Mekong, March 5

We hired a personal driver to pick us up right after work on Friday.  This saves time since we get picked up right at the apartment and driven to our exact location - no in between taxis and buses.  We booked a rustic bamboo shack on a small river in the Mekong area.

View from our balcony.

Simple but clean and comfortable.

We enjoyed the quiet surroundings and spent most of our 2 days relaxing in the hammocks and reading and eating.

The dining area.  We were invited to try the food tour to sample rat, frog, and crocodile. The only tour we did do was a late afternoon boat ride as the sun was setting.

We boated on a traditional wooden boat.  There was a floating market that was offered that left at 5:30am.  Again we just preferred to stay put this time.  Maybe next time we return. The facility had a suspension bridge across the river which connected to the rest of this 'Homestay'.

On Sunday we did made good use of the bicycles provided and we cycled along narrow roads and through numerous hamlets and dwellings along the winding rivers.  We saw children playing freely everywhere and folks bathing in the muddy waters (along with the floating garbage).  It was a real glimpse into everyday rural life.