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(note: this is one of my pre-scheduled posts set to appear at 5:00am EST each morning I am in a port city. I will post follow-up information about each trip once I am able to get back on the computer.)
This is the trip I will be going on today...
Mekong Delta Day Trip (Time: 0800 - 1630)
(I got assigned to be one of the "trip leaders" for this trip so luckily I will get this event paid for. If you get picked to be the trip leader and the trip is under $50, you get that full amount paid for. If the trip is between $50-$100, you get up to $50 back. If the trip is over $100, a faculty member gets 50% paid for. Trip leaders essentially are responsible for acting as a liaision with the tour operator leading the trip and for keeping students on schedule. It is up to the trip leader to keep track of which students are late and, if necessary, to make the decision to leave without them if they do not follow the schedule. Students get penalized with "dock time" in the next port if they aren't back to the ship or if they cause the group to be delayed.)
Description:
Until the 16th century the Mekong Delta was an area of marshlands and forest. Gradually marshlands were reclaimed and a canal network was built so that today's inhabitants would make a reasonable living from cultivating rice, fish, soybeans, maize, peanuts, tobacco and melons. The My Tho area is famous for its coconut palms and fruit orchards (mangoes, longans, bananas and citrus fruits). The drive out of Ho Chi Minh City (about two hours) takes you through miles of flat rice fields, along a road that is always busy with bicycles and people heading to or from the market. A highlight of this trip is a boat ride on the Mekong River to observe the active river life. The Mekong Delta was annexed from the Khmers in the late 18th century and continues to hold strong influence and social/physical resemblance to Cambodia. Your boat trip takes you to one of the islands in the Mekong Delta to see a traditional farmer's home and fruit orchards where you will have the opportunity to sample exotic tropical fruits. Lunch will be at a local seafood restaurant in My Tho. Please note: Bring sunscreen, bug spray and a hat. (PRICE: $35.00)
Some links relating to today's trip...
Update:
video of a stop along the way from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to My Tho, Vietnam
(click here for bigger version of the video)
some longer video I took on the Mekong River trip near My Tho, Vietnam
(click here for bigger version of the video)
some longer video I took on the Mekong River trip near My Tho, Vietnam
(click here for bigger version of the video)
Much of today's trip felt oddly like a ride in Disney World. If you look at the photos I've posted, you can see why.
Essentially, we did a lot of boat-switching today. I led a bus of 37 students (there was another bus load that another trip leader had as well of about 31 students) and the two bus groups each got on a large boat.
video along the Mekong River in Vietnam
(click here for bigger version of the video)
We took those boats to an area of an island where we were served tea that had a lot of honey in the bottom (apparently the honey in Vietnam is not as sweet as it is in the U.S. and is used a lot in jasmine tea). The tea was good and we were also served some samples of candied fruits that we were available for purchase. From there we got back on the large boats and went to another part of the island where we had a sampling of fruits.
some students sampling local fruits along the Mekong River in Vietnam
After that, we walked to an area where we could get on canoe-type boats. Four people from our group could get on each boat and there was a person at the front and back that rowed us through narrow channels. We were given straw hats to wear on these boats and lots of photos were taken by everyone as we sat on these boats for about 10 minutes.
From there, we got on the large boats again and were taken to yet another set of boats - ones which could hold about 10 people each.
These boats took us to a place that was making coconut candy that tasted like sweetened condensed milk with coconut. After that, we got back on the 10-person boats and were taken to the restaurant where we had lunch.
approaching the restaurant along the Mekong River in Vietnam
restaurant location along the Mekong River in Vietnam
We got back on the 10-person boats after that and were then taken back to the larger boats which took us back to the buses. On the last boat ride, we had the chance to drink coconut milk from our own coconut so, as you can see from my photos, I did so.
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