Meet me at the Mekong Delta

Before going to Viet Nam, the first time, I had expressed a desire to see the Mekong Delta and in my mind's eye, I'm almost embarrassed to say, I thought of it as a group of tributaries soaked in mud, very wet and full of mosquitoes, with chickens running around infected with the bird flu virus (the epidemic had just broken out). I imagined also GI's running around in the dead heat with all their gear and shooting at will, crouching in trenches and rolling over into brackish waters...So you see what one sided propaganda will do to a person? I have to admit that despite the brainwashing, I still wanted to see Viet Nam for myself. I had my own romantic notions, despite the mostly uncomplimentary footage we were being shown from that country. What we found when we got there couldn't be further from the truth (except for some left over trenches). Photo: Chuck and I in Tan Phu

We signed up for a one-day tour of the Mekong Delta at the front desk of our hotel, the Indochine. In hindsight, one day is not really enough as the area has much to offer, but considering how little we paid for this tour, we packed an enormous amount of activity, - and therefore, I have broken up the posts into several parts. This will deal with our arrival at My Tho, and its famous fruit market; My Tho is also the point of departure for all launches going to other islands within the Delta. It's an elaborate enough network that will touch upon Cambodia at the southernmost tip of Viet Nam. Overall, the Mekong and its river is an extremely important region for agricultural output, specifically rice and other crops; its names translates into the river of nine dragons and has its source in Northern Tibet.

Once in Viet Nam, you will quickly learn that the word "cho" means market. My Tho (please don't pronounce it as my toe, but rather me toh) is quite renown for its exotic fruit market, and therefore, it beckoned for us to stop and take in every color, every shape, and on occasion some rather bizarre looking creations. Our guide was a very erudite man who knew as much about his fruit as he did about his country's history. I closed ranks with him so as not to miss anything he would say and kept my diary close at hand at all times.

Durian

It is only fitting to put a photo of this fruit first, since it is dubbed "the king of fruits" in Viet Nam. It's called "Durian", which means "one's own sorrows", and for the uninitiated, has a smell of rotten cheese. I supposed a certain amount of sorrow is endured when getting a whiff of this fruit, but apparently, it is loved by the people here. It looks a lot like the jackfruit, which I did taste when I was in Bali and which does not harbor the strong smell. There is a romantic legend that is attached to the naming of this fruit which is a loose version of Romeo and Juliet.

"Dragon Fruit" is the name of this red and green composition to the left. It is not only lovely to look at, but once opened, it reveals more colorful intrigue. White pulp with black seeds and most pleasing taste for the palate. You will find this served at most open buffet tables for breakfast and/or lunch, and one of the most prolific fruit tables is to be found at the Hotel Continental, which must be on your list of places to stay, even if it is only one night. To be fair, we were also served Dragon Fruit aboard the Emeraude Cruise.

Keeping with the red family of fruits, this hairy thing is actually quite tasty. It's very similar to the lychee, but with fuzz all over it. Ask for chom chom, or rambutan if this is what you want; the inside is white, a bit chewy but wonderfully sweet. The rambutan tree is ubiquitous in the village of Binh Hoa Phuoc, which is located some 50 kms. north of Sai Gon (or HCMC, if you prefer), in the province of Vinh Long. The lychee also shares a white, translucent type of meat on its inside, as does the longan, which has become Viet Nam's main export to China.
Taking a short break from the fruit to look at some very significant and important items in Viet Namese culture. What we have here are areca leaves and the famous betel nuts. These items are "de rigueur" at weddings, and the more affluent the family, the more will be supplied. If you've seen Viet Namese with blackened teeth, it is due to excessive fondness of the areca leaf. Let us not forget also that these nuts/leaves are especially appreciated for the feeling of euphoria they impart upon chewing. They are the Viet Namese version of our energy bars.
These probably need no explanation, however, I wish to point out that these watermelons are almost seedless and are sweeter than anything I've ever tasted.

Bananas are everywhere, and are sold on the streets of every city we visited. Women carry them in baskets over their shoulders, much as they do oranges ,- in other words, you don't have to travel very far to find either fruit. In Viet Nam, all parts of the banana are used, such as with the banana flower tossed with salad ingredients, the banana stalk is cooked as a vegetable, and even the roots are cooked together with seafood. They are abundant, cheap and one of the best sources of potassium. Green bananas, or plantains, are also sold at market.

This pancake-like concoction had me guessing...I finally gave up. It's a banana specialty which is prepared with seeds. I am not sure if one eats this "as is", or if it heated up.

Dubbed by the Viet Namese "trai thom" (fragrant fruit), pineapple is grown everywhere. It is especially fun to watch the market sellers peel the skin, and then expertly slice the fruit so that it's ready to be enjoyed as soon as it's purchased. In certain areas of the country, the juice of the pineapple is mixed with an egg yolk and blended before drinking. The fruit can also be purchased in cans and is processed as a liquor as well, though I have not tried the latter. I much prefer the natural fruit in all cases, and usually don't linger too much with varieties that are available back home.

During this particular trip, I did not see, and therefore did not photograph some of my other favorite fruits, two of which used to be mainstays during my childhood in Egypt. One is the guava, which I was able to locate in Mexico City and the other is the soursop or custard apple, which is extremely hard to find stateside. I spotted my first one in Sai Gon, at the Ben Thanh Market and thought I was hallucinating. Other fruits which entered my repertoire from Viet Nam was the longan or nanh, which I have easily found in our very own China Town in Flushing, New York. I have not yet developed a taste for the mangosteen, but perhaps it's a matter of time.

There are alleys within alleys in My Tho just like the one you see here where everyone is busy buying, selling or better yet eating. Behind this particular range of stalls is the indoor fruit and vegetable market which needs to be seen and smelled. There is always something being cooked at every market, as vendors know that after shopping, one is going to want to sit down and enjoy whatever is on the menu for the day. No there are no menus, - you can just point to what you want, and you'll never be disappointed.

Across the way on that street is the fish and fowl market, and I literally circumvented every stall that had anything resembling a bird. That didn't stop anyone else from buying chickens, quail eggs, and other fowl related items. By the time we reached Ha Noi on our journey, we were having omelets for breakfast almost daily.

Sai Gon's Black Water

Everyday, Ho Chi Minh City dumps 700,000 cubic meters of sewage into the Saigon River, according to Doan Thi Toi, head of the city's environment control division. The sewage is drawn from four canal systems running across the city, giving the river a foul smell even during the rainy season. Another 100,000 cubic meters of raw sewage water is pumped into the Tham Luong canal each day from more than 400 factories. The waterway that runs across Ho Chi Minh City contains water so polluted and foul-smelling that locals call it the "stinking canal". (source: irrawady.org)
Actually, we came upon one of these "arroyos" or canals as they are called quite accidentally; we had just left a restaurant around District 8 where not only did we enjoy the best pho around, but we were also privy to war memorabilia from the owner's son. That's a good story to tell on its own. As we were staying in District 1 in Saigon, we decided to hop a cab to get back to our hotel. And the driver must have taken the back streets, unless he wanted us to see this eyesore. The water is literally black, and you can see it glistening in the photos. This is severely polluted water, which is several times higher than the "norm", which is apparently is the result of rapid industrialization and poor drainage systems.
This is a picture taken of the stink and black Tau Hu arroyo from the Nhi Thien Duong Bridge in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City. There are several others which all converge into the Sai Gon River. Chuck had asked our cab driver to stop so that he could capture some of the life alongside this river; it was hard to imagine how people could have their homes right on top of this noxious sludge. This is certainly not water you'd want to drink, use for your bath, or wash your clothes. The government, despite imposing certain rules on companies which are irresponsible polluters, has begun moving the citizens that live alongside these areas to other districts.

The water/canal system is fundamental in the life of the Viet Namese people in that it has played an enormously important role in their livelihood. Not only do some inhabit the waterways, but this is a major means of getting goods to market and therefore earning one's keep. As an aside, we never did drink the water from the tap, anywhere that we went. And we were just about all over the country. Nevertheless, officials report that Sai Gon's drinking water does not rely on its river at all, but rather comes from the Dong Nai River for the most part. As late as March of 2008, it was reported in the Viet Namese press that officials were reacting to alerts that the Dong Nai River, was in fact, severely polluted. In fact, a doctor in Sai Gon had told us, when he made a house call to our hotel (that's another hilarious post to look forward to) that the water from the tap was perfectly safe to drink. Neither Chuck nor I were convinced.

This is very unfortunate, as it seems that garbage begets garbage. We are photographing from behind a barbed-wire fence. It looks very much like a dumping ground and it's hard to tell whether they were cleaning it up, or scavenging through it. This area is also vulnerable to flooding which exacerbates the pollution problems; notice that the housing is built in stilts as a precautionary measure. It is also difficult to measure how much of the problem is caused by the people who live on the water, as they are accustomed to dumping their own waste at the back side of their homes.

The government seems to have rated these waterways in terms of severity of pollution, and findings reveal that the Thi Vai, which has a brownish-black color and unpleasant smell caused by high concentration of solid waste such as mercury and zinc, was “uninhabitable” to all forms of life.

The Vam Co had the highest concentration of organic waste, which made its water unsafe for consumption.The HCMC section of the Saigon River was heavily polluted by organic waste such as oil and coliform bacteria, usually found in feces.

An in-depth study of the phenomenon can be found here.

Day Trip to Bac Ha

start walking....

You must have surmised at this point that this blog is not going in any particular order. If not, let me preview then by saying that in order to get to Bac Ha, you would most likely be coming from another town, like Sa Pa, for instance. Sa Pa serves as the nexus for many day excursions, such as this one, and others for trekkers, which you'll never hear about from me as climbing is out of the question. We are now in the northwest part of Viet Nam, and this is a gem of a place for rubbing elbows with tribal people. Very much like Thailand, where we did see tribes as we went north of Bangkok, into Chiang Mai, and further north. There are striking similarities between those tribes, owing to the fact that they all are groups split from the original southern Chinese miao tribes.

People usually herd when they travel together...here I am with some newfound friends; I was very surprised to see many young women travelling alone.

Our first encounter with the tribes of Viet Nam happened during our visit to Ha Noi a year earlier, as I had a check mark next to the Museum of Ethnology. Had we known what was in store for us there, we would have planned for an entire day at the Museum, rather than a couple of hours. The collection they have put together is nothing short of amazing, and on the second floor, we began to learn about the tribes, their habitats, their origins, and their vibrant colored garbs. I think we decided at the moment, subconsciously, that a trip to the north had to be on the agenda at some point. You'd be amazed to see how many people they can load in this little bus

We'll stick to the people of Bac Ha and their little corner of the world for now. From Sa Pa, if you are going on a "guided" tour, which really means someone who knows how to get there is driving, and you have a mini-bus filled beyond capacity making its way. Not all minibuses are created equal; some are old and in dire need of new shocks, and as the road is mostly unpaved and quite rocky, prepare to be jolted for 100 miles or so. To help with orientation, here's a little map of Northwest Viet Nam; you can then see that from Sa Pa, you are moving northeast.

The day to go to Bac Ha should be Sunday, as this is when everyone gets all dolled up to shop and mingle and gossip etc..Your tour will start early, around 7:00 am or so, as it takes about 3 hours to arrive. The predominant tribe in the area is called the H'mong Flower Tribe, and they are instantly recognized by the head dress which consists of a headscarf tied in the back, with mostly pastel colors, but some with red as well. It can get more complicated with two scarves: one tied to the back, and the other, in a different pattern, tied under the chin. (no it's not that cold there). The scarves are usually woven in a crisscross pattern, and here I'm tempted to call it scotch plaid, but that's too somber. Have a look at the pictures which will save 1000 more words, at least.

these young women wear no headgear whatsoever; perhaps a new generation?

All buses have a specific drop off and pick up point which is smack center of the village. As you get out, you find yourself immersed in long ribbons of winding color in call directions. Everything is sold here, from jewelry, to wovens, to meat (pigs especially), to tobacco and humongous joss sticks, which I had to have. The scent is very Ha Noi, and every time I use one at home, what immediately comes to mind is the ride from Noi Bai airport to the city. Also quite interesting to watch were the men who were smoking tobacco (at first we didn't think it was tobacco!) through hollow bamboo reeds. Also, tobacco is sold loose at the market and I suppose it's easier to inhale through the reed than to have to roll it in paper. We must have gone back and forth in the food tobacco area, where a communal lunch seemed to have been taking place. They were all sitting on small plastic chairs and passing bowls around. Nearby the vendors' lunch area were kitchen utensils, pots and pans, home goods not geared to the tourists, but for the inhabitants of the area.

feeding baby with chopsticks!!

For those who stay here for a few days, though for the life of me, I can't imagine why, there are small hotels that will accommodate. Make sure you reserve in advance. Bac Ha is not by any means "gentrified" as is perhaps Sa Pa, but it should remain the way it is, otherwise its charm and genuine character will be lost, like all things that are overexposed. Yes, there are eyesores, but nothing you can't get through with a good pair of hiking shoes. Most everything costs the same, so don't knock yourself out looking for the "bargain" of the day. We made the mistake when we first came to Viet Nam of thinking that going from VDN 30,000 to VDN 15,000 was a big deal. It's not; we're just talking about a US dollar difference.

One thing is noticeable almost instantly: the women are doing all the work. They are carrying heavy loads, selling the goods, feeding the children, and still smiling. It's amazing. It's almost as if the men blended into the background. You'll find them wearing the green army helmets most of the time, riding donkey carriages.

The H'mong Flower tribe is one of about 55 different ethnicities in Viet Nam. Because most of the tribes live in the mountainous north, they were given the name "montagnards" by the French. As with most Viet Namese, they made their way here from Southern China for socio-political reasons. They are, for the most part, an agrarian society with skills in textile dyeing, weaving, and fashioning silver jewelry. The more than quarter million Viet Namese who inhabit the U.S. are from the H'mong tribes.

The video below, which is about 3 minutes long, spotlights Sunday Market in Bac Ha. Though the color is a bit faded, I have compensated with the pictures that we have taken which show the vividness and joy of the clothing and people.

Luca comes to dinner

Part of the reason for my second visit to Viet Nam was to meet up with a business associate from Manila so that we could explore possibilities of manufacturing paper in the Northern part of the country. He is an exhuberant, jovial and hilarious Italian, and as Italian as they come. His name is Luca. He immediately felt home in Ha Noi, as his twenty years and counting of living in the Philippines have enured him to Asian culture. And certainly, there are differences, but in essence, Luca makes himself understood with his semi-farcical gesturing and irresistible tirades.

So, we invited Luca to join us for an evening of live music and dinner at the Hong Ngoc Hotel; he was staying at another one of their locations not too far from our own. When we had arrived at the hotel the first night, we had noticed the instruments hanging above the stage and I knew we would make time to enjoy whomever would play them. They were all lovely, young Viet Namese women in demure dresses, one of them wearing the traditional Ao Dai costume.

There are so many varieties of instruments in Viet Namese music which borrow from other cultures, it's hard to keep up. But I have always been interested in zithers, as an Austrian friend of mine, many moons ago, had introduced me to this instrument as it was being used with Hungarian Rhapsody # 5 (one of my favorites). As far as zithers go, I have realized that you either love them, or you hate them. Some people find them downright annoying. I'm grateful that no one that evening walked out.

Dressed in Ao Dai, she's plucking the dan tranh

Dan Tranh is a 16-chord zither. What does that mean? A zither is a plucking instrument, sort of like a lute or harp, but it sits on your lap. If you click on the link,you can get the technical details as to the length, the height, the composition of the frame, etc..In order to play the Dan Tranh, the musician will wear finger plectrums on the thumb, the forefinger and middle finger only; these plectrums can be made of tortoise shell, animal horns or metal. It is reported that Dan Tranh was developed after the Tran Dynasty Chinese zither which counted either 9, 15 or 16 strings. For the last 800 years though, the Viet Namese developed specific techniques which made the instrument their own.

This resembles the Ty Ba plucking instrument which was known in China as Pipa and in Japan as Biwa. Though it is not pear shaped, and has 2 strings instead of 4, all the other characteristics are identical. The face is undecorated, and made of light and highly polished wood. Its head is sometimes carved into a longevity figure, and it comprises 4 tuning pegs at the neck. It is a member of the lute family and its length may vary. The nylon strings replaced the olden-days use of silk. It has become a core part of the Viet Namese string culture.

the musician in the center is playing the tam thap luc

Even the name of this 36-string zither is intimidating: Tam Thap Luc . It is of Viet Namese origin, and is made from soft, and light undecorated wood. On the surface, the two rows of bridges are alternately arranged consequently making 18 bridges for each row. At the left string holders, there are 36 hooks for string hanging, while at the right string holders, 36 tuning pegs are located. Strings are made from metal. Mallets consist of 2 thin and flexible bamboo slabs with their ends covered with felt for soft sounds. This instrument can be played "solo" or in an orchestra. When playing, instrumentalist beats on the surface of Tam Thap Luc with two mallets and takes advantages of techniques such as vibration, tremolo, stopping, sliding, making chords, and others. Not easy.

a very casual, and warm atmosphere

Back to the dinner table. The room was not particularly crowded, however, this was an easy way to participate in a cultural activity while resting one's feet for more arduous journeys. We were seated to the left of the stage, and had a great vantage point for viewing and taking pictures. We were so immersed into our conversation that we forgot to take pictures of all the plates, which were as scrumptious as they looked. The Christmas decorations were done tastefully and none too gory, as they can be at times. It was a marvelous evening in every way possible; the ambiance, the food, the friendship make it all very hard to forget.

Chuck, me, Luca

It's About a Huge Turtle in Viet Nam

This undated photo provided by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo shows a captive Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle from Thanh Hoa province in Vietnam. Zoo researchers recently discovered one of the rare giant turtles in the wild in northern Vietnam.

This blog is really not about news of any sort; however, it was impossible to ignore this story, since we know about the legend of the mythical turtle living deep in the waters of the Hoan Kiem lake who swallowed Le Loi's sword. Ha Noians reported sightings of the creature, and have claimed that blessings came to them thereafter.

According to scientists, the above turtle, thought to be extinct, once existed in only two geographical areas: China, and Hoan Kiem Lake in Viet Nam. This latest discovery has scientists excited, and represents hope for the species.

Train Travel in Viet Nam

had to open a window to take this kind of shot
Though not the fastest, nor at times the most comfortable method of travel, the train does provide certain joys and benefits one could not experience any other way. Before I had even set foot in Viet Nam, I knew that I wanted to experience the Ha Noi/Sai Gon (or HCMC, if you will) at least one way. I did have some preconceived notions about train travel,-one of them being that it is subliminally romantic. Train travel allows you immersion which is simply unaffordable at 41,000 feet in the air; you can breathe the air and live the day of a Viet Namese in small ways: you will follow their footprint in the manner in which they get from point A to point B. You will purchase a ticket, and even though you may not be in the same class, the cars will succeed one another on the same track, and you will arrive at destination with more or less the same story to tell.

this is your ticket; don't lose it
Except that if you are an American, your story will be ever so slightly different. For one, you will not be able to communicate with any of the staff at the train station, on the platform or in the trains unless you are fluent in the language. But that hasn't stopped anyone from boarding the trains. Also keep in mind that the train is a wonderful venue for sharing adventures with other travelers and learning from their experiences, and they from yours. And you will meet them from Australia, from France, from Taiwan, from Israel (yes, Israel, I couldn't believe it either). The thread that weaves the common bond is that of eternal wanderlust and the nearly adolescent excitement of discovery.

Every station has vendors all along the platforms
The trains are not without drawbacks, and if you are the type of traveler that must go first class, and chooses the 5 star or 6 star hotel, then this is not for you. Though you might enjoy the luxury car, which we did spot from the outside of the train; it was a dead giveaway, with its white lacy curtains, the victorian lamp that appeared at each window, and I imagine the berths must have been super cushy. Had we done that, I feel we would have missed the point.

Avoid the Upper Berths if you can
Let me start with some of the advantages, other than cultural: it's ridiculously cheap, and we had first class, lower soft berth tickets which is considered the best you can get without hitting the "Trump" car. Keep in mind that you may have to share your cabin with other travelers, since it's 4 berths to a compartment. Try not to take the upper berths unless you enjoy the gymnastics of monkeying up and down every time you need to stretch. (it's cheaper, too).It's also quite safe. In general, the entire country is quite safe and even if I were alone, I wouldn't hesitate to board a train. If it's going to be a relatively short journey (say, 3-4 hours' time), then you don't need the berth, and might want to reserve in the seats only area. Hereagain, they have hard seats and cushy seats.

In this compartment, you can recline, but not sleep

This particular train ride was Ha Noi/Sa Pa/Ha Noi, which is a much shorter journey than the one we had taken the previous year which covered Ha Noi/Sai Gon and a few stops in between. Had we gone without stopping, it would have been about 32 hours. These are not high speed locomotives as you may have guessed. Most trains for Sa Pa leave around 10PM at night, and it makes quite a bit of sense. The trek is long enough to get you into Lo Cai Station by 6:00am the next day. They do have one train that runs during daylight, but since we had photographed the entire length of Viet Nam on the prior trip, it was not crucial to travel by day.

There will be other stops on the way

The biggest advantage? Someone else is driving. That means that you and your companion can pay attention to each other, and look at maps, edit pictures, take more pictures, walk through all the cars to check out the local scene, have some hot coffee in the dining car (most trains have those) and make friends with other tourists in the corridors. The train does stop at other towns; you have a quick opportunity to get off and buy some snacks,-and in this case, I recommend the sesame rice cakes which are awesome and the peanuts. Of course, I come equipped as well with fruit (bananas, oranges, chocolate bars, diet coke - which is very difficult to find -) and other goodies I might find at the train station kiosks. Keep in mind that the Viet Namese know how to make wicked croissants.

Not totally automated yet

The berths for me were magnificent; comfortable, with a night light overhead for reading, a little netted pouch on the side could hold my glasses. Blankets and pillows are arranged army style, and you make your own bed when you arrive. A folding table comes in very handy in the center under the window, and that's why you need to take the lower berths. Under your berths, you can store your luggage, but keep in mind that the people above your head also have theirs. Usually, one side is reserved for the couple above, and vice versa.

Now, for the not so good news. There is one essential item you must bring on any train journey, and that would be your own toilet paper. Don't ask why, or how the citizens here do it, because I couldn't tell you. Just bring it. Actually, the train ride up to Sa Pa from Ha Noi had a mountain of tissues piled in one corner of the corridor by the door, next to the lavatories. This was an unusual occurrence, and please do not count on this to happen to you. Be prepared, or very sorry. Also bring the toothpaste and toothbrush that Viet Namese hotels are so kind in providing for you on a daily basis. They did have tiny cakes of pink soap in most washing areas, but hereagain, bet on the side of safety and bring your own. The toilets are separated from the double aluminum sinks, and you want to ensure you are booked in car with a Western style toilet unless you have become adept at squatting. I feel obligated to show you the hardware below.

This is rather primitive but might be easier to negotiate for a man than for a woman. In fact, when I first arrived at Narita Airport in Japan, the first thing I did was run to the women's bathroom, and found myself forced to squat. But at least, it was porcelain, and a very pretty beige, at that.

commentary not needed here

This could be a wonderful opportunity to bring these sanitizers which kill everything in sight. There are no paper towels for drying, so hereagain, please prepare. Another very slight drawback is the noise. But I found that it was the rumbling of the train that put me to sleep. Since this part of the train also has air conditioning, they do not look kindly upon anyone opening windows. (in case you have a crazed photographer who doesn't wish to shoot through dirty windows.....).

Rice fields as far as the eye can see

What you will have missed by taking the night train is truly a sequence of breathtaking scenery. If rice is life, then Viet Nam is the bowl. Rice fields are infinite and so varied in color, depending upon the stage of the growth. Even the greens offer contrasts, and against a blue sky, or some rugged mountains, you just gape at the scene below, hoping you can slow the train just a bit more.

Oxen are part of the vernacular

You also realize fairly quickly how the average Viet Namese is part and parcel of an agrarian society. They are hard at work tilling the land, with oxen, their bare hands, and sometimes missing limbs. (reminders of the American War). Everyone here gets up very early in the morning: whether in the cities or the rural areas, or the countryside, Viet Nam is working all the time. Planting, harvesting, and maintaining the family plot which is a must for every family. Graveyards and cemeteries are some of the most colorful we had ever seen.

A typical cemetery area

As the sun begins to rise, you know you are approaching destination. It's a bit chillier in these parts than in Ha Noi. Sa Pa has been likened to the Alps, and though I have never been to the Alps, I would say that it is indeed a most exquisite town, almost picture perfect with its Fan Si Pan peak as a back drop and a lake that need borrow nothing from the Swiss.

A small shelter on mountainous terrain

The landscape does change dramatically, in that there are now higher elevations, and as soon as you are off the train, and out of the station, you'll be heading further up the mountainous roads that is not for weak hearts. Allow yourself to soak in the rice terraces: they are unlike anything I have ever seen, in pictures or otherwise. Even Bali's rice terraces didn't make that kind of impression on me. As you leave the station gates, also prepare to be assaulted by everyone who is looking to earn some dongs today. The train station here is very similar to all the other stations in what they offer by way of food and drink. But the architecture is unmistakably French. You'll see what I mean very soon.

This is the end of the road..