Chao Doc and crossing the border

Caught a bus from Phnom Penh to the boat dock on the Mekong river, from there transferred to a small boat that took us down the Mekong to the Cambodian exit point, stamped out and then jumped back in the boat to cross no mans land and then stamped into Vietnam. The process was painless but a little weird. Had all the usual offers of Exchange money for bad rates. We had a drinks brake before transferring to another boat, that took us into Vietnam. The weird part was that there were a few different groups all doing the same thing and we all seemed to swap boats and buses on the way depending on who you had booked your ticket with. Mine was $6 US other people paid $8 and got a better boat on the Cambodian side but were on the same boat in Vietnam.

About a hour after the border we left the Mekong and headed up a tributary that took us to Chao Doc, there was the usual small boats, fisher people, kids waving and rude shacks on the way. Arrived in Chao Doc in the Arvo but it was raining so did not get a chance to check out the surrounding country side. Went out for a few drinks with mixed group that had all met on the boats. 2 kiwi girls (travelling separately) a British couple, an American Chick and an Israeli girl. No bars as such in Chao Doc so we went to a Karaoke bar a little out of town that is set around fish breeding tanks. Got out there on peddle cabs. Grant rode one back with the driver massaging his back, was a laugh.

The next day most of the group left in different directions, most people on various Delta tours. The American girl Valerie and I decided to stay another night and check out the sights, we caught motos out to Sam mountain and spent the morning climbing it, well walking up it really. A few temples and pagodas on the way. The views were pretty good. On top was an airgun shooting range like at the show days, I had a go and won a can of soft drink. Walking back down via the road, more nice views on the way down. At he bottom caught another moto and checked out a cave temple on the other side of the mountain. Then another moto to lunch and then a couple of motos for the trip home. All day we saw no westerners was nice. Rained in the Arvo again so caught up on net time at 3000 dong an hour (0.20 cents NZ).