transplantation...

Life along the Mekong Delta. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

It’s very Mekong-y and Delta-y.

Our boat tour along the Mekong Delta. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

Our boat driver made us a flower and some jewelry out of these palm leaves. She made a random stop to cut them down and at first we were puzzled. Then we noticed how busy she was in the back of our boat weaving our gifts.

Life along the Mekong Delta. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

One of my favorite photos of all that I took while in Vietnam.

Houses along the Mekong Delta. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

Houses along the Mekong Delta. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

Houses along the Mekong Delta. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

Houses along the Mekong Delta. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

Floating Market. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

Floating Market. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

Selling coconuts and tomatoes, talking on the phone. Classic.

Floating Market. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

Floating Market. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

Floating Market. Can Tho, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

Mekong Delta, Vietnam [6 Sept 2010]

After 24 hours of traveling we made it back to the south. To get here we had to take multiple forms of transportation:

• mini-bus in Sapa to train station. Packed to the gills. Unnecessary and scary passing on mountain pass roads
• Overnight train to Hanoi
• Cab to airport
• Flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City
• Taxi through crazy traffic to bus station
• Negotiate bus. Get ass randomly slapped and cheek pinched (yes, we were the only white people in sight)
• 4.5 hour mini-bus packed to the gills to Can Tho
• Promptly pass out and not leave hotel until necessary

Upon arriving in Can Tho, one of the largest towns in the Mekong Delta, we decided to take a boat ride along the river to see the local sites and the famous floating markets. These houses on stilts made of metal and wood are pretty common along the river. No doubt about it, we had great weather for a boat ride.

Ban Ho Village. Sapa, Vietnam [4 Sept 2010]

Some rice and a house in Ban Ho Village.

Ban Ho traditional dress. Sapa, Vietnam [4 Sept 2010]

This girl is 20 years old. I kid you not. I know she looks 12, but she’s not. She hung out with us in Ban Ho then got a ride further up the hill.