Sunday, April 17, 2011
April 16
This was a full day on the Mekong Delta.
First, we visited a local brick factory. You wouldn't believe how labor intensive this work is for the people. Men and women making the clay, forming the bricks, hauling bricks in wheelbarrows to kilns, and stacking the bricks for shipment. Truly amazing!
Next, we went to a coconut processing plant where girls made coconut candy. They also wrapped each piece in rice paper, then a wrapper when another girl would package them for sale. Besides candy, the coconut is used to make wooden serving utensils, handbags, bowls, knick knacks, etc. At this same site we had a snack of tropical fruits and honey tea.
We also visited a house where women used coconut fibers to weave sleeping mats for adults and children as well as place mats.
Lunch was served at a place where one could do a home stay. The facilities actually weed better than some of our camping sites. After lunch, we were scheduled for a 45 minute bike ride through the village. Well, the narrow path of about one meter wide was dirt and rocks, followed by a narrow bridge over a Mekong canal. The bike was a bit unstable, especially the unresponsive steering. Can you imagine what happened next? Yes, Carol and her bike landed in the Mekong!! I was in water and muck waist deep! Fortunately, I wasn't hurt, but only suffered scrapes to my upper arm as three lifted me up and over. Besides the bruised arm was my ego...what a story, not captured on camera!
I was able to shower at the home stay and also washed out my shorts and passport! Then I realized my camera was still in my pocket! After emerging from a shower with no soap, facecloth, or hot water, I felt so much better. Happy, our tour guide, dried off the passport and we then took a motorized bike back to the village! passport, camera, and I survived!
First, we visited a local brick factory. You wouldn't believe how labor intensive this work is for the people. Men and women making the clay, forming the bricks, hauling bricks in wheelbarrows to kilns, and stacking the bricks for shipment. Truly amazing!
Next, we went to a coconut processing plant where girls made coconut candy. They also wrapped each piece in rice paper, then a wrapper when another girl would package them for sale. Besides candy, the coconut is used to make wooden serving utensils, handbags, bowls, knick knacks, etc. At this same site we had a snack of tropical fruits and honey tea.
We also visited a house where women used coconut fibers to weave sleeping mats for adults and children as well as place mats.
Lunch was served at a place where one could do a home stay. The facilities actually weed better than some of our camping sites. After lunch, we were scheduled for a 45 minute bike ride through the village. Well, the narrow path of about one meter wide was dirt and rocks, followed by a narrow bridge over a Mekong canal. The bike was a bit unstable, especially the unresponsive steering. Can you imagine what happened next? Yes, Carol and her bike landed in the Mekong!! I was in water and muck waist deep! Fortunately, I wasn't hurt, but only suffered scrapes to my upper arm as three lifted me up and over. Besides the bruised arm was my ego...what a story, not captured on camera!
I was able to shower at the home stay and also washed out my shorts and passport! Then I realized my camera was still in my pocket! After emerging from a shower with no soap, facecloth, or hot water, I felt so much better. Happy, our tour guide, dried off the passport and we then took a motorized bike back to the village! passport, camera, and I survived!
April 15: After the tunnels
Upon leaving the tunnels, one could only imagine the determination, courage, resourcefulness, and resolve of these people. How many of us could endure such hardship?
We then had lunch at a restaurant with s fixed menu, one of the unusual items was elephant ear crusted fish!
We then had lunch at a restaurant with s fixed menu, one of the unusual items was elephant ear crusted fish!
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