[RD] Backpacking Việt Nam (2019)

[warpus]

Next on the day trip itinerary was a tropical fruit tasting, during which we heard traditional Vietnamese music

and a horse carriage ride to our next destination

 

[warpus]

Lunchtime at the Mekong Delta

The way things worked out I was seated with the Iranian group. When the locally sourced lunch arrived they went out of their way to prepare a plate for me and seemed to wait to make their plates until mine was ready. I looked it up later and it is an Iranian custom to invite the guest to east first. Unfortunately only one older gentleman from the group could speak a bit of English, but it was not really enough to communicate effectively. We enjoyed each others company nevertheless and enjoyed the food and time in the shade.

Lunch included deep fried spring rolls, rice, assorted vegetables, and of course the deep fried fish.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Link to video.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

@warpus: By a weird coincidence, your travel threads are turning out to be helping me as I play along while watching old videos of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?. There have been a lot of clues involving Thailand and Vietnam lately, and I know more answers now than I would have otherwise.

 

[warpus]

@warpus: By a weird coincidence, your travel threads are turning out to be helping me as I play along while watching old videos of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?. There have been a lot of clues involving Thailand and Vietnam lately, and I know more answers now than I would have otherwise.

I used to love playing that game back in grade 8! Back then I knew very little about the world compared to what I know now. So, that's great to hear, and anytime!

 

[warpus]

Not that far away from our lunch spot were several pits with crocodiles in them. There are crocodile farms in the delta and this could have been one of them.. but this could have also just been on display for the tourists.

 

[Samson]

So what is going on with the fishing crocodile? It looks like it is 10,000 VND (32p UK money) to feed a crocodile with a fish on a string?

 

[warpus]

Yeah, you got it. I think it's just a ploy to get money out of tourists. I did not witness anybody partaking in this, but I think if you pay you just get to lower the fish and watch a crocodile come eat it.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I'd do that!

 

[warpus]

Bees?

 

[Birdjaguar]

And lots of them! Your shirt certainly looks like a copyright violation.

 

[warpus]

And lots of them! Your shirt certainly looks like a copyright violation.

I think since it's a parody it's fine. I think it would only be a problem if somebody opened a business selling sugary coffee-like drinks and used that logo. But don't quote me on that.

My friend helped me find a good place to buy that t-shirt (and several more) and also haggled for me and helped me get a better deal on them, IIRC $3 or so per t-shirt.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

It's actually those 6-legged lifeforms you're holding. I know honeybees are critical to humanity's food chain, but I would not want to get that close to them.

 

[FriendlyFire]

It's actually those 6-legged lifeforms you're holding. I know honeybees are critical to humanity's food chain, but I would not want to get that close to them.

Its fine you need to be stung like 100 times to die from them and there is a convenient canal to dive into to escape.
And Warpus know to keep hes mouth closed.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Its fine you need to be stung like 100 times to die from them and there is a convenient canal to dive into to escape.
And Warpus know to keep hes mouth closed.

Thanks, no. I've had the experience of being hauled into emergency due to multiple bee stings, and it wasn't close to 100.

 

[warpus]

I watched our guide hold the hive frame closely and the bees seemed to ignore him completely. When we were asked who wants to hold the hive frame I put up my hand, because by that point I was convinced that it was safe to do so, assuming that I didn't drop it and was careful otherwise. Seemed safe enough so I went for it, I admit mainly for the photo op I've also never been that close to so many bees before, so it was a bit exciting.

 

[warpus]

Porcupines are a somewhat popular food source in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam. I didn't get to try any porcupine meat, but I did get to see a small porcupine farm.

We also came across some Durian fruit, famous for its overpowering odour and relatively large size. Parts of this fruit are used in a variety of sweet and savoury desserts, and the seeds can be eaten as well. I am pretty sure I tried some durian at some point on my trip, but I don't remember any strong odours, so I guess I got a bit lucky

 

[The_J]

A colleague once brought Durian candy from a trip.
One of the other guys described the taste as a mix of "death, desparation and onion", and I think really nobody liked it .
So I'd guess you're probably misremembering trying it .

 

[warpus]

Yeahhh I am like 50/50 on whether it was actually Durian and the smell was so bad I blocked it from memory.. or simply another fruit that looked similar

 

[Samson]

I bought a Durian one time, just to try it. It had a mild odor that make me understand why people talk about it smelling like sick, but it was not off putting for me. I remember I quite liked the taste, though I cannot remember what the taste was.