Flat tire doesn't mean discount

Sai Gon is a place where you can get a lot for a little, and even less if you can bargain! We all tried our hand in it and in some cases we'd win and in others we would, well just not win. Never really losing considering that the little trinkets they have for sale is all things we could live without ever purchasing. Most of the time the vendors will have settle just to make the sale, but here is a case where the offer was just "too ridiculous"

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More... More... And still some more

The beer of choice!



Now I pronounce you husband and commie!




I didn't quite understand, but I made sure not to bounce any tennis balls around the toilet while I stayed in this hotel!






Apparently, Dr. Fish is only allowed to practice medicine in Asia because he has offices all over! That's Nick and Cat. I put just my finger in there and it was way to tickley!



You probably can't read the text, but this is an introduction on how to order snake for meals.




????



Proof of over population!

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Location:Asia

A few last things before I leave

Southern Vietnam was a blast! The next couple of posts are just a few of the many adventures we had. Some require some explaining, some are pretty straight forward, and others beats the hell out of me too!

So how'd you ring in the new year? Bet it wasn't with the Australian Sensation sweeping the Social Republic!

Boo hoo at the zoo.

We did call it the crying zoo after all!

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Location:Hàng Bông,Hanoi,Vietnam

So as I was saying... Drama on the Mekong

Okay so the last post did not exactly match it's title. This was no mistake we did get into an altercation. But the day began with a very calm day on the delta. Our itinerary included a trip to the floating markets to take a looksie at the day-to-day transactions of the local people selling produce to other locals. Weaving in and out of the markets is like trying to shop at the grocery store when everyone gets off of work. It's super busy. Lots of commotion. The boats indicate what they're selling by attaching their produce to what would otherwise be used as a flagpole located near the bow of the boat.



It was really fun to watch. As we started making our way out of the traffic of the markets, I had my attention turned towards the opposite direction to take my last shots of the floating markets, when I heard a bang followed by a splash. It turns out our boat hit the propeller of another boat, usually the propeller engine unit is attached to the boat to prevent losing an the motor, but this guy's wasn't and the splash was the guy's whole engine contraption. Of course this turned the entire markets attention to our boat. At that moment we were the center of the Mekong. Yelling and confusion did of course ensue. People hopped on our boat others jumped on. I only caught the end. And I don't know how the kid got there.

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Location:Center of attention

Drama on the Mekong

The Mekong Delta was beautiful! The tour was really awesome! We set out for the Mekong from Sai Gon, which took a couple hours to get to. We took a large boat to a coconut candy making factory coconuts are everywhere on the Delta.



and a bee keeping farm where we had a taste of some type of delicious honey tea. The bees where everywhere. Not to mention the butterflies! Huge, a flap of their wings will blow your hair back! Well maybe not that big but, big enough to scare the crap out of me. Although throughout this trip I must say that I have built up somewhat of a tolerance. Anyhow, our adventure was not just by boat, but we also took this rickety contraption to a smaller boat in order to go through the smaller channels of the delta.



The ride was a bit bumpy!

We then took these boats, the Australian family in this picture got hats with their boat. Where's are hats, boat driver. I guess I'll have to "find" one of my own (foreshadow)

The boat took us to a family restaurant, by family restaurant, I do mean we floated up to someone's front yard they had converted into an eating area. The way many family businesses are kept in Vietnam. We ate this delicious guy!


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Cu chi tunnel

Our first tour consisted of a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground city that the Vietcong used to hide from the American Soldiers. The whole place was really cool! I would recommend it to anyone visiting the area. Hidden amidst the jungle lay these trails where certain sections would show you examples of trapping techniques used to "catch" American fighters. One called the souvenir trap consisted of a pit and two planks of wood where once stepped on would impale the soldiers limb from all ends so that the only way to escape would mean leaving your leg behind. Others would were even more gruesome! While walking the trails we would hear the sound of gunfire, included in the tour we had the option of shooting a number of weapons in the ground's firing range. For an extra cost you can fire a grenade launcher. I chose not to, based on my experience with the lack of instruction that the Vietnamese seem to provide. Toward the end of the tour we were allowed to go through 100 meters of the tunnels. With no room to stand fully erect your only option is to crouch or crawl. These tunnels were widened a few centimeters to allow tourist to fit better. But for Nick who is the size of a small giant, must have had the experience of a true Vietcong. Jane, the smallest member of our group couldn't hang and chose to take the fist exit out! Thank goodness her family was from the south, because she could never have lived in the tunnels for two years like Charlie!



Here is one of the several entrances into the tunnels. The only way to enter is with my arms up.



That's me entering the second lower level of the tunnel. By the way this picture was taken with flash. It is almost completely dark the whole way!

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My Vietnamese Family

I can't began to express how grateful I am for the welcoming hospitality that Jane's dad Paul has provided. From the very beginning he and Go Hoa (his lady friend) made me feel at home. Being the first time I had the chance to travel abroad it was comforting to stay in a home where family is their number one priority. They were excited to share their culture and history with both Jane and I. It was evident from the moment that we stepped off the plane. They bought us both helmets of our own to so scooter riding. Paul insisted that I pay for nothing other than my hotel stay when we were traveling, which averaged out to be around 8 dollars a night. Go Hoa would no let me buy anything with out starting a bidding war between the market vendors, she did all of our laundry, she also cooked a homemade dinner that consisted of my new rib dish. Every sight we visited Paul would explain anything to me that I didn't quite understand. Along with that Paul introduced me to something so grand, the taste of the Orient if you will. A dish called French Bread and Cheese Whiz. It's delicious! To add to the awesomeness in the house, there are the twins who were super Adorable! I named them wrist and bracelet for he reason that these twins are so identical that on has to wear a bracelet in order for everyone to tell them apart.

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Location:Sivatha Rd,Siem Reap,Cambodia