Day 15 - Last day in HCMC

After a sleep in for most, the day was spent running around the markets and catching up on last minute shopping. On our way to the market we came across a wedding, with 80 couples getting married (see photos). We are expecting to see Ali on the Vietnam National news this afternoon as the television cameras filmed  her watching wedding party.

We held a room at the hotel to give us somewhere to relax for the afternoon, in between swims and coffee. Some spent the afternoon at Lucky Beauty Salon having massages and nail treatments.


From me, your blogster.... I have had a great time leading this team on the build and then spending our R&R days exploring Siem Reap and Vietnam. I hope that everyone else has enjoyed it as mush as I have. I would like to thank all of the team, they were a great bunch, I hope that some will go on to lead thier own teams in the future, and that  others will embark on another volunteer adventure in the future.

Ali - It was great fun and interesting to see another country. My highlight was seeing the ancient temples of Ankor Wat and also getting to experience the culture of Cambodia. I would love to come back when I am 16 and see more of this country.

Sophie - The holiday was really amazing and so much fun, the highlight was experiencing the different cultures, the markets and the friendly people.

Chrissy - Incredible experience that I will never forget, it was an honour to travel to another country and to help the people who arent as fortunate as us. My highlight was the Tuk Tuk, markets in Cambodia and elephant rides.

Day 14 - Mekong Bike Riding

Well another early start to the day, we had to meet at 7.30 this morning to catch our rather cramped  vehicle to the Mekong, a two and a half hour trip away. We arrived at the village of Kabbi, where we were issued with bicyles all of all sizes and descriptions, better quality bikes could be found on any hard rubbish collection in Melbourne. We set off along a rather bumpy gravel road, managing to avoid other bikes and motorcycles as well, after about 2 km we turned onto a concrete path about 1.5 metres wide and  managed to make our way through the jungle like vegetation on a 10 km circuit. We were held up for a short time by a motorbike carrying a fridge on the back who had to stop every hundred metres to go under a tree or a power line. We were met at the end by a boat, however we were ushered into an old house and served fruit and tea, before setting off down the river to check out the floating market (see photos).  From here we motored on along the Mekong to our Restaurant for lunch, we had similar fare to the previous day, but much better quality food.
After our filling lunch we set off again on our bikes along, what can only be described as a treacherous track and many bridges which were quite challenging. The ride took us through more jungle terrain along a canal, and past many houses, the men all seemed to be heading off to the cock fights, with their prized poultry under their arms, cock fighting is illegal here, but still happens in some villages.
After another 8 km we were well and truly ready to climb back onto our boat, with bistered hands and sore behinds we relaxed for the journey back to town where our trusty driver met us. It was 6.00pm before we got back to the hotel.
Our final team dinner was held at the Italian restaurant, which would put many Lygon Street establishments to shame, the reason we chose this restaurant was because of its vicinity to the tailors, where most of us had clothes to pick up, but also the friendly staff.

Day 13 - Mekong Boat Tour

Well another action packed day today, it seems just when we think it can't get any better, another natural wonder awaits us.
This morning we were collected from our hotel at the ungodly hour of 8.00am, we still managed to be late as we had been given a hot tip on a fantastic coffee shop which didnt open until 8.00am. We travelled about one and a half hours to a "happy room" stop (much needed after the coffees), and strolled through the gardens for 30 minutes before hopping back on the bus and heading off to My Tho City to board our boat.
First stop was the honey farm on Unicorn Island, where we sampled honey tea and royal jelly.
We then boarded the boat again and went to Phoenix Island where we saw locals making coconut candy and we got to sample some as well. It was here, that Chrissy managed to almost overcome her fears and allow the snake handler to drape a massive python around her neck, she was very brave (see pics below).
From here we boarded the boat again arrived at Ben Tre Province, we were taken by Tuk Tuk through the jungle trails and into a village where we were served local fruits and entertained by the locals with unusual instruments and unusual singing voices.
Our adventure continued as we were led to the river near by and told to hop into the boats (see pics below), we were then rowed up the river to where our bigger boat was waiting to take us to lunch on Tortoise island. Lunch was served on a floating platform on the lagoon where roosters used for fighting watched on from their cane enclosures. The waters around us were filled with red salmon, catfish and prawns. Our lunch was a combination of deep fried salmon served in rice paper with rice noodles, spring rolls, vietnamese pancake with prawn and pork, soup made from local ingredients and more fresh fruit.

Feeling ready for an afternoon nap we boarded our boat again to return to the marina and then back to the China town market and to the hotel.

Day 12 - The Vietnam Cookery Centre

Today started with our bus collecting us from the hotel at 9.00am to take us to the Vietnam cookery centre. We were welcomed by our host Lin who took us through what we would be cooking for the morning.
The menu was as follows:

Vietnamese spring rolls
Sour clams soup with dill
Caramel pork in clay pot
Steamed rice with coconut juice
Saute banana in coconut milk
Dipping fish sauce


Most of the preparation was already done for us, so all that was required was for us to follow along with the instructions. We had the opportunity to sit down and enjoy our meal after slaving over the hot stove all morning, we all enjoyed our food immensely and I daresay, in some cases stepped out of our comfort zone, when it came to tasting various foods from the Vietnamese culture. We all graduated with our cookery certificates, and I am sure we will all be experimenting on friends and family after we get home.

After returning to the hotel, the afternoon was free time to continue exploring the city and visiting some markets. I was given a cooks tour of the back streets around the markets in search of an ATM by a local street trader, I think I got to see more of the local culture than I would have otherwise. I managed to find my way home safely eventually.
The day concluded with a visit to the local Italian restaurant (after Carolyn lost her way to the Japanese Restaurant that we were going to), this was an unusual choice, but I think we were all in need of some comfort food.
Tomorrow we take a tour on the Mekong River so check back in then for an update.

Day 12 - Ho Chi Minh City Photos

Day 11 Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh

We reluctantly said our goodbyes to beautiful Siem Reap and boarded an uneventful flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Its much cooler here for the moment, and we all took advantage of a free afternoon to do our own thing and rest before the adventures start again tomorrow.....cooking class tomorrow  YUM.

Day 10 - Floating Village

The team needed an easy day after the Ankor Wat adventure, so a late start at 9.00am had us piling into the bus for the second last time to head out to the floating village. The road out to the village had recently been washed away by the floods, it took quite a bit longer to get there than it normally would. The drive took us past villages which are very poor and rice fields and homes which are still under water.

The floating village itself is an amazing place, all activities take place on the water, including schools, supermarkets and restaurants, almost all of the income produced in this area comes from fishing.

When the water gets too high out on Ton Le Sap Lake, the villagers move their homes into the mouth of the river so that they can be anchored to the bank, being out in the open water means that they run the risk of floating away.

This is one of the poorest areas of Siem Reap, there is no rent to pay when you live on the water, however, there is still the inconvenience of having to go everywhere by boat, many of the locals only own their houses, and do not have boats to move around in, so they have to rely on the traders coming to them. Most of the homes are structures on platforms held up by drums and not motorized, so once they have been towed to the bank, they will stay there from August until February when they move back out to the lake.

We visited the local tourist attraction, which was a souvenir shop, restaurant and crocodile farm which was all on one of these platforms.

We returned to the hotel for a free afternoon, which was spent by most of us, catching up on some last minute shopping. This was followed by a team dinner with our Habitat coordinator and chance for final goodbyes.

An early night for most as we are flying out to Ho Chi Minh on Monday morning.