January 27-30: Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty (NZ)

My Intercity bus trip from Whitianga to Mount Maunganui on the 27th went without a hitch. My, the roads through the Coromandel Peninsula are curvy, but I think I mentioned that before!  After the bus change in Thames we were on larger, straighter roads and could actually pick up some speed.

Annie, my airbnb host in Mount Maunganui, picked me up at the bus station. Wasn't that kind, and certainly appreciated. That was just the first of many kindnesses. She and her husband Tony are such a nice couple. Their home is just 2 blocks from the beach and perfectly set up for being airbnb hosts. They have two small houses on their property, one they live in themselves, and a little one that they rent. It's wee but it has everything: a bed, a kitchenette, a dining table or desk, a little living area, a bathroom and even a patio. And I'll be here a whole week. That feels so good. Actually worth unpacking.

My little home

This is what a beachfront  

property here looks like!

I took a long walk on the beach the night I arrived, and what a beach it is. It must be at least 20 km. long and the sand is perfect. Quite hard packed near the water line so great for walking or jogging. And of course the water is that exquisite  turquoise  colour.

My first view of the  beach

The next day I walked on the beach again, to the downtown area That took about 40 minutes. It's very much a beach town, with lots of cafes, restaurants and stores that sell beach items. Not to mention a slew of ice cream places. I think this might be heaven.

Downtown Mt Maunganui  

(and a Norfolk pine)

Day two (January 29) Annie drove me in to Tauranga, where she works. It's just a bridge away and with a population of about 120,000, one of the bigger centres in New Zealand! There I visited the Art Gallery and did the town's historic walk. Tauranga, like so many places in NZ, has a very nice waterfront area. Probably the highlight of the walk for me was the garden at the Elms Mission House, which was completed in 1847. So many old and wonderful examples in the garden of native NZ trees.

When back "home" in Mount Maunganui I went to visit a friend of a friend in Wolfville who winters in NZ and incredibly enough, is living just blocks from me. That just blows me away!

Today (January 30) I walked the beach into town again and discovered a treasure trove of welks, my favourite shell. And picked up far too many. I'll have to liberate them before I leave.  Ladden with welks, I climbed Mauao (pronounced mow-aw), the mount that gave the town its name. Just a nice climb (about 40 minutes) and of course wonderful 360 degree views from the summit, where you get a better idea of just how long the beach is. You literally can't see the end of it. Back down in town I reckoned I was due for lunch, a coffee (I mean cappuccino) and an ice cream.

Welks galore!!

Mauao (the mount)

View of Mt. Maunganui from the mount

In the evening, my hosts took me along with them to the Friday evening food market, in a park downtown. So very  nice of them. Music, food from all over the world, just delightful.

Still three more days here. That's a lifetime on this trip!

January 24-26: Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula (NZ)

January 24

Today I headed off on my own, by bus. My first opportunity to see how well that would work. And work it did. Three different buses to get me from Whangarei to Whitianga, in the Coromandel Peninsula. It took most of the day but I was in no hurry. Other than the fact that in NZ they drive on the other side of the road, the roads are also narrower than ours, and exceedingly windy (it should be spelled winedy!), so I am just as happy not to be behind the wheel. Others would be grateful too! Besides, I get to look around, and the views are virtually all spectacular, whether of the water (one is never that far from it in NZ) or the rolling landscape.

Also, the bus system here is excellent, and the drivers all very helpful. And although the roads are in good condition, road signs can be hard to find when you most need them. So I am happy to trust myself to someone who knows where they are going.

I arrived in Whitianga about 5:30. The bus driver dropped me off near my accommodation. How about that! It's another place I rented through airbnb.com. And it's ideal, a detached unit at the back of the owners' property. Everything I need, and more.

Whitianga is totally flat and lacks the charm of Russell. But there are many things to see in the area, and I have just two days to do that. And for those who like history, a Polynesian explorer, Kupe, landed here in 950 A.D., and Captain Cook in 1769.

January 25

Like many places, you need a bit of time in Whitianga to really appreciate it. The harbour and beach are very nice (thus all the tourists) and the view of the cliffs across from the harbour just wonderful. Today I took the ferry to Ferry Landing (what else could it be called?) and did the hike up to the Lookout on Shakespeare Cliff. What breathtaking views. But I've said that before! Then down to Cooks Beach. I walked most of the beach before heading for what on the map said "shops", hoping to find a restaurant. There is not much more than a general store in little Cooks Beach, and a bunch of rental agencies, and properties. This is the time of year when New Zealanders are on vacation, so the place was full. I did find what looked like an evening-type restaurant called Go Vino, which I assumed would not have much to eat earlier in the day. Wrong! I had one of the best brunch dishes I've ever tasted. Even took a picture! And did I mention that tipping is not expected in New Zealand. Not that it would not be appreciated.

The little ferry

View of Whitianga  from across the harbour

View from Shakespeare Cliff

My brunch at Go Vino

(no more food shots, I promise)

In the summer a shuttle runs between the towns in this part of the Coromandel Peninsula, so I took it to the next little community, Hahei. It is much smaller than Whitianga, but has lots of charm, and a beach and cliffs that would take your breath away. I did more walking but did not get a chance to get to Cathedral Cove, a sight I read was not to be missed. But I had to miss it, to move on (by shuttle) to Hot Water Beach, another recommended attraction. In a section of that beach there are hot springs under the sand so if you arrive around low tide (I did) you can dig a hole in the sand and have your own personal spa. Well, you and all the others crowded into that area. It was, after all, the Sunday of a long weekend. I did feel the heat of the water, and it was almost scorching. So wierd!

Just a few people at Hot Water Beach

January 26

Today I made it to Cathedral Cove. I took the ferry, then the summer shuttle (this was its last day), and did the hour hike from Hahei Beach to the Cove. It is quite remarkable. (I've run out of superlatives.) It's named for the gigantic (and that it is) arch that passes through an enormous white rock, joining two coves. And just offshore is a huge rock that has been named 'Te Hoho' which has taken on a very strange shape, after years of erosion by wind and water. I spent an hour or so at the beach on the Cove, pinching myself every now and again to make sure this was not a dream. The beaches here are very clean, I like to think because people clean up after themselves. Either that or a team of Hobbits does it. The water was very rough when I was there so no tourist boats were landing. Lucky me!  After that, food, at a cafe in Hahei.

At Cathedral Cove

On the drive there and back, and the walk through the town I was again struck by the wonderful things growing here. I mentioned that agapanthus are to be found everywhere, and they are georgeous! Coming to an end of their blooming period, as are the hydrangeas. Cocosmia also seems to grow wild here. And there are many, very large, oleander as well. The norfolk pine here are massive, and so perfectly proportioned; good thing they don't have to be taken inside in the winter!

A final word for the day, about coffee. It's become an industry here too. Coffee places are ubiquitous. Interestingly, they have different names for their coffee types. There is cappuccino, and latte, but also what they call flat white (less frothy and milky than cappuccino), short black (shot of expresso) and long black. Regular perked coffee is not on the menu at all. I need a course on this! Mostly coffee is about $4.00, probably a bit less than the specialty coffees at home, except you cannot get a plain old ordinary coffee, which at home is cheaper than the fancy coffees. One thing I love about cafes here is that for the most part wireless is not available so people talk to one another. What a concept.

Tomorrow I move on, by bus, to Mount Maunganui.

January19-23: Russell, Bay of Islands (NZ)

I've spent most of the last 5 days with friends Josephine and Richard in Russell, a small town on the east coast of of the north island about a 3 hour drive north of Auckland. Our drive up there on the 19th, however, took us more like 8 hours. So much to see along the way! Our longest stop was at the Brick Bay sculpture trail and winery, near Warkworth, for both a walk along the trail (some of the sculptures were most impressive) and a bite to eat. So we arrived in Russell just in time to unpack and head off for another meal, this time fish and chips. Served in paper.  From one food stop to the next it seems!

The house Richard rented for us all was fabulous. From the kitchen to the artwork. And Russell is a wonderful little town. The main street (a very short one) runs beside the Bay of Islands and is filled with restaurants and gift/souvenir stores. The population is under 1,000 although the number of tourists makes it seem larger than that. The town is built on the side of a steep incline rising from the water, and the views looking up to the town or down on the Bay are spectacular.

Russell main street

Russell harbour

Our rental house in Russell

Russell was New Zealand's first capital, for a brief time in 1840, until it moved to Auckland. The first church in NZ (Christ Church, 1836) is still located there. So our first day (the 20th) we spent at the town's historic sites: the museum and the Pompallier Mission. The latter was NZ's oldest Roman Catholic mission and was also used as a printery and tannery to produce the first Catholic prayer books, in Maori.

Oldest church in NZ

There are many walking trails around Russell, and we spent the afternoon of the 20th exploring some of them. Supper was at a new Indian restaurant in town.

View from one of our walks

On the 21st we took the ferry to Paihia, and then and on to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the Waitangi Treaty was signed in 1840 between the Mauri and the British Crown. In the treaty a promise was made to protect Mauri rights, a promise that was quickly broken. Also on the grounds is the house lived in by James Busby from 1833, the first British Resident, an official position of the British government.

On the way back to Russell we stopped in Paihia, which is much bigger than Russell. It appears to be a town that has developed to attract and house tourists. So glad Richard chose Russell for our time in that area. Supper that night was at the Duke of Marlborough Restaurant in Russell. Delicious food at a table overlooking the Bay. How perfect.

Our last day in Russell (the 22nd) we took a day trip on a boat through the Bay of Islands. The water, the islands/rocks, it was all extraordinary. I am still in awe of the colour of the water. And then, for supper, Richard BBQ'd lamb sausages, at our Russell home! Great meal!

View from a stop on the boat cruise

Today (the 23rd) we sadly left Russell for the west coast, where we saw first the most amazing sand dunes, and then the Kauri forests, with the oldest Kauri trees in NZ (and the world?). You have to see these trees to believe them. A 45 ft. (more or less) girth. Just imagine. It would probably take at least 8 people with their arms outstretched to circle the oldest trees! And they have even been given names. The oldest is called Tane Mahuta. They estimate it is about 2,000 years old!

Sand dunes on west coast

Oldest kauri tree,

much bigger than it looks

The west coast north of Dargaville has fewer tourists than the east coast, possibly because swimming there is much riskier. And did I menon that along the roadsides NZ has the equivalent of our lupin, the agapanthus, which has a strikingly beautiful blue blossom. Apparently it has become a bit of a nuisance. And then there are the hydrangas, and the hibiscus, all in bloom now. So much colour.

Richard and Jo left me at the Grand Hotel (perhaps once!) in Whangarei, after an excellent meal at a recommended restaurant called Split. The owners are from Croatia, where Jo has roots. Didn't have much time to explore Whangarei, but it does have a lovely waterfront, and a very nice downtown pedestrian shopping area. Just as well I have no time there.

January13-18: To New Zealand (Auckland)

January 13-14: Getting to New Zealand

The flights - well three actually - to Auckland were quite painless. The airport at Siem Reap is  small so little likelihood of getting lost and confused there. I passed many new, large hotels on the way to the airport and was glad that Exodus has a policy of using smaller, more centrally located accommodation. I was expecting the Ho Chi Minh City airport to be ginormous but not so. Also easy to navigate. And when I landed in Sydney there was a shuttle waiting for those of us flying Air New Zealand, which took us almost to our gate. Most welcome. Little sleep but I was too excited to be tired.

January 15-18: Auckland

What a fantastic city. Water everywhere, and rolling hills, An unbeatable combination. The accommodation I am staying in I booked through airbnb.com, and it's perfect. The owners are a retired couple who are very active, and very well-traveled. The house is located just outside the downtown area but within easy walking distance. It's just beside a huge park, called the Domain. 

There is something about Auckland that reminds me very much of Vancouver, in part because the homes in the older, trendier areas of town are very much like those in Kitsilano. It's all very charming. Including the fact that the stores close by about 5:30, even on Fridaý. And forget about Sunday shopping. Except of course in the shopping centres, where the hours are more like home.

Getting around is easy. Feet do for most destinations, but there is also a public transportation system that seems to be very efficient. And less expensive than at home.  I just have to remember that they drive on the LEFT. 

What is not less expensive is the food served in restaurants. I reckon you can expect to spend almost double. Desserts are about $10-12. Perhaps I will live on them.  The difference in the value of our dollars accounts for a bit of this, but only a bit. But tax is included, and in New Zealand tipping is not expected. 

It feels so good to be back in a country where there is order and predictability, and no garbage! Traffic rules are respected, and pedestrians even wait for the walk signal. I love it!

I've done lots of walking, been to the Auckland Museum (excellent, and in the Domaiņ close to where I am staying) and caught the ferry to Devonport, a lovely little community just a 12 minute ferry ride from the Auckland harbour. The views of Auckland are fabulous, or would be had the day been clearer. For the most part the weather has been excellent, but it was rather overcast when I was in Devonport. 

Auckland is surrounded by bays and islands, an idyllic setting. But then there are the volcanos. Not currently creating problems but at some point it is expected they will. The museum had an excellent section on volcanos. I only thought I would want a few days here, but perhaps I will return! 

It's now January 18th, my last day in Auckland. This morning I walked up Mt. Eden (not a hard climb). At the peak you get a 360 degree view of the city and surrounding bays. Spectacular. Then, by chance, I discovered nearby Eden Gardens, and it's cafe. The gardens are built on the side of a steep hill and are glorious. I couldn't get a picture that did it justice. 

In the afternoon, friends Josephine and Richard, from Ottawa, who are here for the winter, met me and took me on a drive beside the bays to the east of the city. So beautiful, and the water was a glorious marine blue. Lots of people, and cars. The street that runs  by the water is lined with delightful little stores and restaurants. The homes there must be worth millions! Richard's brother and sister-in-law, who live in Auckland, invited me to join them for supper so I got to experience kiwi hospitality. 

Just a few final observations and that's it for now. I love, among other things, all the flowers here. I was surprised how few I saw in SE Asia. And one of the advantages of being in the southern hemisphere is that the days are long. The sun rises about 6:30 and sets not that long before 9:00 pm. What a bonus!

Tomorrow Richard and Josephine pick me up and we head north. Can't wait.

Maori carving at the museum

 Front entrance to the Museum 

Street in Parnell near my accommodation 

Typical Auckland home

View of downtown, and Sky Tower, from Mt. Eden

January 9-12: Siem Reap & Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

This will be my last entry from Southeast Asia. It's now the evening of January 12 and tomorrow I leave for New Zealand. This has been the most incredible trip but I am looking forward to returning to a world where there is order, and where traffic rules exist and are respected.

Cambodia is the first country we have visited where there has been a significant amount of begging. Not surprising, given many of the people are so very poor, although that was also true in Laos. And there are also more people trying to sell you one thing or another, including very young children saying they need the money for school. Let's hope that is how it would be used. Very sad.

One thing I have appreciated about this tour is that I have never once felt that there was an ulterior motive behind any of our visits, and that we had been "set up" to spend money.

Don't think I've mentioned the currency in Cambodia.  It's the Riel, and there are about 4,000 to $1US. But the dollar is very widely used here. Small change is made in the riel so one does accumulate a bit of it.

Siem Reap is the closest town to Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, built in the 12th century, The town has therefore grown into a very popular tourist destination. One woman on the tour was here 2 years ago and has seen a big change in even that time. I can only imagine what another few years will do, It's been enormously helpful to the Cambodian economy. Virtually the entire local population services the touist industry. Wikipedia says the population is about 175,000 but I've heard other figures.

So trips to the ruins of Angkor Wat and other temples of this period were the focus of our time here. I'll mention them in the order in which they were built, rather than the order in which we saw them. We had a local guide for our temple visits, Sabade, or just De. She was excellent So good she had been awarded a scholarship to study Spanish for 3 months in South America. So she does tours in Spanish as well. Imagine learning a language in 3 months!

Simply the feat of getting the stone required to build these temples to the building sites is remarkable. Foundations were generally made of laterite, a stone that is soft until exposed to air, when it hardens quickly. The visible parts were made of sandstone. De told us the stone was taken from a distant quarry and floated to the required site. Tough work!

Roluos group temples (Bakong, Preah Ko, Lolei): One of the other women in the group and I took a tuk tuk to these temples, which are not located in the main temple area, They were built in the late 9th century (wow!), at the first major capital of the Angkorian Era Khmer Empire. Bakong is the most impressive, standing 15 meters high, and one of the first to use stone rather than brick.

Bakong

Banteay Srei (meaning citadel of the women): This temple was built in the late 10th centuty, of pink sandstone, which is especially durable. So the detail on the carvings in this temple is still remarkably intact. Quite glorious! This site was not discovered until 1914, by French archeologists.

Carving detail at B. Srei  

(after 1000 years!)

Pre Rup: This is the second temple built, in the late 10th century, after the Khmer capital was returned to Angkor. It was built as the state temple for King Rajendravarman ll, and still has many well preserved carvings.

Pre-Rup  

Angkor Wat: This is the temple that defines this area,  and its image is the one most often portrayed. It was built in the early to mid 12th century, by King Suryavarman ll, or S2 as De referred to him., and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The temple is surrounded by a massive moat and is 1 km. square. There are 3 levels plus the central tower, although the most remarkable carvings, depicting history and mythology, are on the lowest level. It was constructed as a Hindu temple but has served as a Buddhist one since the 14th century. One morning we were up and out at 5:00, to see the sun rise over the temple. We were certainly not the only ones there! It did not turn out to be a great morning for photos.

Angkor Wat

The remaining temples we saw were built by the greatest king of the Angkor period, Jayavarman Vll, or J7, as we came to think of him. In addition to the major constructions he was responsible for, he also built 121 rest homes for his people, and 102 hospitals. He wanted to turn Cambodia into a paradise. Sadly, he would have needed to live forever to do that.

Angkor Thom and Bayon: Late 12th, early 13th century. Angkor Thom is a 3 km. square walled city. There are 5 gates to the city, each crowned with 4 giant faces. De told us 1 million people lived in and outside the city walls. Bayon is the temple inside Angkor Thom. Thirty-seven of its towers are still standing, although over a dozen have been destroyed. Once again the carvings on the walls of this temple give us a picture of life at the time.

Angkor  Thom (I think!!)

Ta Prohm: This temple was dedicated to J7s mother. Seeing this temple makes it very clear what happened to them after the Khmer empire fell and they were largely abandoned. They were looted, destroyed, and became overgrown. Restoring them has meant removing trees that were hundreds of years old. In parts of Ta Prohm this has intentionally not been done, so massive tree roots are intertwined with the stone walls.  Almost eery!

Tree roots at Ta  Prohm, so amazing

Well, that's it for temples, probably one of the highlights of this entire month. In addition, while here in Siem Reap, I visited the Museum dedicated to these temples and also a Landmine Museum. Many Cambodian people have been victims of all the landmines left by the Khmer Rouge. The museum was started by a former child soldier who laid some of  these mines. Now he disarms them and houses at the Museum many children at risk, who he helps to educate.

Any free time I filled with town walkabouts, and of course some visits to the local markets. But everything soon begins to look the same.

The last  night the group was together we went to supper at a restaurant (Khmer Barbe Q) in addition to food also included a traditional dance performance. It was very well done and depicted many scenes of life in the country. Have a look at the costumes!

The group has now all left for home or future travels so I am here on my own for a day. I'll get back to you next from NZ!!!!

January 6-8: Phnom Penh (Cambodia)

January 6

Today we left Vietnam. Sad for all of us as we had so enjoyed our time with Tur and all he taught us about the country. The drive to the border crossing took about an hour. Customs offices are not surprisingly rather more modest than at home!

We met our new guide as we crossed into Cambodia. Her name is Tida (actually spelled Thilda); she is the youngest guide we have had and has been doing this only a a short time but is very sweet. She helped us through the process of getting a Cambodian Visa, which cost $35. We then hopped on another bus and arrived in Phnom Penh about 1:00. For lunch, we stopped at another FRIENDS restaurant. We'd been to one in Vientiane.. That's the organization that trains street kids to work in their restaurants. Once again the meal was excellent.

Our hotel in Phnom Penh is the Ohana, just a few doors from Sisowath Quay, the street that runs beside the Tonle Sap River, an excellent location. The afternoon was free so I went with another in the group for a wander about the town and found along the way the Wat  Phnom and the Central Market, which was just closing. For supper Tida took most of us to a restaurant close by that was simple but had fine local cuisine. I had an amok, which is a signature Cambodian dish served in a banana leaf. Scrumptious.

Phnom Penh was largely destroyed during the Pol Pot regime in the late 1970s, when the people were evacuated from the city (and most others) and cruelly tortured and murdered. Therefore much of the city had to be rebuilt. It has a lovely waterfront area and some large new hotels and government buildings but is otherwise rather a maze of narrow streets, filled with vehicles, scooters, local markets selling meat, fish and veggies, and, sadly, garbage.

Buildings along Sisowath Quay

Phnom Penh

Inside Wat (temple) Phnom

The old, the new, the wires!

January 7

Today we first visited the Royal Palace, not far from our hotel. It is a massive complex of buildings where King Norodom Sihamoni, son of Norodom Sihanouk, lives. The current king took the throne in 2004. Prior to that he had lived in Paris. He has little actual power, chosing instead the role of figurehead. The Palace property has been well maintained and is quite exquisite.

As a drastic contrast to the Palace, we were then taken to see two of the sites that showed us all too graphically what happened during the Pol Pot regime, first the Museum of Genocide. It had previously been a high school but was turned into a prison in the last half of the 1970s. As many as 20,000 prisoners there were later killed. It was one of about 150 extermination centres throughout the country The museum contains pictures of many of the prisoners held there, and also the conditions under which they were detained. Awful!

Next we went to the Killing Fields (Choeung Ek), a short bus ride from the City. At that site they have built a commemorative stupa, holding the bones of many of the people brutally exterminated there. According to Wikipedia, the Khmer Rouge exterminated up to 2.5 of the 8 million people in the country, including supporters of the former government, intellectuals, professionals and monks. At the Killing Fields they were buried in mass graves after being brutally tortured.

The day ended at a vegetarian restaurant discovered by my fellow Canadians, both vegetarians. Several of us shared a number of dishes. Very good!

Grand Palace

Prison cell at Genocide Museum

Stupa at Killing Fields

January 8

Today was a transfer day, getting by bus the 350 km. between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, our last stop on the trip. That journey took us 8 hours, because of the condition of the roads. Almost the entire distance is under construction, and has been for about 4 years. Heaven knows when it will be completed. We have always stopped regularly along the way on these long journeys, for bathroom and lunch breaks Thank goodness. Our lunch stop today was beside a lake and a welcome relief from the bumpy ride.

We arrived in Siem Reap about 4:30, and checked into our last hotel for this trip, the Ankor Holiday. Again, well situated just outside the busy downtown area. Just time for a walk about and meal before ending the day. This town is filled with markets!! Oh my!

Homes beside the road

At our lunch stop

January 4-5: MeKong Delta (Vietnam)

January 4-5

Another very full and fascinating day on the 4th. We left the Hong Sen in HCM City about 8:00, on our bus heading for the MeKong Delta. Our one stop along the way was at a Cao Dai temple. Cao Dai is the third largest religion in Vietnam and was created in 1926. The symbol of the faith is the left eye of God, believed to witness all.

Before lunch we were all on a boat heading down the Mekong. We had an additional local guide for the day, a very petite young woman in traditional dress. She took us first to a see the floating market, where the locals shop. It is busiest very early in the morning so we missed the height of the action. The river supports so much life: people sell their merchandise on it, transport goods on it, live on it, farm fish on it, collect sand from the bottom. It's endless.

We then went into the town of Cai Be and were taken to several small factories, one producing rice paper, another fish sauce (smelly!) and also one making a range of products from coconuts. People here are so ingenious, they use locally available products so wisely. Certainly saves on waste!

Back in the boats, our next stop was a restaurant along the shores of the MeKong where we ate lunch in a delightful garden like setting. The ride continued after lunch and we were transferred to sampans, so that we could be taken for a shorter paddle (by women) into much narrower canals. We returned to the larger boats and were taken to a nursery on the shores of the river where local farmers can purchase a range of plants and fruit trees.

Cao Dai temple

Boat we spent the day on

Life on the Mekong Delta

Making rice paper (they each do

3000 day)

Fish sauce products

Our local guide, with coconuts

Orders anyone? (Look closely)

The sampans

Our accommodation for the night was at a homestay, in theory to experience life in a local home but in fact these homes have been modified to meet "western" expectations. At least this one had been. I expected to be given dorm like accommodation but in fact we each had our own room, with private bath. Basic, but comfortable.

Our local guide took us for a walk through the village. There is even a school for grades 1 and 2; after that the children are sent to school in a larger village.

Those interested were given the opportunity to help in the preparation of part of supper, the spring rolls. Excellent idea! Although I left the opportunity to others! Supper was eaten out on the patio. A lovely setting.

Slept very little that night so no problem getting up early the next day. After breakfast on the patio, we were taken back to the boats for a short ride to the nearest town, where our bus was waiting for us. Things have worked liked clockwork! I don't think we have ever had to wait for anything.

The rest of the day was spent getting us to Chau Doc, close to the Cambodian border. Ready for our entry into Cambodia tomorrow morning. The hotel here in Chau Doc (Chau Pho) is basic but quite  comfortable. We've just finished our final supper (in the hotel restaurant, just because it is convenient) with Tur, our leader throughout Vietnam. We've all come to appreciate him so much. He's been a wealth of information and has been very honest about his view of life in Vietnam.

Dining area at the homestay

Courtyard in our homestay

Market at Chau Doc

Beside the river at Chau Doc