We started the morning climbing Sam Mountain to view the delta from the peak. At 230 meters, Sam Mountain is the highest mountain in the Mekong Delta. As we climbed up the stairs towards the peak, we passed through many temples and pagodas. My favorite was the room filled with illustrations of what Hell looked like.
For instance, you could get your head or tongue chopped off. Over, and over, and over again.
Or, you can have your insides boiled into a broth. Over, and over, and over again.
All until all your sins have been forgiven.
It was a very positive experience.
On the way up, we also noticed a monkey chained to a rock. Phuc explained that the monkeys act sort of like guard dogs, ooh-oohing and ah-ahhing when people approach their homes. It was a sad site. Phuc showed us how to feed the monkey some of the snacks we brought. I could not partake. One, cause it was heartbreaking for me to see. Two, they were my snacks. And, three, I thought back to my travel clinic nurse that ingrained in my head the biggest threats to me in Vietnam were mosquito and monkey bites. :x
After exploring Sam Mountain, we visited Ba Chua Xu Temple, built in the 19th century.
Then. THEN! We went to Tra Su Cajuput Forest. IT WAS GORGEOUS! But, it was also raining, so I couldn't take any good pictures. We rode two different boats through it to bird watch and study the cajuputs (Type of tree). I was blown away by the beauty and isolation. My blurry video will probably not do it any justice.
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