The Mekong Explored

Moody Mekong

Ho Chi Minh City - What a city! Vibrant, alive, amazing - previously unexplored - I was excited! There is nothing more exciting than exploring a new city, but today we decided to get out the city. Confusing I know, but when you are in a place with a history as rich as Vietnam, the inner city takes a backseat. We landed late the night before but were up early the next day to get picked up to go and explore the Mekong Delta and soak up the rich history of the Cu Chi tunnels.

Gone!

Going...

Going...

It's about a 2 hour drive out of the busy city, narrow roads meander through small towns along rice paddies leading to a bumpy road which gets you to the tunnels. My suggestion - go early to beat the heat and the crowds. We arrived around 8.30 am, signed in, got our stickers and went through into a sunken room where they showed us a clip on the history of the war. Our awesome guide had already warned us on the drive over that the video they would show is propaganda and let me tell you - it is! Luckily it is not too serious but brings across the gist of it in a very entertaining way. After the video we started on our tour. First stop - a tiny tunnel entrance disguised by leaves pictured above. When the guide stops, at first you don't know why because there is nothing visibly present to stop for, which is a part of the demonstration. Once everyone looks well and confused they reveal the tunnel entrance - then you get in! I am not particularly fond of small spaces but I had mentally prepared myself before the trip that this is an opportunity I refused to miss out on based on a silly fear, it seemed disrespectful toward the people who lived, breathed, ate, fought and died in these tunnels for all those years.

Tanker from the war

It was time for the actual tunnels - they have rebuilt a replica tunnel for tourists to get the full experience without damaging the originals. As mentioned above I had mentally prepared myself to do this, excited and ready I opted to do the long tunnel walk, eagerly getting down the steps into the tunnel when reality hit me - the tunnels are tiny! Hunched over, bent through my knees, overwhelmed by the smell of being underground surrounded by clay with no immediate way out I panicked internally determined to make this happen but I would be lying if I said I didn't consider turning around and going back all of 2 steps in. My pride refused me turning back but I decided that I would be doing the short walk instead! The short walk is only 20 meters but feels considerably longer. Getting up those stairs out into the air being able to stand up straight it all kind of hit me all at once - people lived like that! What I had just experienced was nothing anywhere near what they went through for all those years and only at a fraction of the depth - not to mention nobody was trying to kill me! Even though I didn't do much of it, I am extremely glad I did it - a humbling experience to say the least! 

All along your way through the (gorgeous & lush) forest you will find old war tankers, equipment and the traps they built to fight, survive and ultimately win this war. They didn't have the machinery that the American's had but they outfought them on an intellectual level; from air supplies to the tunnels, diverting smoke from the underground kitchens into the early morning mist to not get discovered and using chilli powder to throw off the dogs' sense of smell, this is a piece of history that will leave you completely in awe. oh - and at a small extra cost - they will let you shoot giant war guns! 

Once all tunnels were crawled through, guns shot, pictures taken and even having learned how they traditionally made rice paper with the limited resources they had - we continued on our journey. Off to the Mekong!

We hit the road for another hour or so until we got to the harbour to find our boat that would transport us across the famous Mekong River. Next part of the tour was a lunch that would take place on a small island situated on the other side of the river. Excited to continue on this amazing cultural outing we were ready to hit the water - but not before buying a traditional Vietnamese hat! ($2) 

Despite the dark clouds and drizzle, the views over the Mekong were incredible. It is really hard to put into words the full size of the river and just the enormity of the scenery as a whole. The river is a hub of activity - other tours, fishing boats, factories and everything in between. We docked on the other side of the river at a gorgeous restaurant in the most picturesque setting. 

 Greeted by a hostess in bright traditional dress, we were lead along bridges and water features to a beautifully set up table for 6. Drink orders were taken (fresh coconut anyone!!) and food arrived. In Asia it is fairly common that the restaurant brings you either a tea or soup before your meal - today it was a yum vegetable broth. soon plates of amazing looking food arrived - prawn crackers, rice, bamboo shoot salad, spring rolls, grilled prawns and lastly, a whole grilled fish that our waitress swiftly turned into delicious rice paper rolls!

After lunch we explored the restaurant a bit and set on our way out to dessert - a donkey drawn cart picked us up to take us to a second location where we were served fresh fruit with a side of karaoke! In the meantime the aforementioned drizzle had turned into a crazy downpour with no sign of let up. Obviously used to the climate, our guide equipped us with rain ponchos and we climbed into a typical local canoe style boat as we sailed along the beautiful river back to the main boat.

Sailing along in the canoe was probably the most incredible experience of the day. Surrounded by nothing but nature, soaked from the rain, the whole world fell kind of quiet - it forced you to be completely present in the moment. 

Back on our boat more adventures ensued - we went off to go find a bee farm on the other side of the river, where we tested and tasted some of the local products they made; After that - a local cocoa plantation where chocolate was consumed in all it's different forms; We discovered how nougat is made; Snake wine was tasted and lastly I somehow ended up with a giant snake around my neck! 

   

Eventually it was time to head home as we had still had a long drive ahead and after all that everyone was slowly running out of steam! Fresh coconuts on the boat and a small nap in the car on the way home - it was an unforgettable day that comes highly recommended!

Family!

Mauritius Explored

Top view of the island

Nothing quite says Mauritius like crystal clear turquoise water. The palm trees and cocktails served in coconuts go a long way but nothing quite competes with the beautiful hues of the Indian Ocean. It's no secret that I am a little obsessed with the island as a whole, and every moment not spent there is spent finding ways to get back there and stay to live the island life for good, but there are 5 things that cannot be missed 

1. Swimming with Dolphins 

Trying to catch the dolphins on camera

Probably one of the most surreal experiences of my life. You get on a speedboat with a vague idea in mind but it is nothing like what you'd expect. The dolphins are wild dolphins and you are in the middle of the Indian Ocean, which is quite a daunting realisation once in the water! Once on the speedboat you head to the location where the dolphins have been spotted - which was off the coast at Black River level for us. Once you reach the site there are a whole host of other boats with tourists looking for the same thrill. When the dolphins swim past you just close your eyes, jump in the water and start swimming. Because the animals are wild they don't stop for the boats or the tourist which makes it a really authentic experience.

2. Ile aux Benitiers

View of Le Morne from Ile aux Benetiers

Ile aux Benitiers is the most lovely small island off the south west coast of Mauritius, reachable by boat. Trips vary between speed boat or catamaran depending on your preference and budget. On the island there are lovely little stalls for tourists to buy souveniers and lunch is often served there as part of your trip. Some boat trips combine swimming with dolphins and snorkeling as part of the experience. 

Drinking from coconuts and vendors on Ile aux Benitiers

3. Ile aux Cerf

View as you sail out from Grand River South East

After a car trip across the island to get to the Grand River South East where the boats depart, you first get on a small tourist boat and they sail you up the river past trees where the occasional monkey can be spotted along with the gorgeous island birds. From there the boat takes you to the catamaran that will take you on your journey. Hands down my personal favorite, this boat tour is pure paradise. Island music playing on the catamaran with nothing but unspoiled view of sparkling waters and beautiful mountains. At the brink of the lagoon the boat stops to let you snorkel with the fish as they prepare lunch for you on the back of the boat. After lunch you sail on to the island where you disembark and have about 2 hours to spend on the island at your leisure. There are curio shops as you come onto the island, there is a bar/restaurant and endless places to go swim. There are also activities available on the island such as parasailing, jetskiing, snorkeling, banana boats etc. Once it is time to go back everyone gets back onto their respective boats and the trip home gets going. On the journey back the staff on board does a traditional Sega dance and teaches the guests as part of the experience. Be sure to pack your sunscreen for this trip as you are out in the sun from 09:00 - 16:30.

4. Parasailing

Floating in the air above Ile aux Cerfs

If, like me, you are weary of heights but want to try something adventurous - this is it! I went parasailing at Ile aux Cerfs where first they take you in a small boat to a platform in the lagoon where they give you the harness to put on as you wait to be strapped in. They will try tell you that they will take you on an extra long trip and dip you in the water for an extra 500 rupees but don't fall for that as they give everyone the same tour. Once it's your turn they clip you on to the platform where they tie the boat to your harness, the boat pulls forward and once there is enough tension on the line they un-clip you and you shoot up into the sky. Although initially it can be a bit scary, once you are up in the air the breathtaking beauty you are surrounded by completely makes you forget you are floating in mid air! Taking in the views and feeling the breeze as they slowly dip you into the ocean and take you back up is the most amazing feeling. Carefree and weightless sadly time goes by really quickly and before you know it you are back on the platform.

5. Under Water Walking

Underwater with the fishies

Under water walking is a completely different experience from all the other water activities above mentioned. You still get on a boat and find your way to another side of the lagoon, but this time you get briefed on what you will be doing under the water as opposed to above it. They talk you through how the "bubble" works and teach you the hand signals you will be using. Once under water, it feels like you are walking on the moon! It is hard to make your way around ad your vision is warped by the bubble. The tour guides throw bread in the water and give you bread to feed the fish to make sure they surround you completely. The whole underwater experience last about half an hour but it is a once in a life time experience. Perfect for kids over 10 and anybody who wants to experience life under water without needing a diving qualification.  

Ile Maurice

Soft waves lapping ashore, coconut cocktails and traditional Sega music playing as I feel the sand between my toes is making me want to stay in this tropical paradise forever. Mauritius was my first tropical island experience and it's got me hooked!

The purity and simplicity of the island life has instilled a level of peace in me I never realized I was looking for in my high pressure fashion industry life. Days filled only with sunshine, boat trips and snorkeling have left me feeling more than ready to never leave!

La Roche Crystal off the coast of Ile aux Benetiers

Located off the shores of Africa, Mauritius is one of the more "down to earth" islands in this region. It carries a tropical feel similar to close by Zanzibar and Seychelles but is by far the larger island. With that comes a whole fascinating, cultural inland territory to explore over and above the clear blue waters the island is famed for. 

Black River Gorge National Park views over Black River

Mauritius, with a population that is more than 68% Indian, is heavily routed in the Hindu faith. The east side of the island is a lot more conservative than the touristy west coast but still you will find shrines and temples wherever you go. Temples so incredibly decorated that it is near impossible to capture the detail, complexity and pure beauty of them. The island's largest temple being in the Black River Gorge National Park, on the Grand Basin, preceded by 33 meter high Shiva statues.

Temples at the Grand Basin

During my visit to the gorgeous island I stayed in the heavenly Mont Choisy. Not wanting to get too caught up in the luxury resort living I opted for a comparatively humble self catering lodge called Mont Choisy Beach Villas 

Mont Choisy Beach Villas garden and pool

It may not have been the four seasons but this little piece of palm tree heaven changed my life. The privacy of a resort with only 14 rooms, a gorgeous pool and a stone throw away from the ocean - I couldn't have asked for more. Despite all the incredible activities during my stay, the best part of my every day was waking up to this island and getting to watch the sun set into the ocean from the recliners set up on the edge of the lodges. 

Watching the sun set from the recliners outside the lodge

The most idyllic setting one could ever ask for, tropical evenings watching the sun go down and the storms rain out far at sea.
But as perfect as the sunsets are, the days themselves are equally enchanting. Full of natural life with an abundance of lush greenery, it is only a two minute walk away from Mont Choisy public beach. Before the day starts and everyone awakens, Mont Choisy public beach is the best place to begin your day; the heat hasn't fully set in yet and there is nobody else around and so the whole ocean is yours for your morning swim. 

Mont Choisy public beach

Morning swim out of the way, you have the whole island and the Indian Ocean surrounding it to go and explore! For a list of things to do check out my post //Mauritius Explored