Cai Rang Floating Market tour

-

Route: Along Cai Rang river
Date: 2 July 2019
Mode: walking and by boat ride
Duration:  2 hours
Fare: 120k dong
Difficulty: Communication with locals
Highlight: Experience the 100 years tradition of floating market

I woke up at 4:30 and prepared for the floating market tour. From my nearby hostel, I walked to the foot of the bridge again. I met two women offering boat ride for 200k. I bargained at 100 but we ended up at 120k. It was a cheaper deal as compared to the 150k offer last night. So, instead of walking to the house where I bargained the night before, I decided to take the deal.

When I rode the boat, I noticed another companion touring with me. He looks like 18 years old but when I talked to him, he said that he is 21 years old and working as a clerk in a government education office. The boat is small. It has a capacity of 5 tourists. I compared this size to other boats offering tour along the floating market. They can accommodate up to 20 people. The other boats are more professional as they offered life vest while ours has none. But I am still confident of our safety because there are only two of us and I know how to swim anyway.

The tour started at 5:00 and ended at 6:00. I paid the bill to the woman immediately not realizing that it can be paid after the tour is done. After the tour, the boat driver asked me to pay the 120k. I told him that I already gave my payment to the lady who informed me of the ride. We could not understand each other. It’s good that I have a local who was with me to the tour and he lent me his google translator. Using it, we finally understood each other. Upon knowing what I was saying, the driver immediately went to the lady. He went back to our place saying that he already got the payment.

I noticed that the floating market is open only in the morning around 5:00 and then the boat vendors gradually disappear as the mid-day approaches. By around 11:00, the boats are already docked at the bank of the river.

Merchant boats sell a variety of crops like durian, root crops, pineapple, and other fruits and vegetables. Some boats also sell breakfast and a variety of hot and cold drinks. My companion, bought two cold coffee drink and offered me the other glass. I am not into cold drinks especially coffee but as a sign of courtesy, I tried a sip and I really loved it. It was enough to charge me with energy after a waking up very early and being sleepy at the start of the tour.

The tour lasted for around 60 minutes which started at the foot of the bridge then running around boats that sell various fruits and vegetables. We also passed by the wet market near the bank of the river which is just beside the Cai Rang bridge. 

We started at dawn and still dark and gradually the sky lighted the surroundings. It drizzled at the middle of the tour but we were dry because the boat has a roof. I and my companion took turns taking picture of each other. We also took picture with the boat driver. My companion talked to the driver while we were having the tour but I never deciphered what they uttered. Sometimes my companion talked to me in broken English but I appreciate it because I can feel that he also wants to introduce the place to me albeit our communication barrier.

I left the floating market while the boats slowly come into docking or are leaving the place. After my boat driver has confirmed that I have paid, I went back to my room and prepared myself for travel back to HCM.


















Comments

Post a Comment

Please feel free to leave your comments, suggestions, and insights here.

Popular posts from this blog

Ang Troso

-
Ang Troso 27 June 2007 Ako ay isang troso, mula sa kaitaasan ng bundok ng Sierra Madre at Cordillera, ako ay naglalakbay sa kahabaan ng Ilog Cagayan pababa hangang madaanan ko ang mga iba’t ibang probinsya ng Isabela, Apayao, Cagayan, at iba pang pareing binabagtas at binabaybay ng pinakamahabang ilog sa Pilipinas. Ang aking paglalakbay ay kakitaan ng magkakaibang bilis at bagal ng pag-usad dulot narin ng ibat ibang bilis ng agos na syang tumatangay sa akin pababa sa bukana ng ilog. Gusto ko mang madaliin ang paglakbay, hindi ko magawa sapagkat ang bilis ng aking pag usad ay nakaayon sa bilis ng tubig na syang kumakandong sa akin. May mga pagkakataon pa na ako ay nahihinto ng matagal dahil sa mga balakid na kahoy, dumi at maliliit na isla na syang humaharang sa pagagos ng tubig na tumatangay sa akin. Marubdob ang aking hangarin na makita ang karagatan. Ganun paman, marami rin akong masasayang karanasan sa aking paglakbay. Una na rito ang kagandahan ng ibat ibang lugar na aking...
Read more

Applying for Admission to the UCLouvain (Masters Studies)

-
Image
Section of the page showing the link to log in This is a continuation of my blog entitled,  "Choosing a University for International Masters Studies" as it culminates in my choice of a university in Belgium which is the UCLouvain. A. Online application The log in page Students need to accomplish first the online application at the UCLouvain website. This is done by opening first this page  so that their profile is known. Click the "To Online Form" so that you are directed to a page where you can sign up for an account. Once signed up, confirm the link in the email given and log in using the same email and password. You are then directed to the online application form. You can fill out the form, log out and return to it. You also have a reference number for the application done. Along with the form, you also need to upload the documents supporting the information you entered.  The sign-up page These are  1. passport-sized ID (35x45mm)...
Read more

Go Solo Adventures England

-
Image
English breakfast The UK is an acronym of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . Geographically, like the Philippines, it looks like an archipelago separated from the rest of mainland European countries. If the Philippines has the sobriquet, the Pearl of the Orient Seas , the UK seems to be a Pearl of the Occident Seas as it lies surrounded by waters and off the coast of European nations. It is also a nation that virtually influences many states on Earth because of its past commercial and colonial powers. It has left its hegemony over the nations that it commercially governed through the British East India Company during the time of colonization and over the states created by its former citizens. It is the origin of the English language which is widely learned by many people around the world today.  It is also known as England, but this is a misnomer because the UK includes other states and kingdoms such as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Snow f...
Read more