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Well I was rather glad to leave Saigon and head to the Delta. I booked a 3 day, 2 night tour with a home-stay.
One the first morning we headed to one of the little towns near the delta and got a boat across to one of the islands. We then went to a honey cafe place for honey tea and then got on some long row boats to be taken along the winding, though busy, rivers. Back to our boat and to another island for fruit and to see the coconut candy factory (or a few women wrapping sweets). Then to another island for lunch.
Being on the boat was so peaceful and quiet amongst the lush green scenery - a world away from Saigon!
We then drove to Can Tho when it turns out the rest of the coach load were staying at the hotel in town. And I was the only one doing the home-stay on the river. So a guy turns up to take me - on a motor scooter - with all my luggage - I have a 60 odd litre backpack! We drive for miles out of town in the dark down little roads to the edge of a river, he then tells me to get in a very long thin boat. I have the thought of 'no one knows where I am now'! Then luckily a car pulls up with more people for the home-stay! We head down river for about 20 mins, in the pouring rain, and eventually arrive at a row of very nice grass bungalows on the river.
That evening we made spring rolls which we ate, and had a nice meal together. Next morning we were up at 6am to walk to the local market and then got the boat to meet back with our respective tour groups. There was a hairy moment when some people switched boats mid-river, apart from me, but the boat guy picked up my pack by mistake. I started shouting as the boat pulled away, so he THREW it back across, across a 5 odd foot gap. I nearly had heart failure!
We then spent the morning visiting sort of pointless things - a rice factory, a noodle factory. Then had an extremely long bus ride to Chau Doc, the border town. The bus even broke down at one point!
I shared a room with a nice German girl, and a lizard (he came free of charge) and we had some nice street food in the evening. Next morning we were up early to catch the boat to Cambodia.
The 'fast' boat I booked was supposed to take 5 hours. The border crossing was really easy - lots of stamps in my passport now! We were told we had an hour on the boat we were on, then switch to another boat for half hour. Once on the new boat we were told we had 4 hours to go!
We left at 8:30am and reached Phnom Penh at 4pm. Oh well, that's Asia timing for you. A bit like the London Underground minute, longer than any other minute in the world, and at tube stations the next train is always '2 mins'. Maybe Boris and Ken have been supplying SE Asia with Clocks of Mass Confusion?!
So one country done. 4 more to go.....
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Robby Free lizards are always the best kind :-) RxXx