6th - 11th September ... Going to the Mekong Delta

Wednesday

 

We spent the day preparing for our first proper lesson on Thursday. Just to help with the nerves they let us do the lesson in pairs. I was with Inge, the lady from Holland. We had to stay a bit later than the guys so I told them I would see them later. When it came time to leave Inge asked if I had ever been on a motorbike taxi. They are hugely popular here because you can get around fairly quickly and cheaply. Next thing I knew I was on the back of the motorbike heading the wrong way down a one way street! It was a great amount of fun and you get to experience how close all these bikes actually get to each other. I could have high-5'ed about 7 people around me at any given time if I wanted to. I also now know why everyone here wears masks when they drive. Because there are so many bikes around and the traffic is so bad you permanently smell exhaust fumes. This isn't too good when you're balancing on the back of a bike for the first time!

Duncan saw me arrive home and was so chuffed that one of us finally caught a motorbike taxi. Will definitely use one again.

 

Thursday

 

An early start as we had to be at the school at 6:30. We had always heard that Vietnamese kids were very respectful to teachers, so we weren't expecting classroom management to be a huge issue. Pa! We walked into the classroom and about 70% of the students refuse to acknowledge that we were there at all. They held this for the entire lesson. We fought and fought to get them to shut up and pay attention. Eventually the class was over and we left feeling a bit useless and extremely exhausted. Everyone on the course seemed to have this problem and we later found out that this school is particularly bad. One of Duncan's students tried to stab her classmate in the neck with a pen!

 

Friday

 

We each had to take a 45 minute lesson alone today. We were extremely tired after the long week and were expecting another day of hell with the students. I walked into the classroom prepared or battle and got a class of angels. So much better than the little buggers from the day before. After my lesson I went to watch Duncan's lesson (as we all have to do a certain number of observations) and he had a naughtier class than the day before. He ended up sending two kids to the corner of the classroom, threatened to kick another kid out of the classroom and confiscated a kids cellphone. Not a bad tally. He can be very strict when he wants to pull it off. In a very cute way.

When we got back they told us we could have the rest of the day off. Yesssss!!!! The Aussies invited us to go with to the Mekong Delta on Saturday night.

With the afternoon free we went for a swim at the local pool and made plans to see a couple of people from school at O'Briens for the rugby. As we were on our way out Mr Tu told us he was heading into town and offered to drop us 2 blocks away from the pub. Its an easy walk and we wouldn't have to take a taxi. We thought we had scored. But as we stepped out of his car the heavens opened and we had a torrential down pour. Initially we started running, but after about 20 seconds we were soaked through. When we reached the pub the waitresses took pity on us, gave us a towel, a free t-shirt and spent the evening mopping up after us.

After a while we all went to get some dinner. The Irish guy has been in HCM for about a year and took us to a local place. We looked at the menu and laughed. They served snake, scorpion, frog and a few other dodgy things I would rather not mention! He managed to order some "normal food" for the table and while we were waiting for it to arrive he asked all of us if we had eaten anything funny. Nobody had, and the next thing we all had a scorpion in front of us. By this stage we were a few beers down so everyone was up for eating scorpion (except Donovan the ninny). It was the worst thing I've ever ever EVER eaten. It tasted like charcoal with a bit of funny tasting meat inside.

When our proper food did arrive we had raw meat and a little braai on the table to cook it, as well as a roasted chicken with the head still attached. Beak and all. Apparently this is a delicacy so a couple of us tried a nibble. I think Duncan and I got brains. It was disgusting!

I decided that one of two things happened that night. 1. The Irishman taught us quite a bit about local cuisine or 2. The Irishman had a good laugh at 8 classmate's expense.

 

The Mekong Delta

 

Saturday

 

We met the group at 8 to leave, and there were about 8 of us. Us three "Safa's", the two Aussies, the 2 Canadians and the Englishman. After 2 hours on the bus we stopped at a huge Pagoda. In the entrance there was a huge Buddhist statue. I cannot describe how tall the statue was, and I forgot to ask. There was also a big  "laughing" Buddha statue which wasn't as tall as the first statue, but made up for this in width. They were magnificent. We walked around the gardens for a while which were very pretty. I think everyone enjoyed the experience, it was beautiful and calm inside.

After the temple, we got onto a boat on the Mekong river. The river system is fascinating. There are little tributaries acting as alley ways and the main river is like their highway. We stopped off on Turtle Island for lunch and were then off to a coconut farm. The farm was interesting, they use every part of a coconut for various reasons, from skin & hair care, weaving mats, fuel and candy. Then they showed us how the candy was made and "gave" us some to buy. After the big talk they had given us about coconuts and their lively hood we felt obligated to buy some. Good sales pitch. We then tried their banana whiskey and rice wine.

After that they showed us their bee and honey farm, and gave us honey tea. This was a crazy process! They give you the drink, tell you stir it quickly and drink it as fast as possible because "the bee's try and get their honey back". They weren't joking. As soon as you stir the drink the bee's arrive. And they try get on your lips for the honey. Eventually they settle for your empty glass where they drown in the remains. Absurdly funny.

We then went on a smaller paddle boat where we had a relaxing cruise down one of the scenic tributaries. Our driver/paddler gave us the traditional Vietnamese hats to wear which was fantastic as I have been dying to wear one! The paddle was gorgeous, definitely one of my favourite parts of the trip.

Our driver dropped us off at another village where we tasted fruit and got to listen to a local band. The lady started singing and it took major skill for everyone at the table not to laugh. She sounded like a cat going from a turf fight to having its tail stood on in a matter of seconds. Good variation, just not the right tone, pitch etc. If this is the competition I may enter Idols here.

On the plus side, they gave us litchi's which looked like purple spikie balls!

After that it was back on the bus for 2 more hours to the heart of the Mekong. When you book the tour they offer you either a 1 star hotel or a home stay, which is where you go into the river and experience their life on the river. 6 of us opted for the home stay. We were dropped off on the side of the highway. A man then appeared and herded us across the highway, along a dirt road, under a bridge and into his boat. We paddled down the stream and saw how these people live. Their houses are literally on the water. I can only describe it as Vietnam's Venice.

Our home stay was these beautiful thatched bungalow's on the river. It was an absolutely gorgeous view onto the river and the mangroves. Very rustic and peaceful. Our room had a bed, a mozzie net and a loo which is all we needed. 

or dinner, a lady taught us how to pack and roll spring rolls. We did this and she took it away, she then returned with bowls of noodles, rice, cucumber, tomatoes, tofu, herbs, a whole fish and rice paper. She showed us how to make rice paper rolls and the order in which everything must go into them. She brought back our fried spring rolls and we had a delicious feast.

There was a village celebration going on and we fell asleep to the sound of bongo drums and rain on our thatched roof. Absolutely perfect!

 

Sunday

 

We woke up at 5 and a man took us on a walk around the village and across the river to the local market. Everyone sells something different and they are self sustainable. A very different lifestyle but everyone looks pretty happy. 

Later, we met up with the tour group again to see the famous "floating market". It was incredible, there were so many boats selling different sorts of produce. The people do this everyday and live on their boats. I think they get their produce from cousins etc. All the families seem to be in business together. After this we went to a rice farm and a fruit farm. They were interesting but a bit too much guilt was laid on. Maybe we're just a bit un-attached to this kind of thing as they seem to be doing a lot better than most African families.

 

All in all, it was a wonderful trip. Very touristy but at the end of the day that is what we are here. Came home to a ton of homework and the thought of going back to that school next week