CON PHUNG ISLAND, MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM

As we arrived on the island, locals are boarding a flat bottomed ferry to cross the Mekong River towards My Tho.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:12:52 -0700

andresalvador
As we arrived on the island, locals are boarding a flat bottomed ferry to cross the Mekong River towards My Tho.

Walking through the island village is relaxing and pleasant. I simply observe their ways of life and vegetation around.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:13:04 -0700

andresalvador
Walking through the island village is relaxing and pleasant. I simply observe their ways of life and vegetation around.

I even had the chance to peep into their homes and take pictures. The only enclosed space is their bedroom and bath. All other areas under their home roof are open. Their living area is also ...

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:14:05 -0700

andresalvador
I even had the chance to peep into their homes and take pictures. The only enclosed space is their bedroom and bath. All other areas under their home roof are open. Their living area is also ...

Here, a family is weaving straw mats similar to what they are sitting on. This is within the living and work area of their home.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:14:13 -0700

andresalvador
Here, a family is weaving straw mats similar to what they are sitting on. This is within the living and work area of their home.

A wall with a framed opening that is starting to move due to due to improper connection to concrete and partially due to the moving ground of the island.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:14:20 -0700

andresalvador
A wall with a framed opening that is starting to move due to due to improper connection to concrete and partially due to the moving ground of the island.

A nice view of a path that leads into the Mekong River.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:14:26 -0700

andresalvador
A nice view of a path that leads into the Mekong River.

A flaming red bouganvilla.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:14:32 -0700

andresalvador
A flaming red bouganvilla.

In one of the homes, they have a very nice way to display their fruits. But who would carry a big papaya to their hotel?

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:14:38 -0700

andresalvador
In one of the homes, they have a very nice way to display their fruits. But who would carry a big papaya to their hotel?

At the rear yard of the home is ashed where you can sample the fruits with hot honey tea and the local women singing Vietnamese folk songs.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:14:44 -0700

andresalvador
At the rear yard of the home is ashed where you can sample the fruits with hot honey tea and the local women singing Vietnamese folk songs.

In one of the homes, they have their eating area on stilts over the one of the marshes.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:14:50 -0700

andresalvador
In one of the homes, they have their eating area on stilts over the one of the marshes.

One of the popular cottage industry is coconut candy making. You may sample as much as you want.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:12:58 -0700

andresalvador
One of the popular cottage industry is coconut candy making. You may sample as much as you want.

Here some of the women sing Vietnamese folk songs backed by a three men instrumental group using traditional Vietnamese musical instrument.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:15:02 -0700

andresalvador
Here some of the women sing Vietnamese folk songs backed by a three men instrumental group using traditional Vietnamese musical instrument.

A pretty reflection of the stilted eating area over water.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:14:56 -0700

andresalvador
A pretty reflection of the stilted eating area over water.

My wife Beth as she strolls with the guide through the fuit tree plantation.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:15:08 -0700

andresalvador
My wife Beth as she strolls with the guide through the fuit tree plantation.

A view of one of the natural canals of the island

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:15:14 -0700

andresalvador
A view of one of the natural canals of the island

This is the type of boat we used as they paddled through the channels (canals).

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:15:20 -0700

andresalvador
This is the type of boat we used as they paddled through the channels (canals).

That is how narrow the canals are.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:15:26 -0700

andresalvador
That is how narrow the canals are.

We are ready to go through the canal from one end of the island to the other end out to Mekong River where we will change boat. Nga is the name of the woman in front who will be doing th ...

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:17:19 -0700

andresalvador
We are ready to go through the canal from one end of the island to the other end out to Mekong River where we will change boat. Nga is the name of the woman in front who will be doing th ...

Paddling in this position is hard! Our woman paddler Nga, I guess is used to it.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:15:44 -0700

andresalvador
Paddling in this position is hard! Our woman paddler Nga, I guess is used to it.

It is a 40 minute trip and she will be paddling in this position!

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:15:51 -0700

andresalvador
It is a 40 minute trip and she will be paddling in this position!

Here she is, Nga after the trip, tired and sleepy.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:13:58 -0700

andresalvador
Here she is, Nga after the trip, tired and sleepy.

A view of the canal in which there are many at Con Phung Island.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:15:58 -0700

andresalvador
A view of the canal in which there are many at Con Phung Island.

One of the homes that can be seen adjacent to the canal.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:16:05 -0700

andresalvador
One of the homes that can be seen adjacent to the canal.

Boats have their artistic logo in front. Those with the same design belongs to one company or owner.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:16:17 -0700

andresalvador
Boats have their artistic logo in front. Those with the same design belongs to one company or owner.

I took this picture aboard a moving boat. There are two kids and one try to hide from me. It is not the sharpest but I find it very nice.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:16:11 -0700

andresalvador
I took this picture aboard a moving boat. There are two kids and one try to hide from me. It is not the sharpest but I find it very nice.

On the canal one of the tributaries of the Mekong River.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:16:23 -0700

andresalvador
On the canal one of the tributaries of the Mekong River.

You can see from this picture how high the woman paddler sits on top of the boat while she paddles. The man at the back just navigates.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:16:29 -0700

andresalvador
You can see from this picture how high the woman paddler sits on top of the boat while she paddles. The man at the back just navigates.

Another woman paddler. This time sh is by herself. It is a privately owned boat.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:16:35 -0700

andresalvador
Another woman paddler. This time sh is by herself. It is a privately owned boat.

A closer look at a woman and her boat.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:16:41 -0700

andresalvador
A closer look at a woman and her boat.

andresalvador's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:15:38 -0700

andresalvador

The water palms line up the banks of the canal.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:16:47 -0700

andresalvador
The water palms line up the banks of the canal.

A very pretty paddler. She wears the same aud dai as Nga, our paddler.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:16:59 -0700

andresalvador
A very pretty paddler. She wears the same aud dai as Nga, our paddler.

Navigating through the narrow canal.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:16:53 -0700

andresalvador
Navigating through the narrow canal.

The brown muddy waters remind me of the Amazon River.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:17:06 -0700

andresalvador
The brown muddy waters remind me of the Amazon River.

This flat bottomed boat is bigger than what we were using.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:17:12 -0700

andresalvador
This flat bottomed boat is bigger than what we were using.

The main body of the Mekong River may be seen beyond.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:17:26 -0700

andresalvador
The main body of the Mekong River may be seen beyond.

At the intersection of the canal and Mekong River beyond

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:17:32 -0700

andresalvador
At the intersection of the canal and Mekong River beyond

A wild orchid growing on one of the dead trees in the canal.

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:46:01 -0700

andresalvador
A wild orchid growing on one of the dead trees in the canal.

andresalvador's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (andresalvador) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:26:31 -0700

andresalvador