Today we rented cyclos and set off for the city centre as Joachim wanted to compare camera specs and prices. It was the most insane trip ever, dodging cars, buses and motorbikes in the middle of Ho Chi Minh traffic. The cyclo drivers take great pleasure in cross huge intersections diagonally and the traffic circles are just unbelievable. This photo unfortunately doesn't do the traffic justice.



















We took a slow walk back to our hostel and on the way we were stopped by a film crew from Ho Chi Minh Television station. They asked us if we would act in an advert for them as they need english speakers. We had to read off scripts. The advert was for woolen and leather jackets (of all things imagineable in this heat).



















Joachim was Phil, Jenni was Suzanna and Coco was Jamie.



















Phil, reading his lines. Woolen jackets are so much warmer than leather jackets.


















After all that gruelling work in the sun, take after take, we were duly rewarded with Ho Chi Minh City Television pens.

FAMILY TIME ON BEACH

This is a family that owns the hostel next door to ours in Mui Ne. Every morning after breakfast the whole family takes granny down to the beach for a swim. She is about 99 in the shade, the one in the white hat. The whole family holds on to her and holds her up as they make their way SLOWLY onto the beach. Fully clothed, the whole family hold her up as they take her into the
sea. It was so beautiful to watch.

GOOD-BYE MUI NE AND HELLO HO CHI MINH

At our hostel in Mui Ne. We made so many friends here.














Mr Tam, our favourite restaurant. This place had the most amazing food and it was half the price of any other place in Mui Ne. Mr Tam is also the best language helper around. He spent ages teaching us Vietnamese. This is him left front with his daughters.














His youngest daughter, a few months older than Joachim. Are they very small are are we very tall?













This is Elna from South Africa. She loved Mr Tam's food and could always be found there. /We are going to miss you Elna.













Back in Ho Chi Minh at our favourite hostel, Ngoc Phan. This is us with Mrs Chao at the breakfast table.

GOING LOCAL

Rice paper spring roll vendor. This lady makes delicious spring rolls. Ignorance is bliss though. It is better not to see what is going into the spring roll.














This vendor sells the most delicious mealies on a stick.















Tonight we decided to go to a local restaurant for dinner. About 18 of us set off from our hostel to the restaurant. On arrival, Joachim said "Oh, I do hope this isn't the place". These tables and chairs are definitely not designed for Westerners with their huge bodies and long legs. Jo had his legs wrapped around his ears.














We had the most delicious Pho Bo. Vietnam is famous for this beef noodle soup. We rounded it off with Sinto's (fruit smoothies).















Yum yum














Ally, Jo and Co, digging in. Even Coco enjoyed the meal. Jo said it was the best meal he has had so far.














It was great to have a multi-cultural dinner. We had South Africans, Australians, Japanese, Canadians and Germans with us.














Llewellyn likes this soup so much that he has it for breakfast and dinner every day. He just can't get enough.

TRANSPORT

The main means of transport here is motorbikes.














We have seen everything imagineable on the back of bikes. Fridges, Big Screen TV's, Glass Window Panes, etc. Unfortunately, we didn't always have our camera ready. But here are two of them. Watch out for these ducks in transit. Note the one behind his shoulder and the ducks in the two baskets on either side of him.














Jordan, you didn't have to spend all that money on a van for your handyman business. All you needed was a motorbike.














Ultra City. Pull up for petrol and tyre check.

TRIP TO FAIRY STREAM

The fairy stream is a stream of about 3 meters wide that runs perpendicular to the sea for a stretch of about 2 or 3 km. It's sources is a waterfall. You can walk along it barefoot as the water is ankle deep and the sand very soft. It is banked by breathtaking red, yellow and white sanddunes.












































































We found this little house at the end of the stream. This family are rice farmers. Here is a picture of Little Jo with the lady of the house. This family have hardly any possessions yet they appear to be so content and peaceful.

WE SURVIVED THE MEKONG DELTA

Down the Mekong Delta go the fabulous five.














They are known as the boat people. Some of them have never left their boats. Whole families and pets live on these boats. They trade with other boats daily in the floating markets. Marriages are even arranged from boat to boat.














Menu at the restaurant we stopped at for lunch. Rat is a delicacy in this area.














The market place on Delta. Could this be blue chicken?















How about some crumbed pig ear?














I hate it when my dinner eyeballs me.














Stop sticking out your tongue.














Do you fancy some skinned rat. Would you like that fried with onions














We also have snake and eel.














Hmmm, not quite the same as Woolies or Spar chickens














Oh boy, so much choice.

REUNITED AGAIN

Joachim and Coco arriving in Ho Chi Minh. We were all so excited. The first thing they both said was that this is the hottest place on the earth.














Could he be suffering from jet lag?














The awesome foursome become the fabulous five. Meet Alison. She's hoping the cold bottle will help cool her down.

HOI AN - A BIT ABOUT THE VIETNAMESE

An interesting sign on Cham Island















Rules and regulations to execute or you will be compensated and tracked down the responsibility. Wouldn't want that, it sounds terrifying.















Locals have dinner on beach at sunset. Tables appear everywhere with the all kinds of interesting looking meals. This culture is all about family and they all arrive from grandparents to babies. They spent a lot of time together enjoying each other. We can learn a lot from them. The beaches are filled everyday at sunset.














Friends,














More friends














And more friends on a tube.















And last but not least, beach bum.....