One of the great things about traveling with Lindblad Expeditions is that we are often joined by scholars and experts in the places we go. This morning, we enjoyed a talk by Professor Jean Michel Fillipi about Cambodia’s modern history. Of course, the indoor programs were only a taste of the day’s travel through Cambodia. In the afternoon, we visited the town of Kampong Leaeng, where the local community is known for clay pottery, specifically pots used by locals for storing water, cooking food, and various other uses. These pots are made by hand in the traditional way; the potters do not use wheels to spin the clay into pots.
2/23/2024
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The Jahan
Binh Than Island and Cai Be, Vietnam
We hopped on sampans, local passenger boats, for a cruise to a small village on Binh Than Island to walk through local homes and learn about the process of weaving, drying, and exporting functional mats. At the local community center (which is also a colorful temple), we met with village elders for a short discussion about their lives and the area. Afterward, we did a leisurely cruise through the canals and got to witness the harvesting of water hyacinths, an invasive species common in the Mekong Delta. During the afternoon, we boarded sampans again to visit the island of Tan Phong to visit a group of women making baskets, souvenirs, and other items from water hyacinth. Then, we cruised around the town on six-seater golf carts for a scenic ride through the orchards. After boarding the sampans again, we headed to the small town of Phu An to visit a series of small workshops to see the production of a variety of items including rice paper, rice wine, and coconut candies. Everyone was able to sample the treats. Before dinner, the entire staff and crew of Jahan was introduced during our ship farewell cocktail hour and posed for photos.
