We headed out to Mekong Delta by bus in the morning and arrive around lunchtime. We board our boat that sails us down the river. Life in this part of Vietnam revolves largely around the Mekong River and is busy with people sailing up and down and trading goods. After stopping for lunch we meet some private narrow boats that are a bit like gondalas. The 8 of us divided between two boats and make our merry way off the main river down a channeling stream/river. Though peacefull lush land with mudskippers hopping along the bank and wagtails and kingfisher birds flapping around, it was all very romantic, all of us with our Vietnamease straw conical hats. It was all going very well untill it was noticed that the river seemed to be getting shallower and shallower and at one point it couldnt have been more thann half a meter deep. Well us hefty westeners soon beached the thing and the poor woman who was controling our boat soon got into a difficulty. She must have been no more than two stone wet through and a size zero trying to push along the river bed. I felt so guilty and at one point wanted to get out to lighten the load. I did however see a man previously walking along the bank sinking with the mud past his knees so wasnt realy up for that. The little lady did good and with all her strength got us through and back to the main river and the bigger boat. Her arms must be dropping off now though. We sail further down and arrive at our 'home stay'. I use the word home stay lightly as it is more of a family run guesthouse catering for tourists, not realy what i was expecting. In the back yard it was a bit freaky as they had several grave tomb stone things and a large python in cage that must have been over two meters long. Very eri! The rooms we stayed in were nice and it was very peacefull which made a change from the crazy pace of life in the big city. We had a spring roll making lesson and between us produced some odd shapped spring rolls. Watching them cook them in the vat of oil didnt make good veiwing and my arteries were clogging up at the sight. They tasted good though and we had a yummy dinner of elephant eared fish, not because the fish had ears obviously but its shape. Its deep fried and pieces pulled off and wrapped in rice paper with salad and mint leaves, very tasty. We were in bed by nine, hard core.

The next morning we climbed back on the boat and headed down the river to the portto get the bus. Along the way you could see the boats trading on the water market, selling such things like fresh fruits and what looked like potatoes. We got back to Saigon and me and anna went to the market at china town. This place is crazy and like a wholesales. All the tiny crammed stalls have land lines and several people are busy taking orders in pads and rushing back and forth with boxes of things. It was crazy and they are not much interested in tourists as we are small fry in the sales market here. It is our last day of our tour so the group gather at a restaraunt for a farewell meal. Lisa, Jodi, anna and me go for pre dinner drinks at the more uper market 5star Majestic. We head up to the rooftop bar 9 stories up with fabulouse rooftop veiws over the city with cocktails in hand. A little bit of how the other half live. At dinner had a nice meal and as a group we go for post dinner drinks. To continue our highlife living we go to another 5star hotel - The Rex with its roof top bar. However we never actually made it to the roof top as us fatty bum bums broke the lift. It did say max 9 people and we were 8, but that 8 westeners and not the half size Vietnamease so after sever minutes in the lift with the light still showing G floor we pressed the bell to be rescued by three blokes plying open the lift door. We made a swift exit and headed to another bar. We were taken through by the waiter to the club in which there was us and one other table. After ordering a bottle of Smirnoff between me, Jod and Lisa....yes by the bottle! we have VIP service all night from the 5 very attentive waiters. Also a private belly dance from a very hot Vietnamease girl, which made for awkward veiwing by us 8 girls (Oh it wasnt that kind of club by the way before any judgement is cast) We danced the night away...along with the waiters and had a good night. Will miss the girls, (jodi, lisa, anna, silvia, nicola, laura and olithia)

The next morning with a sore head me and anna transfere to another cute little hotel down the road off the main street with all the traffic. I then head to the war remnants museum. With photos depicting the Vietnamease war taken by journalists it made for some very sad veiwing. Mostly showing American soldiers torturing and killing Vietnamease and possing with corpses it was all very horrific to say the least. Photographs of Vietnamease people with fear in there eyes as they come face to face with their end. It realy is hard to fully understand the vicouse and brutal minds of the soldiers that were involved in all this at the time of war and its a sorry state when another human can be so detached from these horrific actions. There was also a room dedicated to the photographs from Agent Orange, This is the highly toxic chemical that was also used by the americans in warfare to kill not only natural resources but humans. It has also left its mark after the war leaving people disabled and causing mutations of those born after....again horrific sights to withold! Quite a heart renching day. This was all soon changed to anger as I was ripped off royaly by the little s*** of a moto taxi driver but thats another lesson learned!

I leave Vietnam tommorow for Cambodia where I will meet back up with my little pettel Rachel and we will continue the journey together, cant wait!