Tonight I have posted the remainder of the Vietnam photos. We have enjoyed two wonderful days in Phnom Penh. Seen some extraordinarily sad sights, heard of the horrific exploits of Pol Pot and been entertained in two homes to delicious food and great Cambodian hospitality.
Phnom Phen is a city of huge contrasts. Thankfully it is getting on it's feet again thanks to the intervention of the likes of UNESCO and others. The Japanese for instance have paid for many roads to be built and the rebuilding of the bridges in the city.

But it is the spirit of the people here who hopefully can managed the changes required to get their country on it's feet again.

We recommend it as a great place to visit as a tourist. We leave for Siam Reap tomorrow on a flight at 9 am.

Funeral wreaths were carried by tuk tuk in procession behind the coffin. In chinese culture white is the colour worn as a sign of mourning. The chief mourners wore long white robes, others white headbands and most of the flowers are white.

Note: white flowers should never be offered in Chinese culture apart from for a funeral.

The coffin was carried on a palaquin by about 18 men. Drums and cymbals made sure his ancestors who had passed on before him knew that he was on his way to them.

A chinese funeral carriage. A well known and respected member of the chinese community in Hoi An died and this was the splended send he was given.

Yes I did confirm that it was appropriate to take the photos and took them from a discreet distance.

Chilling out in the relative splendour of the

New World Hotel for afternoon tea.

Mekong Delta on Sunday

I think this lad was repairing his boat! The plant is Water Hyacinth which grows/floats in huge clumps in the river. It is planted along the river banks to prevent erosion.

The boat people of the Delta usually live on their boats.

Four of us shared this "Mekong Fish"for lunch on Sunday We also had spring rolls, rice and vegetables.

Rice waiting to be transported by boat.

A boat transporting a cargo of coconuts on Mekong. The journey to Ho Chi Mingh City which took us 2.5hrs by bus takes 10 hours by boat.

We travelled 75 kms south of Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday for a cruise on the Mekong Delta.

This demonstrated how the tiny Vietnamese disappeared down into the tunnel system. They would pull a cover over the entrance making their hiding place secret.

Cathy was in front of me as we entered the tunnel. The space was incredibly small. The air felt damp and although we only crawled for a few metres it felt so much longer.

The Cu Chi Tunnels is a network of tunnels northwest of Saigon started during French occupation and extended by 200 kms during the Vietnam war with USA.

This is the cover over one of the entrances.

Offerings for Buddha

The Royal Palace - Phnom Penh

Julie, Kirsten, Stefan and I started the day viewing the sunrise over the Mekong at 05.30hrs. The city was so quiet. The only people about were those exercising at the riverfront.
There were plenty of great photo opportunities.