Carried a snake and drunk rice wine in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

-



This day tour is a refreshing one compared to the cu chi tunnel tour so we chose this one. In this tour, we navigated the Mekong river via a motorized boat and when we reached an island, we used the small boat with many village folks manning the boat.

We had lunch in a restaurant where we ordered fish (we splurged 350,000 dong as I can recall because it was our last day) and the lady made a spring roll in our midst using the fish and some greens. In this tour, I sampled the coconut candy and the vietnamese rice wine aside from the tropical fruits like pineapple, watermelon and longgan as well as dragonfruit.

We passed by a bridge consisting of coconut trunk and some bamboos tied with nylon strings which they call "monkey bridge" as one looks like a monkey while slowly traversing the bridge. Below the bridge is a pack of hungry crocodiles...

And lastly, while I don't like it... I carried a big snake on my shoulder...

I recall, it was for 10$ day tour and the village is groomed to cater the tourist. No wonder, a template of the tour can be found in the internet. Here's one of the tour offer that described it..


Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – My Tho – Ben Tre – Ho Chi Minh City (B/L/)
Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel at 08:00 in Ho Chi Minh City and depart for My Tho, enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields, stopping to see how the rice is cultivated an take pictures of the rice farms in the Mekong River Delta. On arrival at My Tho, take a leisurely boat trip to Tortoise Island. Then disembark and go for a gentle stroll through the picturesque orchards and fruit garden.
Enjoy lunch on the island, followed by a traditional cock fighting display. Enjoy a boat ride through Tan Thach natural canal in Ben Tre, Return to the water for a relaxing rowing boat ride along a small canal, cruising in the shade of the water coconut trees. Learn about bee-keeping in the delta and sip a refreshing cup of honey tea to the accompaniment of traditional Vietnamese folk music. Then travel the narrow rural road by horse and cart to visit the coconut candy mill to find out how this delicious confectionery is made and sample the finished product. Return by boat to My Tho and drive back to Saigon. Diner by your own and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.



The motorized boat that brought us to an island village...

The boats and the rowers...

She had her rice wine here...

Colorful door mats that can be used as wall decor...

He is the "Lito Lapid" or "Rey Malonzo"
of Vietnam;
 He sang some Vietnamese songs for us.

While listening to the singers, we had tea and these fruits...

This is the main village.. we had a horse cart ride...

The so-called monkey bridge...

The luxurious 350,000 dong fish...




We have the same vegetable produce...

We chanced upon the colorfully robed monks...


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you still remember how Sarali or Sirali taste?

-
Image
This "Sarali" is a childhood fruit for everyone who grew up in the Visayan area of the Philippines. Also known as  Flacourtia jangomas or Indian Plum or coffee plum, Sarali is best enjoyed by pressing one fruit between one's palm, move it in circular motion until tender, and pop the soft flesh quickly in one's mouth save the seeds. Just like apple, this fruit oxidizes quickly and thus, gets dark brown easily. It can give one's teeth a nasty brown shade. Sour with a hint of sweet, this is a must-try fruit. I believe, the fruit has an economic value just like sarguellas and lanzones. *** *** *** ***  Related readings:  Possible Treatment of Diabetes http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2959214/ Anti bacterial property:  http://www.ijplsjournal.com/issues%20PDF%20files/july2011/1.pdf
Read more

Is this a Philippine Wisteria?

-
Image
    Crossing my fingers. This is a Philippine Wisteria. Got this marcoted/grafted plant when Bartering was still a fad and when plants are fashionable. Thank you Summer and Rain's Garden in La Carlota City. I was so flabbergasted that I have a potted Wisteria, a Philippine Wisteria, I was told. I tried growing wisteria from seeds bought online but they did not reward me anything but frustration.  Voila! In less than a year when it was given to me, my wisteria produced flowers. The plant first shed off its leaves and grew new sets of leaves and the buds. Purple it came this March in time for the Women's Month Celebration. Isn't that sweet coincidence?       Wisteria can grow high and wave its flowers like rain showers. Blooming wisteria in most photos can be magical and much prettier than cherry blossoms. But I guess my  
Read more

TIKUM KADLUM (The Enchanted Dog, The First of the Ten Epics of Panay Bukidnon)

-
Image
At the house. One day, Bulawanon engaged the help of Tikum Kadlum, a hunting dog with the gift of sensing the spirits, in cooking rice for his husband Paiburong and his brother Dumaraog who will be going hunting. When the rice was cooked, the brothers ate fast. Then, while Bulawanon packed the betel nut for her husband, Paiburong and Dumaraog dressed themselves, with Dumaraog suggesting they match their sashes and belts, since he is his brother's loyal protector. To complete their hunting preparations, the two brought out their long-bladed sharp knives, shields, spears, and lances from their gold chest and wall hanger. When everything is set, Paiburong bade goodbye to his wife, Bulawanon, who reminded her husband to be careful as he might meet in the forest one named Makabagting, who is accompanied by a man-eating woman called Muwa. Makabagting is a nobleman and a warrior who is widely known as having tasted human flesh. Paiburong went out of his house, and he heard a sound. It
Read more