Hi guys, well I've returned from the Mekong Delta which was absolutly amazing. Saw so much and travelled to virtually every corner of the Mekong. From the most wealth touristy of areas, to visiting some of the poorest areas. Was a real eye opener, especially visiting the poorer areas as it amazed me how they lived. They built houses themselves out of corrigated iron, which were held above the river by stilts. They use the river for everything from cleaning, to washing, for transport, drinking...everything. It was very upsetting to see the poverty in which they lived though. I tiped the lady that had rowed me across the river 2 USD which is basically the equiverlant of £1.60. When I did the lady bowed and laughing and ran to her friends showing them the $2. I was really confused and asked the guide that was with me I had done some wrong, it was in my mind a bit of a shit tip but it was all I had at the time and I had no Vietnames dong (US dollars and Vietnames dong are both accepted currency in Vietnam)on me and I thought I had insulted her and was being my paranoid self worryed I had embarressed myself. But the man laughed explaning that her average wage would most probably been no more than $20 a month and I had just given her the equiverlent of half a weeks wage. I was amazed. The whole experience was an eye opener, it was upsetting at times. Especially when I met some of the Cham clans (a group of people who live on the stilted house in the Mekong by the Cambodia bourder) children. They were the cutest but cheeky kids id ever met. Really smiley and friendly and very inquisitive. The whole thing was a real slap in the face and quite a wake up call. But after all that travelling I've decided to kick back for a bit in Hoi An which is a complete contrast from the Mekong and a 1 hr 30min flight from Ho Chi Minh. It is the mekka of clothes shopping with any outfit you can dream up made to measure at bargain prices. Its a gourgous place but a massive tourist trap with 5* hotels and white sandy beaches. I was here no more than 20 min and I had spent $135 on a new load of clothes and as I write this the shame of spending that much money on clothes after meeting the people I just have is terrible!!!!! Im feeling massivly guilty as im arriving for my first fitting tomorrow then am gonna do some lazing by the pool with a nice Mohito, well I might as well treat myself, I am on holiday!!! And I am adding to Vietnams ecconomy...who am I kidding, I'm just a another corporate cow. For shame.
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