I left Miss Loi Hotel in HCMC around 8:30am and headed to the Futa Bus Station as directed by the tourist office. I lug my bag in and ask for a ticket to My Tho, the gateway to Mekong Delta according to Lonely Planet. We don't sell tickets to My Tho, that's next door. Next door turned out to be a tourist office that sold tours to the Delta. I just want a bus ticket. No problem, there is one leaving at 9:30. It is now 9:05. We might make it. Huh? The bus station is right there. then she hands me a helmet and says she is going to take me to the bus on her motorcycle. Yup, this is happening. I somehow thought I would make through this whole trip without taking a motorcycle taxi.
So I put on the wholly inadequate helmet and hoped I won't fall off. Not scary at all having weaving cars inches from my bare legs.
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| putting on a brave (and goofy) face |
We got there in time. My seat was second from the window in the back row. The very worst seat. Boxed in all all sides with no window. But it is elevated so I could see out the front. About an hour in, a rooster started crowing from my row. Everyone turned around and looked at me since I was the only one sitting upright. Sure, I thought, of everyone on this bus, I am the likely chicken smuggler!? Eventually the real chicken smuggler gave his bag (with chicken) a kick and it quieted down to a soft occasional chuckchucking.
We arrived at My Tho around 11:30. The ONLY taxi in sight was a motorcycle. Sure, why not. I wore my pack on that first ride but for this one, he tried to cram in down in the footwell of his scooter. It didn't quite fit. I don't think he could properly turn his front wheel but he got me to my hotel, The World Hotel. Nice room.
Then I walked toward the river, not quite sure I was heading the right direction until I reached the bridge on the Lonely Planet map. Not quite across, a man on a motorcycle asked me if I wanted a river cruise. Sure, why not. ANOTHER motorcycle ride to the dock. When I left my hotel in HCMC that morning I had specifically said I wanted a taxi
car. Mere later, I had three bike rides under my belt. I am now officially a SE Asia traveller.
A quick, unsatisfying lunch and then the boat tour. I paid my fare. My 'guide' arrived. She is a 12 year old girl. I didn't get her name but she was the best part of the tour. She didn't speak any English except names of fruit. So, lots of 'this is a jackfruit', there's a coconut', 'Mango!'.
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my girl-guide.
she is very photogenic |
(break, next day)
Anyway, the tour sucked. I was promised a bee farm (just a store selling honey) and a coconut candy factory (just a store selling coconut candy) and a small boat trip (five minutes and a forced tip). I did get a random plate of fruit though so that was ok. And I learned all of the things you can do with coconut (I like to call them the three Fs - food, fuel, furniture). here are some photos:
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| the stern of my boat |
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| small boat river 'cruise' |
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| my girl-guide dancing in the coconut museum |
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| my girl-guide waiting for me in the coconut monk's chapel |
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| coconut island cat |
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| colourful river boats |
It is Friday now and I am in Can Tho but I really want to finish my book, Crossing the Heart of Africa. Alisma gave me this book a couple of years ago and I am finally reading it. Awesome. I love reading about travellers while travelling. It make me realize how easy I have it. I'll update Can Tho later.
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