Got up very early to meet our boat for the ride up the Hau River, a finger of the Mekong River, to visit a few of the floating markets. Eight hours on the river was awesome. A small boat about the size of a John boat with a collapsable cover for the occasional drizzle. The markets were very cool. Different than my expectations, these vendors float out in the middle of the river and have a pole up in the air with what ever items they are selling hanging from it. We got up close and I was fascinated.
These are very small vendors getting by on on very little. Hard and long work are the norm. With all that, they are very hospitable. Many of the boats house entire families. Kids on board were more common than not. Laundry and dishes were being washed off the back of boats right in the river. I actually saw a man dipping his bowl in the river and drink. This river is also where toilet waste and trash are discarded. People think nothing of throwing their trash right in the river. As a whole the country is not the cleanest, but is one of the friendliest.
After the second market we headed down some canals, much narrower bodies of water, that brought us much closer to the real people living on them. We saw it all, kids, schools, workers, moms and infants, people washing in the water, clothes and themselves. Log bridges and pulley systems to move people and goods across the river. We stopped for an early lunch at a home stay house and cafe. Had some coffee and egg rolls and walked around the property. Fruit trees, farm animals and a woman making food in her rustic kitchen. All made for great images. It felt great to be making pictures again.
After the floating markets we had the opportunity to see my friend Qui Tran's (from Mai Lee Restaurant in STL) family here in Can Tho. Sorry to say it was a quick visit as Qui's grandmother was emitted to the hospital the night before. I hope she is doing well Qui. Although we didn't get to cook and share a meal, I did have a good time meeting aunts, uncles, cousins and taking a few pictures and especially talking with Qui's grandfather. What a great man! I even got a few hugs when I left.
That left dinner open and we jumped on the chance to try some Mekong Delta specialties at the best place in town to have them. So we dined on grilled snake and frog legs. Yep, that's what I said. Got to pick out our own snake, prepared and grilled whole and served to us in a coil on the plate, then cut into 2" pieces for eating. Although the flavor was very good, the amount of work involved for really so little meat, made it a dish that I don't want to have again. A funny aside, as the grilling was taking place, the server brought out the snake fat for Zoom because it is said to be good for a womans complextion and I got the raw pancreas as that is said to be good for back pain. Thankfully my back was doing just fine! Frog was good and the steak was, uhm, less than prime. The water spinach was great and the beer was cold.
Now off to the the airport for our final leg to Phu Quoc Island. More soon.
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