One of the highlights of our stay in Ho Chi Minh City (previously known as Saigon) was a tour of the Mekong Delta with our tour guide, Sky. His driver took us to Cái Bè, which is about a two hour drive from HCMC. We toured a neat local market and then boarded a sampan which is kind of like the slow boat we rode in Laos. The boat took us around the river and actually stopped so that we could board a couple different little rowboats. We were only on the rowboat for around half an hour before coming back to the main one, but we got to wear some cool traditional Vietnamese hats and see some homes on the water. We also toured a local house, where we learned how rice paper is made (and got to try making it ourselves!), and saw the garden (complete with a catfish pond, where the neighbors use the bathroom [the catfish clean the water!]). Later, we watched a demonstration on how people break coconuts and use every part, from the water inside to the husk. Lunch was delicious — Sky had planned for us to have lunch at a small restaurant on a small island. It was a multi-course meal consisting of summer rolls (which we got to roll ourselves with rice paper similar to that which we’d made), fish, prawns, pancakes, chicken with rice, and soup. Delicious! The owner of the restaurant was really nice and gave some toasts. My favorite part of the tour, though, was learning from Sky, who taught me a bunch of Vietnamese words and sayings and gave me a lesson on how to make the sounds and read the accents on Vietnamese words. He had amazing English, so it was easy and really fun to learn from him. Cảm ơn Sky! (Thank you Sky!) Chúc Mừng năm mới (Happy New Year)!
I really enjoyed reading about your experience! Summer rolls are a favorite of mine. How fun that you learned how to make rice paper! Your meal on the island sounds amazing and the whole thing an incredible experience. I enjoyed looking at the pictures and how 2 questions. Are those frogs tied up by the hind legs? And what are you, William, and Sky doing with your fingers in the last picture and what are your brothers holding up? That is 3 questions. =). Also, Happy Birthday to you! I pray it is a huge blessing and that you are reminded of God’s amazing love for you always but especially today!
Thank you so much Mrs. Hakkarainen!! My birthday was very special and memorable.
Yes, the frogs were tied up to each other by their hind legs…and they were still alive. Sky and I are making a hand symbol of a heart — he taught us and mentioned that it is a Korean thing. My brothers are holding up origami paper hearts that Sky made for us. Lots of love goin’ around!