Day 35 Kon Tum





 Wow wow wow. What an experience we had today. After an omelette breakfast sandwich at the hotel, we  walked with Tom over a very pretty suspension bridge with lovely views to one of the orphanages that he volunteers with. Immediately the head sister invited Tom and us to a New Year's lunch in a village about 15 km away. The problem was - how do we get out there. After being plied with water, bananas, cakes and yoghurt it was decided that we would each go on the back of a motorbike driven by one of the sisters or a young guy. No helmets and off we went through beautiful countryside to a beautiful village set next to but high up from a wide river.

It is a very traditional village with wooden houses, some on stilts and a big Rong (village hall) in the centre. We had a stroll around the village while we waited for the priest to arrive and then sat down at someone's house for lunch. Tom saw a member of staff from the hotel, Cam, - turns out he is the brother of the head sister who invited us! Cams wife was there too and when she heard we were vegetarian, she got some eggs, disappeared and came back with a plate of fried eggs. So kind. Beer was offered but one in the middle of a hot day was enough for me. We must have done 'cheers' with our cans about 20 times!  Cam wanted us to visit his house which he has built by himself and is actually a homestay with 3 rentable rooms (although the mattresses look rock hard). He also has built  what seems to be a small school for village children with a blackboard, tables and chairs, lots of books and a few toys which he and his wife run. It was just incredible. 

Next stop was the Rong for music and rice wine. All the villagers were now there, small groups clustered around big ceramic pots of rice wine with a straw and a big bowl of cooked meat. We were dragged to several to take a slurp- the way to clean the straw for the next person being to dip the end back into the wine! Unfortunately the sisters had to leave soon after but I'm sure the drinking and singing went on for a long time! 

After a rest, Tom and I got on the bikes to go and visit another orphanage. Again, most of the children had gone back to their village for Tet, but it was good to see around. We stopped at a small eating place where we were thrust a menu which was a bit like being in Argos as you had to tick the food you wanted to order! Of course we had no clue and Google translate comes out with weird interpretations, so Tom looked at what everyone was eating, found a customer who spoke some English and got him to order veggie food for 3 to take away! Back to the hotel, grabbed Pete and had a lovely chatty evening eating at some outside tables. 


Comments

  1. Dr FeelgoodFebruary 11, 2024 at 1:04 PM

    Grabbed Pete??!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2024 at 1:27 PM

    Yep she grabbed me - she had been drinking

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dr FeelgoodFebruary 11, 2024 at 2:35 PM

    😳👌🤗

    ReplyDelete
  4. B&MFebruary 12, 2024 at 1:34 AM

    Finally caught up again with your brilliant adventures, fascinating reading and gives the sense of a society very much at ease with itself.
    You need to print and bind these blogs, when you get back. Spin the Wheel has broken her foot on the stairs but should be ok for Tibet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2024 at 3:57 AM

      Oh no- was that after the pub or on her way there. Whereabouts on her foot?

      Delete
  5. BruceFebruary 12, 2024 at 4:42 AM

    What a great experience, brilliant. The Rong building is extraordinary.

    ReplyDelete
  6. B&MFebruary 12, 2024 at 8:08 AM

    If she had had a drink it would probably have been ok but sober first thing in the morning. Don't think they told her which bone but told should be ok in six weeks if she wears the boot.

    ReplyDelete

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