It has taken me 10 months to get round to a day trip to the Mekong Delta, but I have finally managed it. Unfortunately it was raining, but I still saw the all-day floating market. The boats were covered and not many people were out, however it was really interesting floating through it and seeing the boats. You know what each boat is selling by looking at what is at the top of the pole at the stern of the boat. If bananas is hanging from it, that boat sells bananas, etc. If the pole has leaves hanging from it, then the boat is up for sale. Remarkably simple and yet extremely effective. We also went to the typical tourist trip stops - coconut sweet factory, honey tea place, rice paper making place and listening to traditional Vietnamese music while eating fruit. It was nice to be away from the busy city, breathe in fresh air and hear no traffic for a while. My highlight was seeing a boat being propelled along by a digger. Three boys had decided to move the digger scoop in and out of the water like an oar, one side of the boat and then the other, to move the boat. It was seriously unstable in the water and causing a lot of waves, but they had huge grins on their faces, and it made us laugh. A worthwhile trip, and another box to tick off my list.
After 10 months working at EMG, I have left. I have enjoyed my time there - the staff are great and I've loved the teaching. It was so sad to leave my students, and I think the feeling was mutual judging by the amount of 'Teacher, why?' and cards I received. I left so that I can come back to the UK to apply for my PGCE; teaching in Vietnam hasn't put me off teaching history in England, though I would imagine the students are far better behaved and willing to learn in Vietnam.
Taking advantage of a long weekend, some friends from work and I flew up to Da Lat. It was originally built up by the French who wanted a place to escape from the heat and busy lifestyle of Saigon. Having spent 3 days there, it is possibly my favourite place in Vietnam. It is very different from Saigon; much calmer, cleaner, fresher, greener and cooler. Settled in the mountains, it is a beautiful town that has a cooler and wetter climate that the (sometimes oppressive) heat of Saigon. Jeans, jumper and waterproof weather rather than shorts and t-shirt I'm normally hot it. It was a lovely change. Because the climate is so different, it is the main producer of vegetables and flowers. Everywhere we looked we saw green fields and flowers, again another huge difference from what we are used to. It was a fantastic weekend; lots of time relaxing over a glass of wine, or hot chocolate, as well as seeing a lot of the sights.
The Crazy House was out first stop. It truly was crazy. Designed by the architect daughter of Ho Chi Minh's successor, it looks like a tree trunk, with lots of twisty bridges going to other parts, and interesting steps leading to rooms with statues of different animals in; one of which was a kangaroo with glowing red eyes, and another, a tiger with glowing red eyes. I was ready to be disappointed, but was extremely impressed, it has to be seen to be believed. My descriptions do not do it justice (or my bad photos). It would fit in perfectly to 'Alice in Wonderland' or a bizarre dream. Definitely a highlight of my trip to Da Lat.
My next adventures will take me to Northern Thailand, Laos and Cambodia before I fly back to the UK. I'm very excited, but will miss Vietnam a lot, it is an amazing country where the people have been very friendly wherever I've travelled to and with so many different areas in the country it is a brilliant place to work and travel. Recommended to anyone with the travel bug.
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