During our last free morning in Sai Gon, Glen, Mark and I decided that we didn't want to shop anymore. We wanted to spend our remaining hours at the War Museum and Independent Palace. Mark and his dad John were flying home to Brisbane that evening and Glen, myself and 10 of the group were flying to Cambodia later in the day.

 The following photos are from the War museum.Glen and Mark both being avid war historians took in the museum together, I was left to my own devices. I found it difficult to view some of the pictures they had on display. Some of the pieces I chose to share with you I expect will be difficult to view through this blog. I do think that they are important and should be shared

Photo's taken during the drive home / back to Sai Gon
Bananas anyone...?

How many blankets can you pack onto one motorbike?

 

Or woven baskets...?

Or doors...?!
Hang on tight man!

Aren't you glad you're not the electrician who has to figure that mess out?!

After lunch we ventured through the jungle to a long skinny dock and attempted to
get on Much smaller boats
Four people only please

This is the type that of boat that Glen and I were already sitting in

Selfie of me wearing a Vietnamese hat
Did you know that these hats have more than one use?
They can be used as a basket to carry items
A paddle to help the boat along
A fan to keep you cool

Paddling down the Mekong Delta!

Lunch Time!
Outdoor restaurant (?) that caters to tour groups 

Elephant Ear fish

Lunch consisted of lettuce/fish wraps that thankfully we did not have to create
 (it is difficult to use rice paper ... I have attempted it on one occasion, never again)
Rice paper wrap that was wet with a little water
Lettuce, sprouts, fish, spicy sauce rolled tightly
Dipped again in another sauce
AMAZING!

Next stop of the Mekong river cruise was
Coconut candy and how to make it
First step: smash coconut on a large metal spike to break open the shell/skin

Step two: rip shell/skin with your bare hands to expose the sweet soft centre

Step three: I missed capturing step three but here's the gist...
Use machete to crush the living daylights out of the nut
Step four: boil nut and water (hopefully not from the river) until marrow of nut
melts down into creamy beige liquid

Step five: pour cooked brown sticky liquid onto non stick paper
Roll out into long square pieces, let cool, sprinkle with sesame seeds and brown sugar
Package and sell to tourists
"buy 5 boxes and get one free!"
Perfect for taking to work and sharing our Vietnam experiences 

Before going back to the river I saw these brilliant yellow petals I couldn't walk by without
capturing them on film

Same goes for these intricate blossoms

Tri wheeled buggies took us back to the boat
Kinda looks like a milk trolley...however looks can be deceiving,
 especially when the drivers wear race car gear (helmet, gloves and ear wear) and
don't seem to care that speed limits are set for safety.
The one that Glen and I travelled in did not have a roof or safety belts.
Scary and Fun at the same time!

Along the shore line we were welcomed
into this women's home and she and her neighbour
showed us how they create coco plant leaf mats

I didn't want to attempt to pack this item so we did not purchase any
However some of the Aussie's did

The industry that we experienced in the delta was all to do
with the Water Coconut
Above is a cluster of water coconuts that can be made into an incredible amount
of different products 

Water coconut plants being transferred to the processing plant

Processing plant
Every part of the coconut is used
Everything from back scratchers, kitchen utensils, coco mats, brooms, fuel, traditional woven hats and so on and so on 

According to the boat guide a lot of fisherman  & sometimes their
families 'live' on their boats. It doesn't seem like much of a life to me...

Second fisherman that we came across.
His nets are weighted down for the bottom feeders...

Another fisherman with tunnel nets for larger fish
These nets are placed in the deep water in a honeycomb style structure and
the fish swim in and cannot swim out