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I believe it was the famous actor and director Orsen Wells who said in a commercial for a California vineyard that “We will serve no wine before it's time”.
Although it has a nice “Aroma” and is offered to have great medical benefits this wine gives new meaning to the term, “full-bodied”.
Others accept the offer for free tasting of the “Medicine Wine”, however, I wait to sample the sweet “Banana Wine” which I am assured does not have “Backbone”.
From a taste of honey, we make our way along a path through the small village located along the banks of the Mekong River. Occasionally we have to maneuver out of the way of a motorcycle or two coming down the path towards us whining at almost full speed.
Along one side of our path are various fruit trees including the huge but “smelly” Jack fruit along with Longan fruit which I believe I sampled earlier in the trip. On the riverside of the path next we come across a batch of rice paper being made. Circular sheets of it are laid on a wicker stand to dry in the sun and we are told it can be edible if heated up in a microwave.
I am happy to just watch from afar as our guide and a few others handle a four year old python.
Close up admiration of an elephant ear fish which is found in the Mekong River is a bit more comforting. It has Mick Jagger lips and is just as cool as The Rolling Stones.
At a shop along the Mekong River we get to sample various products produced by our busy friends including honey tea. Here we also learn about the health benefits of pollen and other extracts made from the never ending work of bees.
However, the best experience of this visit is a pressing one as my finger is carefully guided into an active hive of bees.
A taste of honey (boogie, oogie). Nice, fresh, right from the lips of bees. Ummmmmmmm!
As I look out across the rapidly following brown waters of the Mekong River, I see we will face many formidable enemies on our adventure this afternoon.
The river is filled with crocodiles although these ones have distorted faces with no mouths and are powered by petrol.
A custom here for those who own boats and travel these waters is to paint a mouthless crocodile on the bow of their vessels. This is meant to ward off harm from the real Mekong River crocodiles as a “mouthless croc” is all bark and no bite.
We leave port on one of these mouthless crocodiles then it is a group version of “Row, row, row your boat ….. “ as we are soon experiencing life again on the Mekong River and Mekong Delta.
Flag poles at the front of the boats advertise the merchandise for sale.
Sometimes there are whole families that live on these boats earning an existence traveling up and down the Mekong.
Interestingly many of the boats have altars on them which are marked with red paint. These altars are used for worship and women are prohibited from entering this area of the boat.
Arriving a little later than we expected, a tour guide shows up where we are waiting to be picked up for our day trip to the Mekong Delta. Apparently the street we are waiting on is too congested for the bus to navigate so we must walk a short distance where it is waiting for us.
A few more stops at other hotels and we are eventually on our way through the slums of Ho Chi Minh City headed to the National Highway.
We are told about traditional Vietnamese burials which requires a double burial that is done above ground. The second burial occurs after the body has decayed to just bones. These bones are recovered by a male member of the family and ceremonially cleansed before being reburied on family land.
Wanting to blend in, I drive a hard bargain to get us a pair of Miss Saigon and Mr. Mekong Delta Mafia hats. Apparently, Miss Saigon drives a lot tougher bargain than the Godfather because she is quick to let me know that she thinks I overpaid for the deal. I should have made them an offer they could not refuse like $0.75 for two hats instead of $1.00.
I sure hope the locals don't think the Godfather has gone soft.
As we wait in the early morning to be picked up for our tour of the Mekong Delta, we get an entertaining look at a Vietnamese style of chicken in a basket.
Sitting on the entrance steps of a local hotel, we watch as an employee begins the day by setting some chicken feed on the ground and placing an open ended basket over it. A hen is then brought from somewhere inside the hotel and placed inside the basket.
Not quite sure what to do, he goes stir crazy circling the basket.
I am not sure if he is just trying to impress the chick inside or if he is trying to execute a “Joshua at Jericho” maneuver.
Either way, it's somewhat hysterical.
The activity in the market area is winding down for the evening as I imagine the light falling rain has discouraged many from venturing out for the evening. However, there are still a few merchants and food vendors that are prepared for whatever mother nature has to offer.
At one vendor we stop to have another sampling of a dish we took a liking to in Hanoi, fried corn.
As we continue walking the area the rain intensity increases and it brings out the umbrella hawkers. Not being the umbrella type we have no interest in buying one but we are thoroughly entertained by watching a sale being made.
You see, the seller is no ordinary salesperson. Her style and charisma would have an Eskimo buying a refrigerator.
“If you take two, I give you a good price.” Who can resist such a deal from a nine year old?
Under the cover of a make shift street restaurant recommended by a nine year old, we watch as the skies open up and the rain comes down in buckets. Fortunately, this does not last too long and we are able to enjoy an affordable dinner including “Bone Cha” and a few Bier 333.
