Sampan Cruising.

Our trip through the Delta took many forms -- a motor long boat, a horse drawn cart, walking, and the best of all -- a sampan ride. The sampans are mostly run by women, which I loved! So, we are ready here to hop aboard.

A view from the front. I have to confess. This was my view. The woman driver was kind enough to lend me her hat, and so consequently all Jason saw was the side view and unfortunately the back of my head! Oppsie!

Jason's view! (Jason wants me to tell you he actually loved the view (or me really), so the view wasn't all that bad!)

A view for you! From the front of the boat -- of course!

A view from the top!

The Mekong Delta is filled with man-made canals for irrigation. We are crossing a bridge over one of the canals, and Ang was kind enough to take our photo! Don't worry -- our ponchos are actually keeping us quite dry -- its only our heads that were soaked!

Sweet and Spice.

Our first stop -- a coconut candy making factory. While this may not be incredibly interesting to most, I was thrilled to visit the "factory". Every year at Christmas my Dad, Monica and I make cookies and candy. We are particularly fond of making salt water taffy, mostly because it is fun to pull and shape the taffy. Which is exactly what these women were doing! Instantly I thought of Christmas!

That was the sweet. Now for the spice. This is fermented rice wine. And yes. Those are snakes. Cobras, actually. Always ready to volunteer Jason for anything odd or disgusting -- I peer pressured Jason into drinking it. And he did. See below for how good it tasted!

With Jason is Ang, our guide. Who politely told Jason when I was out of ear shot, that the snake wine increases old men's virility -- i.e. rural, Vietnamese Viagra!

The Mekong River Delta

In the Mekong River Delta area, locals still live on the islands, grow their own food and of course rice, and generally live a much slower way of life. What's surprising is that this area is only a couple of hours from downtown Saigon. Needing a break from the city, we were game to explore this area. One downfall, it rained the entire day. Its okay though because the rain was warm, and we were pleased to be exploring new areas!

So, wearing ponchos, we boarded a long boat and set off!

Presidential View!

We are now standing on the balcony of the Presidential Palace. Looking back at the gates where the Soviet Army stormed the Palace. I am guessing this is also where the President gave addresses to the nation. Its just a guess though -- but I think it makes sense!

The President's Office

It could be that it was 1975, or that it was South Vietnam. Either way, this is a shocking Presidential Office. I am thinking of the Oval Office or 10 Downing Street, but somehow I am not thinking of this office!

Jason, Meghan and little boy. (Saigon)

Reunification Hall fka The South Vietnamese Presidential Palace. Possibly the largest tourist attraction in Saigon. The palace remains in the exact condition as it was in 1975 when it was stormed by the Soviet army. (You may not know this, but Vietnam is technically a communist country today.) We are standing in the courtyard to the palace very near to where the Soviet tanks broke through the gates to the palace.

Notice the new addition to my photos? In what must have been the sweetest encounter ever, the little boy in the photos was game to test his English skills on Jason and I. However, he was horribly shy -- so we would get drive by hellos, how are yous, and generally lovely smiles. Finally after having a new friend for quite some time, we asked to take his photo and he agreed. So someone new in the blog!

Saigon Sights -- Quick and Dirty.

As far as tourist sights go, there aren't many in Saigon. Its a very interesting city, but given the wars, its relatively new and lacking in historical sights. The French colonial architecture is prevalent and constitutes the majority of Saigon sights.

City Hall. Classic French style. You don't actually go in the building, so this is purely an architectural sight. It was once the French colonial headquarters at the turn of the 20th century.

Ho Chi Minh. This statue is outside of City Hall in a square in the center of the city. Ho Chi Minh liked to be known as Uncle to the locals. Thus in this statue he is playing with little children. The square is also excellent for scooter/traffic watching as it can get hairy on the roads around the square.

Saigon Notre Dame Basilica. This is a Catholic cathedral in downtown Saigon, constructed between 1863-1880 -- during the French colonial occupation. The statue out front is of Saint Mary.

The colonial post office. Still a post office today, it speaks to the lack of tourist sights in Saigon as it was packed with tourists. I mean really, its an impressive building, there are gift shops and of course, its a post office -- but who really flies half way around the world to see a post office??? Oh yeah, we did. Silly Jason and Meghan.

(Actually it was really pretty and I imagine exactly how it was when the Frech built it -- minus the gift shops.)

Food -- Vietnamese Style

I have been forgetting about food! Maybe you have been wondering what we have been eating. True to the purpose of our trip we have been avoiding Western food. Well, that's not exactly true -- when our tummies go a bit wonky we go back to a couple of old faithfuls. But for 90% of the time, we have been eating only local dishes. And they have been yummy!

This is a picture of Pho (pronounced fa). It is the main staple of Vietnamese cuisine. Its essentially a meal in a bowl. (Side note: its traditional with beef, which I don't eat -- so here is a modified version -- with chicken, but you get the point.)

Pho is served with the noodles and meat in the bowl. On the side of the bowl is basil (a bit like Thai basil), lettuces (more like bok choi), chilies, fish sauce and chili sauce. The lime is an extra to cool fire if necessary. You are supposed to add these ingredients to your own liking. The chilies were not that hot so I added them all -- actually I added everything to my bowl and it was yummy!