“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” L.P. Hartley,
Corona Quarantine Day 22. When you are lucky enough to have a lot off travel memories, it is good to have the time to stop and remember them.
Perriera, Colombia
Angor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Mekong Delta, Viet Nam
Lisbon, Portugal
Tel Aviv, Israel
Zaanse Schans, Netherlands
Amazon, Marajo, Brazil
Petra, Jordan
Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Londelozi, South Africa
Fly Safe,
JAZ
“You have to travel to see new light, find new hope, renew the mind and revitalize the soul.” Lailah Gifty Akita
It was summer in January on a beach in Napier, New Zealand. The weather was hot and the sun was setting at 930 PM. The moon was out at the same time. My new friend pinched the fingers of both her hands together and said, “This is a pinch me moment”. I had heard of pinch me moments when someone wins an Academy Award or accomplishes a dream but I had never heard of it standing on a beach watching a sunset. She explained that, “You pinch your fingers to save the moment. When I am sitting in my kitchen in England and I look out the window at the dreary weather, I will remember this moment.”
As I watched the moon that night, it made sense that it is also the small moments that resonate in our minds. They are part of the story making events of our lives. Here are some of my travel pinch me moments. (photo by Cordula Reins)
Looking out at the balloons in the air over Cappadocia, Turkey.
Watching the sun set over the Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
Rainbow over Iguazu Falls, Missiones, Argentina
Angor Wat, Cambodia
Walking on the beach in Varadero, Cuba
Sailing on the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam
Machu Picchu .
Seeing the elephants up close in Kruger National Park, South Africa
The Tori Gates on Myajima, Japan
The view of the volcano in Santorini, Greece
Fly safe,
JAZ
The Mekong Delta, Viet Nam
“Now without the bombs and gun shots, people can have a better sleep.“ from someone in the Mekong Delta.
The Mekong River has its origins in the mountains of Tibet, and it traverses six countries and 4500 km before spilling out into the Mekong Delta region of Viet Nam.
After the rainy season, the water is brown from the silt that has been washed into it upstream.
During the dry season the river becomes blue-green in color. There are many boats of different sizes and shapes traveling in all directions, including cargo boats, fishing boats, ferries, tourist boats and house boats.
Everything happens on the river including the floating market of Cai Bei.
All along the river, small huts are perched precariously on stilts so that the water at high tide does no more than wet the floor.
Some are in good shape, but most are ramshackle, and one wonders how they manage to survive.
During the Viet Nam War there was there was fighting there between the Viet Cong and the US Navy boats. After the war the Khmer Rouge attacked Viet Nam to reclaim the Delta area. This campaign precipitated the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia and later downfall of the Khmer Rouge.
The Mekong Delta is called the Rice Bowl of Viet Nam because most of the countries rice production comes from the Delta. They also have most of the country’s fisheries.
The towns along the river are fun to explore by foot or bicycle.
You will find French colonial architecture and delicious fruits and vegetables.
The Mekong Lodge is an interesting place to stay on the Delta.
It is reachable by boat and a good location for exploring the nearby villages and floating market. They are socially and environmentally responsible using eco-friendly materials for the bungalows, solar energy, rainwater, local ingredients and local employees. There is not a lot of English but it adds to the charm. Hand motions are the universal language and I am fluent in them.
I had a great foot massage in a bamboo chair outside of my room overlooking beautiful gardens and fruit orchards of longan, rambutan, mango, durian trees and flowers. http://mekonglodge.com
Another option are local guesthouses where you can stay with a lovely family on the Mekong.
I spent some time at Muoi Huong Tourist Garden (070 3859992) with their lovely family and highly recommend it for a wonderful local experience. (Binh Hoa Phuoc Island, Long Ho District, Vinh Long, Viet Nam).
I had a chance to talk to people in the Mekong Delta. What I noticed throughout Vietnam was some of the nicest friendliest people I met came from the Mekong Delta.
There is an interconnectedness that all Vietnamese have with past generations that we do not have. Every home has an altar to their ancestors with photos and their favorite things on it. The smell of incense used for prayer permeates the country (not so good for me because I am allergic to it). But I love the idea of it – how the smoke rises up to connect them with their ancestors.
They worship at communal houses.
They work hard. They are underpaid and they do not complain.
They have been helped by the efforts, work and suffering of previous generations and ancestors.
Now they are part of the present, with each other, working toward a future when others will pray and thank them.
Special thanks to my tour guide in Saigon and the Mekong Delta Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thanh. Thanh is smart, funny, intuitive, helpful and very knowledgeable about everything related to Viet Nam. I had the best time exploring the Delta with him and highly recommend him as a tour guide.
Di du lịch một cách an toàn,
JAZ
Travel Well, Fly Safe 
You must be logged in to post a comment.