The Mekong Delta

Now this trip is why we had to have so many shots and take malaria medication, but it was worth it because this was a cool adventure. We got up real early and headed out via tour bus to a boat dock where we floated down some of the dirtiest, muddy green water you have ever seen. Once we got further up the Delta we transferred into smaller boats as seen here. We headed up little canals and looked at houses built along the water. It was similar to what we saw in Thailand only muckier. Locals were out going about their daily business which was neat to see. The life seemed very simple and the people appeared to be working hard and did so with pride.

Eventually we ended up on a farm and I got to hold a python. No one else in our group would do it, but after all the snakes Jay had growing up and even in college, it seemed like no big deal. And it wasn't!

Again it was another super hot and muggy day. As we returned to the bigger boat we were given coconuts with straws in them to drink the coconut juice. Another thing that was yucky! So far, Vietnamese food is not sitting well with me. The air-conditioned bus was always a welcome thing to hop back on.

Two sides to Hanoi

As we drove along at the highway to visit the famous "Hanoi Hilton" prison located in Hao Lo, we passed this farming scene. Farmers were out tending to their small plots of land. I am not sure if this was rice or what. It was definitely mushy land. After the war, the government gave each person a small section of land to farm. Not sure how much they pay back to the government. It was a misty day and although this is a bit blurry as we motored along the road, I still thought it was a great shot. It showed the peaceful side of this noisy city.

Once inside the city proper we were taken to the place where part of the old prison remains. A tour guide let us wander around a bit and read all the poster and photographs depicting the "civilized care the Vietnam prisoners received while incarcerated." Actually the propaganda pictures were very blatant and I can't imagine who they are fooling. It made me wonder how the prisoners were cohered with in order that they would pose in clean, starched uniforms, appear to be playing checkers at a table in front of a decorated Christmas tree. In another shot we saw men dressed nicely and sitting down to a turkey dinner! They even had a picture of men in a courtyard playing games and realizing-R & R style.

There were glass cases that held real POW uniforms etc. and that was more the real story. Then we actually walked down a hallway where the prisoners were kept and saw dummy's posing in wooden shackles on boards where they lived.  It was just awful. The majority of the prison has been bought by some huge hotel company and a mega modern hotel now butts up against these remains. There is a nice monument to the POW's similar to the Vietnam Memorial in DC only instead of names it has etched skeletons that can be found in a small courtyard. The whole thing was just down right creepy and I am sorry I went there. It made me even more thankful for the sacrifices those young men of my generation made and how so many men and women are fighting again for the same things in a different part of the world.

Vietnamese Cultural Dances

The Azamara cruise ship invited another local dance group, this time from Vietnam, to entertain us under the stars. The young women, like those in Thailand, were so graceful and beautiful. They are also size 0! Anyway, accompanying them would be musicians who would play authentic old world instruments making the evening quite enchanting. Well, it would have been enchanting had you not been worried about those dive bombing mosquitoes eating your exposed skin! The gals in red are doing some sort of fan dance where they twirl around and snap the fans open and closed. It was really cool.

They also did a hat dance in very simple garb. I think it was meant to be more of a peasant dance with these hats made of baskets for gathering food. Like the Thai dancers their fingers would bend backwards, giving it a very elegant look as they interpreted life in VIetnam.

The last dance of the evening was similar to the hat dance except that inside the hat was a real burning candle of some sort. I'm not sure how they got away with that on the cruise ship, but there were no accidents or near misses, so I guess all was safe.

A real praise goes out to Azamara cruise line for their attention to detail and bringing quality local entertainment on board the ship. Some people who cruise are limited in the shore excursions they can participate in and this was an excellent way to feel like you were really experiencing the culture. With this being such a small cruise ship, there was plenty of room on the poolside deck to see the show up close should you want to. Dan and I are pretty sold on these ships that hold less than 1000 folks total (600 passengers and 400 staff). The ships can go into many ports the larger ships can't, and it isn't a madhouse on board the ship to find seats, get food, workout, etc. We had only about 400 guest on board (did I tell you this already, if so sorry) making it a 1:1 ratio for guest and waitstaff.

Old vs. New

In Vietnam, as in all the Asian countries we visited, there is a blend of old country dress, transportation, and life style, sharply contrasted with bustling city life.  In the middle of Danang we see motorcycles dart by as all as push cart vendors trying to make a living. This woman had her entire kitchen set-up on this sturdy three-wheeled cart. She was preparing to  serve lunch somewhere. On street corners we would see tables and chairs similar to those Fisher Price ones we had with our children. They just squat down on little blue and red stools and eat, solving the problems of the world I suppose.



Motorcyclists tend to wear face coverings like enlarged surgical masks. They are made out of what looks like thick quilted material and come in all types of prints and colors. Some that the younger, trendy women had on were very stylish and color coordinated with their outfits.

Helmets are a joke---anything goes as long as it covers the head. Some are real safety helmets, but most are a lightweight plastic cap. There is a law that says you have to have on a helmet if you are over 6 years of age. Those under six it is thought that their brains will be stunted if they have the helmets on, so they are exempt. Give me a break! It was very common to see a family of 4 on a motorcycle... youngest kid up front on motor, then the dad driving, another kid wedged behind him with mom hanging on the back. Wild!

Here is the best part---there are very few traffic lights just as in Thailand. Enter the street at your own risk. If you want to cross a street as a pedestrian, you walk slowly, but steadily allowing cars to anticipate your moves and weave around you. We crossed only one street and it wasn't a busy one and we actually had a local help us cross. I'm sure he thought we were pansies!

Immunizations and Killer Mosquitoes

Before our trip we had to get a few shots in order to stay healthy. I jokingly say a "few." Try this laundry list:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Influenza
Tetanus
Japanese Encephalitis
Typhoid Fever
and of course...Malaria Pills

Grand Total: $1800. This is the hidden cost of traveling to third world countries when insurance doesn't pay for travel shots.

As if this isn't bad enough, immunizations against diseases carried by mosquitoes are thought to be about 80% effective and there are no shots to guard against Dengue Fever. So to protect yourself the other 20% you have to slather yourself in bug repellent with at least 30% DEET and 50% is better. 100% DEET will melt plastic! Think about that as you put it on your face and hands next time you go hiking!! Then you have to spray the outside of your clothing with this stuff call permytherin which also repels mosquitoes. Believe me, they can still sting you through your treated clothes...I have bites to prove it.

So while we are in 85-92F weather with equal humidity we are literally covered from head to toe with clothing that has been treated and our extremities are coated under the clothing. And to think the people who live there seem to have some natural immunity to these diseases.

This takes care of airborne diseases, but what about food/water? Well, like in Mexico, consume no water, ice, or local street fare. Only drink from a can if it hasn't been opened and you drink from a straw. Basically, I threw granola bars in my pack. The ship gave us bottled water each day as did most of the tour buses.

Some of these shots are good for a lifetime, but others just 2-5 years. That's OK, because I don't plan to go to these places again even though they were beautiful and the people were very nice. It was use TOO HOT for me.

Ho Chi Minh CIty/Saigon, Vietnam

After a day at sea (following our departure in Thailand), we entered the waterways of Vietnam. It was a peaceful sail into the port where we docked and the Immigration authorities came aboard ship to check our individual Visas before we could disembark. Because this is a Communist country we needed a special Visa to enter. Visas were stamped again as we re-boarded the ship. This process was repeated on all three days of our visit.

Our first shore excursion was called Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City and it was definitely eye-opening. Like Singapore and Thailand, the city was crowded, noisy, and full of motorcycles. Everything seemed chaotic. There are nearly 10 million people in this city...the largest city in Vietnam and all of Indochina.

Our first stop was the Reunification Hall that was the Presidential Palace where tanks from the North Vietnamese army crashed through the gates in April1975, which ended our involvement in Vietnam. On the lawn of the building are the two tanks and this is one of them. Inside the Hall on the top level were all of the rooms were they had cabinet meetings and entertained dignitaries. But down below underground were the bunkers/tunnels that housed the "war rooms." Today you can still see planning maps, teletype machines, and other communication equipment as a part of the "museum".

Just down the road is the the US Embassy where the helicopters landed on the rooftop to fly the last Americans out of the country. We also stopped at a cathedral and large post office that looked just like the old LA train depot. As we drove and walked through the streets there was a fairly descent size police presence. Ugly green uniforms and no friendly smiles.

On this day we also went to a very interesting lacquer factor and went to a water puppet theater where a variety of traditional folktales were told. It was actually kind of cool and nothing like we have here in the US. My overall impression was that his is a dirty, busy, city and not one I would like to return to. The 4 hour tour was long enough and I was glad to get back to the ship. It was in this country that I got the only 4 mosquito bites of the trip. They have mosquitoes on steroids there who have no qualms about zapping you through your clothes.

Thai Folkloric Danc

One night while in Thailand, the ship sponsored an evening performance out on the pool deck of dancers retelling Thai folktales. The costumes were so impressive as was the music and the dancers. These were men dressed in traditional costumes that were so ornate and  must have weighed a ton. They reenacted a famous tale that we heard over and over while in Thailand. In every case, the costumes were very similar.

The music was played on traditional Thai instruments as well.

In other dances, girls game out and performed. One of the most interesting things was how both male and female (especially) performers could make their fingers flex backwards. Apparently they begin at a very early age (2) pulling the fingers back so that they actually grow that way! Sick. It looks very elegant from a distance. I remember some of my young Asian students sitting in their desks pushing their finger back and know I know why.

The Thai women are absolutely beautiful. Their smiles will melt your heart. The people are just so kind and gentle. It was a real treat to get to see these elegant dances. It was just another way to experience the history and culture of the country. This ship really had some wonderful entertainment for its guests.

The Azamara Quest is a small ship that holds 600 passengers and 400 crew. We had a little over 400 guests on board so it was a nice small number (2/3 full). We basically had a 1:1 ratio with the staff. Big ships can have as many as 4000 guests!

Dan and I really like the small ship experience for two reasons:

1- Nothing is ever crowded onboard the ship
2- You can get in closer to many areas that larger ships cannot, thus you see so much more.

It does cost a bit more, but I think we kind of like it and on this particular line there are no formal nights so you never pack any of the fancy clothes which we like. No prom dress or tux!!