Mekong, Ho Chi Minh City

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Compared with those in South America, the jungle in and around the Mekong Delta is not forbidding. Much has been cut away; people live in and near what remains, on all the larger islands and some of the smaller ones as well.

It's like, on a smaller scale, the jungle that lies between the many branches of the Amazon before, at, and after Belem.

The most visited islands are dotted with souvenir shops and stands offering Coca Cola, Lays potato chips, and Viet snacks.

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If you go to Saigon, you must travel to the Mekong River just to experience what everyday life is like for the people who live in the Delta. You will see whole families living on houseboats that make you feel so humble that you would never complain ever again about your college dorm room being too small. You will see beautiful tugboats in brilliant shades of blue and red that you have never seen before. You will see boatmen fishing and kids playing in the river. A wonderful cultural experience to be had.

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I highly recommend taking a side trip from Saigon down to the Mekong Delta, either My Tho or Chau Doc. Alot of the local travel agencies can book you a one day trip for only a couple of US dollars but you can't beat the experience of riding in a small boat the size of a canoe along the Mekong Delta. It is a bit of a tourist trap how they take you to several of the nearby islands off of Saigon and want you to buy items supposedly native to those specific islands like honey and coconut candy, but the experience is worth it.

I got up and close and personal to a new Vietnamese friend. Yes, all 2 metres of a HELLUVABIG PYTHON SNAKE!

This female python, whom I'll call Penelope was put on my shoulders when I visited a honey bee farm in Mekong Delta. Of course, the first sight of Penelope was shocking. I mean, how often do you encounter a 2m long creature with a slithery tongue in Singapore? The only wildlife we'd encounter in the S'pore heartlands are probably cats in heat and the occasional lost poodle.
Other than staggering around with her weight and knowing darn well I don't have a phobia for snakes anymore, I found out that creatures like Penelope are kept as pets in this region. Mainly for luck and for keeping the rat population down.
If you're keen to share this lurverly experience, go for an excursion to Mekong Delta. Sinh Cafe tours are pretty well - organised

For more wierd stories and pictures, visit b'packer's hcmc page

I've heard of this grand dame even before I went to HCMC, thanks to my hubby's spooked suppliers.

These poor sods were the early investors in VN and the only decent (but expensive) hotel at that time was this 4-star joint.

I guess sacrificing all their children's college funds for the dinghy corridors and the musty carpets must have driven crazy. They reportedly saw strange things at night after checking in.

I won't elaborate what they were but will go on to say that Rex Hotel has a long history. Do you know it was originally a French garage? It later became a hotel and then the BOQ for American soldiers during the Vietnam War . Its conference room was the scene of the daily press briefings to journalists and by 1976, the announcement by the former North Vietnam of the unification with South Vietnam was announced in the same room.

Well, I didn't see anything extraordinary when I was there. How can ghosts remain when there is a crazy onslaught of merry makers at the roof top?

For more wierd stories and pictures, visit b'packer's hcmc page

If you look at the picture carefully, you'll see a baby COBRA grinning at you and swimming in a concoction of yellow wolfberry (chinese herb) wine. Yes, it's drinkable and it's Vietnam's answer to Viagra. And I'll say this for the record, the recipe has not been bought over by Pfizer yet! The locals sip a little of this for after dinner for a little ooh-la-la.
And when the delicious wine runs out , they'll run to the shop together with their preserved pet snake for more juice.
Does this appeal to you?
If it does, you can get a bottle for yourself in Ben Tanh market or during your Mekong Delta excursion. It's guaranteed to bring in a few ooh-la-las.

For more wierd stories and pictures, visit b'packer's hcmc page

The most interesting thing about HCMC is the contrasts in cultures. One moment you'll see a cyclo rider in a conical peaked hat, in another you'll see a wedding couple, all decked out in their Western finery, posing by the Cathedral.

To see more pictures on HCMC's street scenes, check out b'packer's hcmc page

How would you like to dip your finger into a gooey honeycomb, complete with swarming bees? This chappie did that to me before way before I could say , " holy mother of all bees.."
Well, the good news is that I still have my finger and the bees were too engrossed in their sticky dance to bother about a fat projectile destroying their dancefloor.
Raw, Litchi-scented honey stuck to my fingers and they tasted oh-so-heavenly...The month of May or late April is Litchi-flower bloomin' season and the bees would carry the scent of the flowers to the honey. Hmm, I bought a bottle of this honey later for $2. How could I resist?
Well if this experience appeals to you, go insure your finger first and sign up for a Mekong Delta trip that includes a visit to a bee farm.

For more wierd stories and pictures, visit b'packer's hcmc page

After the big lunch they serve you can wander around the beautiful gardens. There are many fruit trees and flowers and a couple of caged monkeys who are obviously well used to tourist and perform accordingly.

Location : Thoi Son (Phung Islands), Mekong Delta

This island was well known for fried Elephant Ear Fish - Delicious! This is very much a local delicacy although it originated from Indonesia. Fish farms in the area breed the fish.

Location : Thoi Son (Phung Islands) Mekong Delta