We arrived at the coast of Vietnam early in the morning and after a pilot boarded the ship to help us navigate the river, we began slowly moving upriver towards Ho Chi Minh City. After reading about the heat in Vietnam--combined humidity and actual temperature, that morning we were pleasantly surprised. In the shade, the heat was tolerable and "g-o-o-d m-o-r-n-i-n-g V-i-e-t-n-a-m" bellowed from the speakers. The shores were lined with lush greenery and dotted with square concrete buildings with small windows mixed in with traditionally constructed buildings. Fishermen were busy with their nets, and yes, they were wearing the hats shaped like inverted ice cream cones--ingenious and perfect for allowing air and while providing shade--we all wished we had one of those hats as we made our way up the river and by the end of our stay, many did have them!
We spent a few days in Ho Chi Minh City before heading to Cambodia. We explored on our own--wandering around the streets and markets. We wandered around, eating pho, having coffee, watching the people on the street. Went to the market--a vast market where vendors sell everything from food to traditional blouses, embroidered napkins, placemats and pillowcases, fake bags and belts...you name it and you could probably find it there. Emma and Alden were really rattled when they watched a child being whipped in the street by his mother...the beating seemed to go on and on. The bus that ferried passengers back and forth from the ship stopped at the Rex Hotel and we were a bit surprised to see the proliferation of high end retail--the high end boutiques appeared lifeless, empty for the most part of customers, but there they sat and a block away we stepped over vendors enjoying their breakfast in ceramic bowls while crouched on the pavement.
Our second day in Ho Chi Minh City we took a cooking class at Saigon Cooking School. We met the head chef who would be teaching us--a funny, handsome young man who spoke perfect English and guided us through the market to buy a bit of the food we would be preparing that morning for lunch. WOW. Live fish of all kinds in huge plastic buckets bubbling because of aerators, mesh bags filled with frogs, live snakes, snails,chicken, all kinds of vegetables and herbs and all around -- non-stop activity, motion, sounds...we watched as a fish flopped out of a plastic bucket only to be beaten with the handle of a knife repeatedly (it put up an admirable fight). Around the corner were butchers and stands selling all kinds of organs----we learned that many people believe that if one of your organs is not functioning well, you eat the corresponding organ from other animals to help--for example, if someone has a "weak liver", they eat liver. That would mean a menu including brains for Chris and Laura whose aging, addled minds could use a little help! Emma and Alden are fortunate and could pretty much eat whatever they want--except for the fact that after wandering through the market, they vowed that they would forgo eating during their time in Vietnam. (that didn't lst long).
After gathering items for the cooking lesson, we went to Saigon Cooking School, in the second story of a French Colonial building tucked away at the rear of a quiet courtyard filled with plants, trees, huge colorful flowers, and cafe tables. We went upstairs to a large, airy room kept cool by enormous ceiling fans, and were introduced to two assistant chefs while iced tea was served. We learned to prepare three dishes : spring rolls, bbq chicken salad with mango (green, unripe mango), and stir fry. We sat on tall stools (or stood) at two long tables chopping, mixing, and preparing each course and then ate each dish before moving on to the next one. The chefs were amusing and also perfectionistic and a bit demanding! We laughed and worked on each dish and, of course, they tasted better in that room, with those people, than they ever will again! Each dish was really tasty!
We spent a few days in Ho Chi Minh City before heading to Cambodia. We explored on our own--wandering around the streets and markets. We wandered around, eating pho, having coffee, watching the people on the street. Went to the market--a vast market where vendors sell everything from food to traditional blouses, embroidered napkins, placemats and pillowcases, fake bags and belts...you name it and you could probably find it there. Emma and Alden were really rattled when they watched a child being whipped in the street by his mother...the beating seemed to go on and on. The bus that ferried passengers back and forth from the ship stopped at the Rex Hotel and we were a bit surprised to see the proliferation of high end retail--the high end boutiques appeared lifeless, empty for the most part of customers, but there they sat and a block away we stepped over vendors enjoying their breakfast in ceramic bowls while crouched on the pavement.
Our second day in Ho Chi Minh City we took a cooking class at Saigon Cooking School. We met the head chef who would be teaching us--a funny, handsome young man who spoke perfect English and guided us through the market to buy a bit of the food we would be preparing that morning for lunch. WOW. Live fish of all kinds in huge plastic buckets bubbling because of aerators, mesh bags filled with frogs, live snakes, snails,chicken, all kinds of vegetables and herbs and all around -- non-stop activity, motion, sounds...we watched as a fish flopped out of a plastic bucket only to be beaten with the handle of a knife repeatedly (it put up an admirable fight). Around the corner were butchers and stands selling all kinds of organs----we learned that many people believe that if one of your organs is not functioning well, you eat the corresponding organ from other animals to help--for example, if someone has a "weak liver", they eat liver. That would mean a menu including brains for Chris and Laura whose aging, addled minds could use a little help! Emma and Alden are fortunate and could pretty much eat whatever they want--except for the fact that after wandering through the market, they vowed that they would forgo eating during their time in Vietnam. (that didn't lst long).
After gathering items for the cooking lesson, we went to Saigon Cooking School, in the second story of a French Colonial building tucked away at the rear of a quiet courtyard filled with plants, trees, huge colorful flowers, and cafe tables. We went upstairs to a large, airy room kept cool by enormous ceiling fans, and were introduced to two assistant chefs while iced tea was served. We learned to prepare three dishes : spring rolls, bbq chicken salad with mango (green, unripe mango), and stir fry. We sat on tall stools (or stood) at two long tables chopping, mixing, and preparing each course and then ate each dish before moving on to the next one. The chefs were amusing and also perfectionistic and a bit demanding! We laughed and worked on each dish and, of course, they tasted better in that room, with those people, than they ever will again! Each dish was really tasty!