FLOATING MARKETS AND OTHER STUFF

We have seen and done so much and with limited internet connectivity and when we were connected, it was so slow, I have not been able to do the blog as often as I would have liked.  So, in no particular order, I will tell of some of our adventures. 

We were out a few times on a sampan boat that carried all of us.  One adventure took us down a canal on the Mekong to see the floating market place.  It was not quite as I expected from pictures I had seen, but this one was for fruits and vegetables.  From a pole on the bow, they hang a sample of what they are selling so you can easily row your long boat up to make a purchase.  For instance in this picture I show some unknown Asian vegetables and I think that in the second photo you can see how crammed in everyone is. It was a busy place for sure. 

floating market

The sampan also took us to a village where they were making bricks.  I still find it very fascinating that there are specific villages for specific things.  We saw a village that wove cloth, a village that made silver articles, a village that wove straw mats and the brick village.  We visited a candy making place and a place that made rice crackery things.  We made purchases at most places, but not at the brick factory.

Along the Mekong we noticed that every boat has eyes.  As legend has it, the Mekong was full of crocodiles or alligators and other beasts and so to protect the people in the boats that were travelling along the waterways, eyes were painted on the bows to show these river monsters that the floating craft was a bigger beast than they were so they better beware and leave well enough alone!  The plan must have worked cause there aren't any crocodiles or alligators in there now.

We have visited temples of all kinds and one thing is perfectly clear to me - I hate the smell of incense - It is everywhere - but especially in the temples.  They light incense like some of us would light candles - to remember someone who has passed or also to accompany a prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

Trying to understand the traffic signals is nuts, but at least in Saigon, there are traffic lights.  They count down from when red will turn green and when green will turn red.  Drivers here anticipate the light turning green and are usually half way through the intersection before it actually happens.  People here drive with their horns all the time.  Most of the time it is to say, I am coming up behind you so be prepared.  They don't honk in anger.  Pedestrians do not have the right of way.  In fact the streets everywhere we have seen are a free for all with motorcycles, cars, trucks, bicycles, push carts and people walking.  We have only seen a couple of accidents and nothing serious which is amazing considering what the streets look like at any time.

Another interesting thing is that on the rice fields or farm land, family members who pass are buried on the family farm land.  There the spirits of the departed will watch over the farm and the family members.  We saw a lot of the tombs as we were driving from the boat into Saigon.

Well, I want to get this posted with pictures before it is time to go out for dinner.  We have a good internet connection now that we are in the hotel in Saigon.  Two nights here, 3 in Bangkok and then home - yes I am looking forward to home!

 

 

MUSINGS WHILE WAITING FOR CLEARANCE AT THE CAMBODIA VIETNAM BORDER

We are having a lovely day of river cruising.  Athough the temperature is once again very hot and the humidity is very high, as we are making our way down the Mekong River, the breeze created by moving is lovely and cooling.  In the air everywhere are floating spider webs.  If you are sitting at the front of the ship on any deck, you are likely to have some lacy strands attach themselves to your face and body.  I am pretty sure that each of these white strands contains a small travelling spider – but I’m ok with that.  It’s kind of like standing near the thing that spins the sugar to make candy floss at the PNE.


Yep, beetles, spiders, crickets and silk worms

It is possible to be just as wet from sweat as it is from rain.  We walked through a rain storm the other day and found that one out.  We had just come out of the U ME Spa after a $14 mani/pedi and it was raining.  Since it was only about 3 blocks back to the ship, we decided to walk which isn’t easy especially when motorcycles, food carts, shop stands, tuk tuk drivers and other people are all standing about.  When we arrived back at the boat, we were wet from the outside in and the inside out.

 

Monks are people too.  We received a blessing by Udon Monks during one of our outings.  It was beautifully chanted and during the blessing flowers and petals were thrown out to us.  It was a really nice ceremony and when it was over the monks interacted with us a bit.  One of them took out his cel phone and took a picture of all of us.  I managed to take a picture of him laughing and enjoying our company. 

You can watch the weather arrive.  I’m sure that because it is the rainy season storms can come up at the drop of a hat.  We are in the middle of one right now.  It is bouncing off the deck.  On these ships, the only public areas are outside.  So with the torrential rains and wind that accompanies the storm, the only place to go is inside the cabin.  Here are some factoids about the ship:  The library contains 68 books (I counted them) The gift shop items are displayed on 4 small shelves surrounding the purser’s desk (more weaving, silver and pepper and tea).  There is one public toilet and it broke today – thank goodness there is one in each cabin.  The bar (yes only one of those too) has 5 bottles of free spirits, 24 bottles of premium liquor, wine, beer, pop, juice and coffee or tea.  The wheelhouse is about 40 square feet.  There are 4 decks and no elevator. 

If the itinerary includes a village visit to see artisans or an orphanage or an elementary school or or or…maybe have your wallet ready to make a purchase or a donation.  It’s never a lot and I truly don’t mind – just be prepared when I get home to receive your hand crafted gifts graciously lol…and maybe a picture of the person who crafted the item.

Beauty is everywhere!

SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL TO THE WEAVERS' VILLAGE

We travelled over many bumpy roads again today to a village where the women do weaving.  You can tell how many weavers live in the stilted house by the number of looms under the house.  Just walking by, you can hear the click of the shuttles as they are thrown back and forth creating the beautifully crafted scarves, runners and shawls.

 

The people follow you around asking that you please buy from their stall at the end of the walkabout.  Ultimately we are supporting the local economy and helping send the children of the families to school.  They work so hard and in the poorest of conditions, but they are happy and smiling and proud of their work.  It was impossible to buy one item from every single vendor, but believe me I gave it my best shot…in the words of one of our travel companions, “Well, I just bought 5 scarves and 2 runners that I don’t need”.   I can tell you, I did the same.

We were allowed to go inside one of the family’s stilted houses.  The floor is made of bamboo and it was a little disconcerting to walk across it when you can see down to the ground 20 feet below.  The slats are so skinny – thank goodness bamboo is incredibly strong.

flooring
 

Inside Kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 



TV in the Living Room



 

 

 

 

 

 

The furniture was spartan in the few rooms and consisted of a living room, 2 bedrooms, a separate room for grandma and a kitchen. That’s it – but please look and see the TV in the living room!  Under the house were hammocks, the looms tables and chairs – they live under there during the heat of the day and when the water isn’t very high – it is cooler than the house.



Outside Kitchen





Bedroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Periodically, I will throw a few of these random photos in of things I find interesting or strange.  Maybe you will enjoy them too! 

 

Local Bus

Drinking Boxes (Bags)

Gas Pump

Gerry Can at Side of the Road Stands

Taxi Cab for 4

 Well enough for now - hope you are having happy days - all is well here in lotus land!

ORPHANAGE AND VILLAGE VISIT

This morning we left the floating hotel for a tour of the Twin Holy Mountains. Here if there is a hill that is higher than a termite mound…they call it a mountain. We saw many statues of Buddha including the great reclining Buddha – at least a replica the original is in Siem Reap.  We were told there were 60 steps – and I immediately thought oh sh** not again.  But to my utter delight – they were going down.,..thank you Buddha!   The highlight of this temple for me were all the monkeys.  What a treat - there were adults, babies and juveniles.  How wonderful to see them.  I took so many pictures.

Soon we were off to an orphanage.  We were each paired with a child who took us around to show us the area where they do some paintings for sale and make handicrafts for sale.  Basically they nourish the children, teach them to make handicrafts, educate them and then if they are good enough, they can earn 100% scholarship to collage.  The children come to this orphanage in a few different ways.  Their parents are both deceased; they only have 1 parent due to death, divorce, or abandonment; parent or parents cannot afford to care for them – perhaps due to illness.  The children seem very happy, clean and polite.  It is interesting that our guide for this part of  the journey said that the first pencil and papers he had to write with came from Unicef.  So the little Hallowe’en boxes did help.  I bought several paintings and some of the handmade sewn purses and bags.  I was able to get a photo of the child who make the item holding it.  A lovely and wonderful experience.

We returned to the ship for lunch and set sail for Chong Koh – a small village where we will have an opportunity to have a walking tour purchase some of the locally woven silks and cottons.  So as soon as we got ashore, we were bombarded by the local craftspeople wanting us to come to their display to purchase their goods.  Mostly they were all the same, but of course crafted by different households.  Every family was as deserving.  Finally I had about 4 people following me around.  Helping me navigate the muddy gumbo (we just had a heavy rainfall moments before), answering their questions about my family and my children.  Just trying to keep my attention during the walkabout in the village so that I would purchase something on the way out. 

We were able to go inside of one of the stilted houses.  It was fascinating – hardly any furniture, but a television et.  There were two kitchens one under the house and one up in the house.  During the dry season, they use the kitchen under the house, but when the waters are high, they are using the kitchen in the house.   During the day, the families spend there time living outside and under the house because it is too hot upstairs, however they do go up there to sleep.  Bathing is done in a big clay pot outside and sometimes they have an outdoor outhouse, otherwise it is …. just outdoors! 

So after our walkabout, our feet were covered in mud and now it was time to buy some wares.  I managed to buy something from each of the 4 followers and then finally gave a few $1 away to the other children.  Then back on the ship to journey down the Mekong to Phnom Penhm.

 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VISIT

We were up and out of the hotel by
8:30 to go to the  elementary school that Viking Cruise Lines sponsors.  The ride was very interesting – travelling down dirt roads in such rural areas.  The soil is so very red here – must be full of iron.  Got some great pictures out of the bus window using the extreme camera shake setting on the camera.  Seeing the families travelling together on the motor scooter is always interesting.  Dad driving – sometimes a little child in front of him and then a bigger child in the middle and mom on the back.  No helmets but this is how they get around.

When we got to the school, a little girl came up to walk with me and show me around.  Her name was Vannatheab.  She read an I Spy book to me and showed me the different rooms. 

There was a library – sadly with very few books and books that would not be very good for the children who are learning to read.  There were many empty shelves.  Made me wonder if there are some discards in the school I work at that would have some various ESL beginning readers that I can somehow send to help fill the shelves.  They also had a computer room with some older but not ancient computers and evidently they have internet. Then there were 2 other classrooms where the children were repeating phrases from the blackboard.  Then the children sang two songs for us – If you are happy and you know it and then a song in Khmer language.  They were so cute.

We went back to the hotel to check out and get on our way to Kampong Cham to board the boat for our river cruise.  It was a long ride – about 4.5 hours.  We were about half way through of some kidney shaking road surface when we stopped at a happy place (place with a bathroom) and then back on the bus for the rest of the trip.  Tony – our tour guide for the two weeks – said ok we are finished with the smooth part of the ride now we get Cambodian back massage.  My goodness, he wasn’t far off the mark.  There were lots of pot holes and we took them all at great speed…but we did arrive alive and boarded the RV Saigon Pandaw for our Mekong River Journey.

 

We did a cruise around the area, but docked back at Kampong Cham for the night.  Never really thought about it, but we dock at night and scenic cruising during the day – that’s the difference of a river cruise.

So, after dinner, there was a movie about Pol Pot, but I was so very tired I just went to bed.  He was a nasty person anyway and although I would have liked to take part, I was in no shape to.  I just needed some sleep.

Til tomorrow…

TWO TEMPLES IT MUST BE SUNDAY

Even though we left the hotel at 8:30 in the morning, it was still very hot.  We were only a short ride away from the temple.  There were lots of people there already.  We walked around the grounds and then into the temple and were immediately impressed by it's size and the number of buildings. 

We were allowed to go to the 3rd floor and it very nearly killed me to do it in the heat and the steep stairs.  I did make it however and was glad I took the opportunity.  The amount of bas relief on every wall and pillar is stunning...and the detail that is still visible a thousand years later took my breath away - no wait a minute - it was the damn stairs!  I don't know how many pictures I took - but it was lots.  We were only allowed to be up in the temple for 20 minutes.  They limit the number of people and the length of time for a visit because the are not sure the structure can withstand unlimited amounts of people at any one time.  So, nuf said - now just enjoy the pictures of this Unesco World Heritage Site

So there are some pictures to show you today.  I thought I would not talk a lot but just let you see what we are seeing..  It appears that I have taken 444 pictures.  There are certainly discards, but it has been easy so far to just click away.  So glad I bought an extra battery.  At least I leave with 2 fully charged ones every time we go somewhere.

Daily Laundry

Meridian Hotel in Cambodia

Peanut Sellers at the temple

Stairs up to the 3rd Level at Angkor Wat
YES I WENT UP AND DOWN

Looking Down and over the canopy

Temple Angkor Thom (smling buddah temple)

Tuk Tuk Ride

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm

i

Bantereay Sei (Woman's Temple)



Angkor Wat

 

 



 

WE MADE IT - WE ARE IN SIEM REAP!

After a possible flight cancellation and many delays due to a storm in Hanoi - we arrived in Siem
Reap at 10:00 last night.  During the time at the airport, we took advantage of a US$29.00 one hour massage at the Happy Foot Massage.  Different for sure!  We were taken into a dimly lit room with chairs.  We sat in the chair with a large ottoman for our legs and feet and then a smaller stool - presumable for the masseuse.  Soon our lovely attendant came with a bucket of warm water and then we sat perched on the edge of the ottoman with our feet cramped in the rather small bucket and to my horror, the bottom of the bucket was all bumpy - I mean large knobbly things.  So just as I was feeling not to comfortable, my back was being massaged - or rather pounded, kneaded and slapped by the sweet lovely young thing behind me.  Then as I am getting used to this, she pulls my shoulders back and now my head is in her lap and her knees are moving around in my kidneys.  OMG I have only been here for 10 minutes - that means 50 minutes to go.  Now I am getting a new hairdo and my shoulders and neck are feeling the results of her rather strong fingers for such a diminutive beauty.  OK time to be sat up.  Now she indicates to turn around, put my feet in the chair, lean back on the ottoman ... again my head is in her lap - time for the slap tickle thump on my cranium.  Still another 20 minutes to go - hey - this is feeling rather nice.  Just as I am finally beginning to relax, I am once again sat up, this time the right way in the chair, with a pillow under each arm.  Carefully and deftly my arms, wrists and hands are manipulated and firmly massaged.  Then it all stops - and I hear thank you - you go now.  Yep it has been an hour - it was an experience and ended happily.  (no - not the happy ending...)

Another hour and it was time to board.  Hey we got upgraded to Business Class.  A shame it is only a 90 minute flight.  We had a bit of a bumpy ride, but nothing as scary as trying to cross the street in Hanoi.  The hotel is very large and one needs to go to a map to find the room location.  The bed is interesting - a thick and solid mattress on a plank frame.  No give to it - but I still slept well - must have been tired.

The lights in the room are controlled by putting a room key in a slot that allows the electricity to be on while the key is in place.  However, there is one overhead light that I cannot seem to turn off, so I had to remove the key in order to sleep.  It made getting up to pee in the middle of the night quite challenging in our rather large room.  At 5:30 both of us were awake even though it was still quite dark, so we decided to start our day.  Diana headed for the bathroom and I headed to put the key in the slot.  Thank goodness it turned on the lights when it did, cause to my horror, Diana, pyjamas in the down position and backing up... was just about to sit on the luggage stand in the closet.  It made for an interesting and hilarious start to our day.  There would definitely be no sleeping after that.

We are up now - breakfasted and ready to get on the bus to go to Angkor Wat.  The grounds of the hotel are beautiful - I will be taking pictures later.  But in the interest of getting this onto the blog, I will leave the pictures until later.  It is already evening to you and I want to be in touch before you retire for the evening.  So look in tomorrow morning to see the views from today. 

Love to all

LIKE NIGHT AND DAY

    

Last night we walked to a night market.  Part of the way took us by the lake.  It was amazing to see everyone outside and enjoying themselves.  There were family groups everywhere.  There was zoomba fitness, latin funk dancing, ballroom dancing, rollerskating, tai chi, people fishing.  It was busy and bustling.  Crossing the streets involves taking your life into your hands.  There were four of us braving the street and I ended up hanging on for dear life to the lady that was nearest.  I kept apologizing but couldn't let go.  She just kept repeating keep your head up and walk with a purpose.  It worked, we made it and lived to tell the tale.  It was lovely to be walking at night and felt very safe to be out and about.  We were warned to be aware of our surroundings and keep purses and wallet s close.

When we got to the night market, there was not a lot to see.  Mostly belts, cell phone covers, t-shirts, jewelry and PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.  After walking around for 40 minutes or so, we hailed a cab to take us back to the hotel.  For the 4 of us the cost was $3.00US or 50,000 VND.  It was cheap, air conditioned and well worth the $1.00 tip I gave him when he dropped us off.

 

This morning we awoke to a deluge of rain.  It is windy, raining, but still very warm.  We are going on a city tour in what could be defined as larger golf carts.  Each cart holds 1 driver and 5 passengers and in the pouring rain - off we went.  We were reasonable dry for our tour of the old part of the city

It was a lot of fun.  We drove to the old section of the city and saw what daily life is like on the streets of Hanoi.  The traffic is always scary and the people drive in every direction with very few stop lights and no stop signs.  There are a million or more motor scooters and 500,000 cars and 100,000 pedestrians and 50,000 bicycles and the odd bus and everyone is using the same narrow street as we are.  They come at you from all directions...horns honking and only barely slowing down.

The vendors in town seem to be arranged ... i.e., there was a spice section with such amazing aromas - even though it was raining, you could smell the pungent aromas - then there was a restaurant section - another assault on the olfactory senses.  We drove through streets with nothing but clothes, then hardware, then household supplies, food stuffs, baby needs and so it went.  People sitting at little tables on the streets eating, visiting or drinking or cleaning vegetables or simply just sitting.  Life here is very different from home - and so social.

I took so many pictures and so enjoyed the ride.  It was a great experience and the rain did not hamper us a bit.  Life here doesn't stop for the rain and neither will we!

So now we are off to the airport for our flight to Siem
Reap in Cambodia for the next great adventure - see you there!

XIN CHAO FROM HANOI

Hey look at me - I'm a millionaire!

Today we had a great day of touring around.  There were many times I was wishing for cool and dry instead of hot and humid - but I expected that.  Thank goodness for air conditioned hotel, air conditioned bus and lots of fans everywhere!

After our most enjoyable breakfast, we boarded our tour bus to go to the mausoleum of people's most beloved leader, Ho Chi Minh. 

Had it been any other day than Friday, we would have been able to go inside and see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, but on Friday, it is closed to all and I was quite ok with that.  Evidently Ho returns to Russia every year for 2 months to have "work done".  I wonder if Phyllis Diller uses the same people.

There are a few other tour groups around, but it is a quieter time of the year as it is heading into their rainy season.  Although we haven't had any rain just yet, today there is a typhoon heading into Ha Long Bay and other tour groups were cancelling - that stop is not on our itinerary.  Our tour which would have 68 people if it was full only has 31 guests - it will make for a very close and personal cruise adventure!

So after the mausoleum, we visited the Museum of Ethnology.  There are 54 separate ethnic groups making up Vietnam and this museum was to showcase their similarities and their diversity.  It was an interesting look inside, and all around the outside of the museum were some of the different styles of traditional houses.  I hope to see some of these when we head on our river cruise in a few days.

In the afternoon we visited a temple of literature and then to the Hoa Lo Prison - aka Hanoi Hilton.  I don't take pictures of places like that.  It was a time in in history and it was interesting to see.  Also interesting was to read the dialogue on the good and humane treatment of prisoners while they were imprisoned there.  Reminded me of another time when Peter and I were in Dachau.  We did not visit the concentration camp, but the literature said that the chambers were never used.  One must always be respectful when visiting a foreign country and listen to the history as they tell it.

Then back to the hotel to shower and wash clothes - there were already soaking wet anyway!  Tonight is a gala dinner - thank goodness not gala clothes - they will have to be satisfied with a nice top and some clean pants.  Then afterwards, Diana said there is a night market close by.  We will see if it is something we can walk to ... and whether or not we should venture out on our own.  Our tour guide Tony will help us make the decision.

Tam biet for now!

GOOOOOOD MORNING VIETNAM !

We had a wonderful sleep last night when we finally got to bed - I think it worked out that we were up 22 hours.  On the transfer from the airport to the hotel - which was close to an hour, my eyes were shut - so I had no idea of anything...Diana was commenting on different things she saw in the dark and it all was just noise.

Got to the hotel and it was a welcome relief - the beds are comfortable and sooooo inviting.  I slept.  We awoke at 6:00 and I felt ready to get going.  I opened the curtains to an amazing view.  How beautiful it is here.  Most hotels it seems when I open the curtains I see highway signs like the one about the interactive colon exhibit (see New Orleans day 1) ...not here - they know how to treat a visitor.

Breakfast in the hotel was more than I could ever have imagined.  Beautiful fresh fruit - I think I will overdose on mango before the trip is over - I'm gonna try anyway.  I had to laugh when I got to the table - the knives were Matthew's knives and the water was Perrier - Sarah and Matthew you need to come here!

  

 I took a wonderful group of pictures of a lady in the restaurant making fresh spring rolls.  Wow - everything is so fresh and interesting. Even the yoghurt was freshly made and very delicious.  So far the people are always polite and smiling and I understand that is normal for this part of the world.  Well, almost time for the morning briefing.  So I will leave for now and write more later after we have learning something interesting from our first day of touring.

Ciao for now... (don't know how to say bye yet in the language of these beautiful people)

ALMOST ON OUR WAY...

So, today, we have travelled by car, then by bus….and by train – and we haven’t left the Seattle Airport yet.  We had an easy drive down and an easy check in.  We learned that the plane is full and lots of children.  Aren’t we lucky.  

 

As I  look around the waiting area – I can see that it is true – there are lots of kids from babies up.  We’ll see how it goes.  I think Diana and I have a bulk head seat so we may be a little more comfortable…At the moment it is cloudy and a bit cooler than the preceding days.  Probably the last time we can say that….  

 

Our flight is on time and we are set to board in 35 minutes.  Then 11 hours and 20 minutes later we will have 2 hours to catch our next flight of 4 hours and 35 minutes.  If we survive that, I will write again!

 

Cheers….

 

NEW ADVENTURE STARTING JULY 31, 2013

 

My friend Diana Townley and I have been friends for 40+ years and we are going on a land and river cruise on the Mekong River.  We will be visiting Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and even a day trip into Seoul, Korea.  It will be amazing for sure. 

We leave on Wednesday, July 31 and travel for a total of 11 hours and 20 minute to Seoul, Korea and then after a 2 hour layover, we travel a further 4 hours and 35 minutes to Hanoi, Vietnam.  We travel on land and a short airplane hop until we reach Siem Reap, Cambodia August 6th - when we board the Viking RV Indochina.  We will cruise down the Mekong River until the 13th of August when we disembark in Ho Chi Min City and do some city tours - lots to see.  Then we fly to Bangkok, Thailand for 3 nights.  Then on our way home, we have a 12 hour layover in Seoul so we have book a city tour before the 11 hours or so home to Canada.

Here is a sample of the things we will see.  (click here) Itinerary

Wow - if we do all that, we will be needing to come home for a rest!  So if you want, follow along with us and let's see what each day will bring!

More to follow...