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curios being sold. It is a heaven for window bustle of the big cities. Mekong is Asia’s
shoppers who can spend a whole day in the third longest trans-boundary river which
passages where there is hardly any place passes through China, Myanmar, Thailand,
to move. There are few shops of big brands Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia after starting
flanking the two sides of the main hall. from the Tibetan Plateau. In Phnom Penh
In the centre part are displayed postage three other rivers meet Mekong before it
stamps, coins, currency postcards, letters reaches the South China Sea.
etc and other memorabilia of bygone times. In the islands of Mekong Delta we also
It is like a mini walk through a Museum visited a coconut workshop as the islands
of display tables. What really got my are full of coconut trees so the locals have
attention was the live and running post started making the best of their advantage.
office along the back wall and the sides of The pulp is extracted carefully and candy
the hall. Here are counters for sending and made from it in different flavours, whereas
receiving mails, selling counters delivery useful and decorative products are made
and receiving counters for post, letters from the shell. They also have bamboo
and parcels. Another long counter with plantations and products are also made and
computers and internet connectivity and sold. Instead of transporting raw material
many people sitting using them. Also there to the mainland different things are made
was an ATM and if I remember correctly at base providing employment and better
and a money exchange counter. Just outside value to the locals.
the post office is the old Cathedral which is The islands are also famous for the output
undergoing renovation currently. of tropical fruit. We got to taste some exotic
The tour of the SIAGON Palace and other ones, while we were treated to some lively
historical places were interesting too. The local musical performances by the people.
Reunification Palace famously stormed by We were told that these islands grow and
tanks in 1975 (which are still there and we export 40 types of tropical fruits during
could see them in the sprawling gardens different seasons.
of the palace) also has a war plane on the There are four main islands. Tortoise
terrace of the palace for the king which Island, Dragon Island, Phoenix Island
was used for his escape. Apart from other and the biggest is Unicorn Island. The
usual things which museums house, the boat rides through the mangroves in the
palace has an underground Command canals connecting the islands and going
Centre, Telecommunication setup with deep inside one was good fun and quite
a Ham Radio and hidden tunnels for adventurous. The transition from the
the authorities to escape at the time of jetty to a steam boat and then to a smaller
emergency or attack. local rowboat and then again landing,
On our last day in Vietnam, we visited the getting on and off the islands was not very
islands of Mekong Delta to see the rural life comfortable for most of us. One should be
there. Mekong is a major rice producing wearing well-fitting footwear, preferably
province and rice is exported from here to shoes. Sandals are not a very good idea for
destinations across the world. A trip to the these outings. Clothes should be cool and
Delta area is a must if you want to see the a bit loose. Ideally cotton shirts with full
real life of the people away from the hustle sleeves to avoid sun tanning and mosquito
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #52 | OCTOBER 2023 37
