Along The Mekong River

Across the Great Mekong River

This was the most amazing experience i had during my visit to Cambodia and Vietnam .The great river is the seventh largest in Asia and covers Cambodia, Vitnam , Laos , Mynamar . It forms the very fertile mekong delta in Vietnam .This is a lush green region of swamps , lakes and river which is also called the rice bowl .Rice is produced in this region and is a stable diet in the region , Rice is enjoyed in the orient , along with various types of soups and gravies . The river is mainly grey in colour , muddy at times and at times green when it reaches the swamps. Low trees with thick foliage cover the narrows straits of the delta. One has to use wooden boats to take a ride in these swamps . Jackets are provided to travellers in advance . One can see tea shops on boats and women selling biscuits , water and cola all paddling away in the river . Man selling vegetables , food and artefacts . It reminded me at times floating across the dull lake in Srinagar . I got a similar feel when i was going through the various floating markets in the lake . Selling snacks , shawls , perfumes , handcraft and saffron .

The bank of the mekong river is littered with wooden huts where the farmers live .They make their living of the river either fishing or growing crops . These are poorer areas on the country lots of women return here after working as escorts and prostitutes in the city . I travelled from Siem Reap to Pheno Phem on a large motor boat .It was a 10 hour journey through the mekong river . I at on top of the boat and enjoyed the rich of blood and wind blowing across me . I had the local Ankor Beer to give me company . The intoxicating smell of the river , near by vegetation and the open sky was all that i could see . As some of my fellow travellers became in grossed in conversation and chit chat. Little children pester the tourists and take their photographs these are printed on mug’s and plates as drawing room memorabilia . Sold for a few dollars which is a very welcome currency in this part of the world.

I enjoyed chatting to the local boatman who was ver pissed with tourist fromTaiwan and China , because they don’t tip well and are very stingy . My boat stopped near a floating restaurant . Here i tried having fired snake . These i gulped down with beer and green salad . To me it tasted like fried fish . Now i can safely say i have enjoyed eating snake meat . I rested myself for a while , before we departed to see a floating children’s school on the river . I donated two bag’s of rice to the poor children here and prayed for my fathers soul. The children were joyful and also touched by my loving gesture of help.The mekong was like a mother to the region in it’s belly it caries more then a 10,000 species , as it meanders through nurturing the region .