn't have anyone on the back. Nevertheless, off we went, trying not to crash into anyone! Lucky the roads were quiet and we quickly headed through the town and up the road into the jungle. The jungle was cool and quiet, only saw one tour group. Walked around and enjoyed being out in nature so far from civilisation. The trees were cool, Phu Quoc was relatively untouched by agent orange.

Back on the bike, zoomed down the new roads out past the north eastern beaches and back into Duong Dong. I think that whilst everyone laughed at them the Italians were always right - they way to a mans heart is on the back of a Vespa! Looking back at the port at Phu Quoc I was sad to leave. If I ever return this quiet little island will be completely changed by things like the new roads and airport. Hopefully it can retain it's charm and tranquility.

Back to Rach Gia and things were far from peaceful, all the proper buses were full so Ryan, Matt and I ended up going to My Tho in a big minibus, surrounded by people and their chickens, smoking and drinking. Apart from fearing for my life, and the cramped conditions it was actually fun! Got into Can Tho late and found a cheap place in the backpacker area (Ninh Kieu). Decided on a big long dinner of Shabu shabu (so so so good) and Vietnamese wine (umm.. so so cheap!). Booked a boat tour of the floating markets (for early of course!) and headed into bed.