Here I am back in Vietnam, I'm actually sick as a parrot (are parrots sick because their green?) So I am on the antibiotics and trying to keep food down. I caught "the nasty" in Cambodia though, Cambodia appears so dirty and poor compared to its neighbours (with perhaps the exception of Laos).
Vietnam still impresses me with it's lush pastoral peace, the people are tall and elegant accentuated by their choice of simple elegant dress, the women don't go in for any of this coy side saddle motorbike riding they wear practical pant suits or traditional Ao-dai (which look fabulous) and are infinitely easier to get around in. Chau doc is a nice city, bigger than anticipated we caught a boat here from Phnom Penh yesterday, I love the boat rides, up through the floating villages and past everyones back yard, fascinating stuff. The food is not as good as I remember but so far I have not really been in the right frame of mind to appreciate it. Bottled water, especially the brand called "water world", includes reassuring notes on the side telling you it contains 0% Coliforms, salmonella and fecal streptococci (amongst others), so less full of shit than the Kevin Costener movie which shares it's moniker, I wonder if you have to pay extra to get such nutrients included in your beverage??!? (I think I may have got some for free in Cambodia).
When the boat docked, there were a number of little cyclo dudes who swept us away to our hotel, it always surprises me that there is still such a big industry in people powered craft, nothing makes you feel like an over priveledged fat westerner quite as much as being peddled around by a rake thin wizened white haired guy who looks old enough to be your grandad. This people powered transport has been superceeded by the motorised versions in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. At brekfast this morning we sat by the river and I watched a woman who spends all day ferrying people across the river, she must have unbelievably muscular arms, I think I would struggle just making one crossing on those hand powered craft, I'll try to include a photo.
Right I'm off to wander up the promenade and gaze at Sam mountain, catch y'all later.
The promenade was great, I loved the some what austere looking fish sculpture, in fact they really groove on sculpture here, a cow sawn in half (eat your heart out Damian Hearst) I do note that communist sculpture often appears very blockish in form but surprisingly not unpleasantly so. The local children like to fly kites along the river front and it adds to the relaxed atmosphere of the town, anyway time for dinner and to post this (hopefully).
Besos, Nikki Jayne.
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