This morning I had my Mekong Delta Tour. There was a choice of two one day tours $8 vs $16. I chose the cheaper $8 one. The second one went to a floating village but I thought I might see the same thing when I did the Halong Bay tour in Hanoi (which I did end up seeing) so I was trying to save money. I stocked up on food again from the convenience store. Two sandwiches for 15,000 each (.75 cents) and a 1.5L water bottle for 8000 (.40 cents), snacks 1000-2500 (.5 to .15 cents), chip bag 3000 (.18 cents). I was the last pickup on the bus and it had already filled. I had to sit on a pull down aisle seat at the back and was boxed in between two families from France. Many people had luggage as they were doing the overnight 2 & 3 day trips taking up more room in the minivan. We had the same older gentlemen guide from yesterday. He was singing the same childrens communist songs translated into english. Only this time as it wasnt war stories but farm stories, he was doing lots of illustrative animal noises. He should probably go on one of those tv talent shows. First we had another mandatory factory outlet stop before reaching the mekong delta. Our tour would cover four islands, which wasnt that far and really just doing a big loop but took all day with the stops. We sailed to the side of the first island across from the mainland. Here they were making coconut candies. They crush the coconut into a syrup then mix it with different flavours into a toffee like candy. There was plain coconut, peanut coconut, chocolate and various fruit flavours. I should have bought a pack as they were hard to find in stores afterwards. Then we rode in horse carts around the island. The carts could not go all the way so we walked thru a path of palm trees with banana bunches, fruits, and giant spiders. Then we returned to the boat and the next island for lunch. The restaurant was beside an alligator reserve, which if you are daring enough, can order on the menu. To get to the restaurant we had to walk across a bamboo bridge. The base was one or sometimes two bamboo sticks tied together so not wide enough for your foot. I had to walk carefully making sure my sandals didnt slide off into the water below. Our lunch included rice, vegetables, spring rolls and soup. I gave the pork to others at my table and the spring rolls had meat too. If you didnt want the included menu you could order alligator, ostrich, cobra, eel, or coconut worms. I wasnt daring enough. Alligators sleep with their mouths open and had a light grey colour. I thought the one frozen with its jaws open was fake made of clay until later it startled me by moving. There was a three foot wire fence seperating us and more than a dozen alligators lazily slumbering in the pool or beside. I wondered what would happen if we threw something in but didnt want to try incase we got fined. Scarily one slept with his face against the wire fence. You could practically put your fingers thru and touch it but fortunately nobody tried. Their movements are deceptive in their statue like positions. Their eyes can slowly slide open or shut without you noticing. They can make a sudden violent movement to startle you. We then rode back in the boat again to another island. Here we saw how they made honey tea from the fresh beehives at the entrance. First they put some honey at the base of a cup and added seasame seeds. Then they squeezed some lime and added boiled water. It had a nice sweet flavour. Then we had a sampling of of some local fruits. There was pineapple, grapefruit, melon, watermelon. The one we all liked was called dragon. Its the size of a melon but tastes and looks like white kiwi inside. While we ate a group of traditional singers with a child and music players entertained us Video : Vietnamese Folk Singers at Mekong Delta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=680rase5 BWs Finally the best part was we got to ride in boats thru the waters and tall reeds. We sat four to a boat and were given traditional pointed hats. A villager sat almost crossed leg in the back and paddled the boat. Some women villagers were also the oarsman. It was maybe a 10-15 minute ride navigating the river waters. We now rode back to the mainland and joined our bus home. At this point the group seperated into two for the people doing the overnight trip, while passengers from another group were added to our bus for the return to HCMC. Suddenly all the europeans were gone and my bus was taken over by the cackle of chinese. There was also a dutch glamazon travelling solo who had befriended three backpacker guys. They were always the last ones back but fortunately they were on the overnight bus now. This was one of the best $8 I had spent on the trip as it was a great day. I also noticed the absense of americans on the last two day tours. It was mostly dutch, german, or french, but predominantly european. When the bus got a back into town I headed to the main market, but almost walked out just as quickly. As you walk thru the stalls they reached out their hands and kept touching you trying to get you to come to their stall. With all this touching I would name this 'thieves market' not the street market I had visited yesterday. Back in town I came across a Hindu Mandir so went inside and went back down the outdoor thieves alley market. I was trying to get back to the malay mosque I saw yesterday as there was a halal food cart but today they were gone. At the hostel I had an email from Jetstar saying my flight to Hanoi tomorrow had been changed from 11.50am to 4.30pm. What? This wasted almost the whole day and gave me less time in Hanoi. I also walked around looking for food. There were these baguette carts everywhere but they only had meat items no cheese or veggie. One english menu I found for noodles was mostly pork. Down an alley I found a restaurant a bit more reasonably priced and with an english menu. I ordered a seafood chow mein for 45,000 ($2.25). Now it was back to the hostel for more movies and resting up for tomorrows flight.