No, we're not taking Disneyland's jungle cruise.
Entering the floating market.
Despite the abundant rice and fruit harvest, the Mekong Delta is also one of Vietnam's poorest regions. Since the Mekong River continuously flows, locals believe the impurities flow downstream so they use the river water to cook, drink, bathe, and erm, do other things.
Those who can't afford to buy land, "squat" on the river's edge.
I'm amazed that clothes stay so white when river water is so brown. Aren't these darling?
The Mekong Delta lives up to its reputation with the most abundant fruit trees I've ever seen. Can you guess which ones they are? (Click on pictures for larger images.)
1. Jackfruit
2. Longan
3. Pineapple
4. Custard Apple
5. Avocado
6. Banana
7. Sapodilla
8. Rose Apple
9. Ambarella
This one's too easy. Coconuts.
Bye!
March 30, 2007 Update:
Since I now know how to upload videos, I thought ya'll might like a real "virtual tour."
Mekong Delta - Vietnam
Com Lam (Vietnamese Sticky Rice in Bamboo) - Sa Pa - Vietnam
Tien Dung Chu Dong Tu Temple of Love - Binh Minh - Vietnam
Pho Cuon Ha Noi (Vietnamese Rice Noodle Rolls Hanoi-Style)
Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword Lake) - Ha Noi - Vietnam
Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) - Ha Noi - Vietnam
Cha Ca Thang Long (Vietnamese Hanoi-Style Turmeric Fish with Dill)
Sofitel Plaza Saigon Chocolate Buffet - Saigon - Vietnam
i will try
ReplyDelete1. papaya
2.longan
3.pineapple
4.custard apple
5.mango
6.banana
7.chiku
8.pomergranate
9.guava
most are my favs!
I'll Give My Best Shot ^^
ReplyDeletejackfruit
longan
pineapple
sugar apple
avocado
banana
langsat
water apple
ambarella / golden apple
great pictures ! Ok, here goes.. a guess or two hehe :)
ReplyDelete1) jackfruit
2) longan
3) pineapple
4) sugar apple
5) mango OR monkey apple ?
6) banana buds
7) langsat
8) water apple
9) guava
pheww.. need some fruit juice now :)
Oh my goodness--I don't know the names of most of those fruits but I ate some of them when I was in the Mekong Delta area. I also remember a bright pink fruit with white flesh that had black seeds. Sort of like a kiwi but more colorful. Could it be #8?
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading more of your blog--discovered it through TigerFish.
hopping here from melting wok. i envy you the fresh fruits!!! it's been a while since i've seen/climbed those. five of those we actually had in our backyard growing up... brings back good memories. so excited to have discovered your blog -- will be back sometime!
ReplyDelete1. jackfruit
ReplyDelete2. longan
3. pineapple
4. custard apple
5. avocado
6. banana blossom
7. "sam bo che"
8. malay apple ("trai man")
9. ambarella, ("trai coc")
mmm yum! my neighbor grows "trai man"
Hi Everyone,
ReplyDeleteGreat guesses but only Christine D. seemed to have them all right. :)
I've never heard of langsat but the leaves and growth pattern don't seem to fit the VNese sam bo che. Darn, and here I was hoping someone would help me find the English word.
Hi Beloved,
Are you thinking of dragonfruit?
http://wanderingchopsticks.blogspot.com/2006/10/dragonfruit-can-you-believe-i-grew.html
Wandering Chopsticks...I'm sooo jealous. I didn't make it to the Mekong Delta when I was there back in 2003. My mom said the best food is around the Mekong. Sigh. I went to Vietnam with two high maitenance gf's...who only wanted to SHOP. Thus the reason I travel solo now. Anyways, love your pictures!
ReplyDeleteHi Jeni,
ReplyDeleteShopping's good too! I did plenty of that. :)
Wandering Chopsticks,
ReplyDeletexa po che is called sapodilla in English. You can look it up on the wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapodilla
Hi Anon,
ReplyDeleteYay! Mystery solved. Thanks. :)
Oh! Realized Tigerfish had it right the first time, sapodilla is also referred to as chiku. :P
ReplyDelete