Mekong Delta and an Interesting Foot Massage

Yesterday, we went with our guide out to the Mekong Delta to visit with some local residents and observe them go about their day. It took nearly 2.5 hours to drive from HCMC to our launching point in the Mekong Delta. Along the drive, we saw many more motorbikes and even some that acted as family caravans or even moving trucks. However, it was well worth the drive. We started out by meeting another guide who took us onto a private boat which ferried us to a candy making shop run by a family that lived in the area. We saw the process to make coconut candy, peanut brittle, rice paper crackers, etc. We then got to sample the goods. We did manage to stuff a few bags of candy into our carry-on (carry on only rule for this trip) so be prepared for some delicious treats...unless we eat them first!

Next, we went to a home on a side canal and enjoyed a delicious lunch of Elephant Ear Fish, spring rolls, pork, rice and fresh fruit. While Elaine wasn't a huge fan of the fish, she did discover her new favorite fruit, the Rambutan. It was at lunch that I also made friends with a pretty big anaconda. Our guide thought it would be funny to put it on my head. Elaine didn't think it was as funny.

After our lunch, we enjoyed some traditional Mekong music, which typically chronicles simple life on the delta. Stories ranged from a man working for another woman's farm and his wife begged him to stay with sweet potatoes to a man who falls in love with a streetside woman selling fruit. Pretty cool overall...including the fact that they served my favorite fruit, the Rose Apple. If you haven't had one before, you must try it.

After several hours cruising the Delta, it was time for us to say goodbye and return to HCMC. After 3.5 hours driving through torrential rain (Which only happens in the afternoon, by the way) we decided to end our day with a foot massage. This is where we had a little bit of "Lost in Translation." We were shown to a massage room where the following exchange happened:

Masseuse: Take off all of your clothes except for your underwear.

Me: Um, I've never had a foot massage like that before.

After we got everything straightened out, we received an hour long foot massage which was heavenly. My masseuse was a bit chatty and she was completely boy crazy. Both her and Elaine's masseuse kept on rubbing my legs almost to the point of being inappropriate.