A Review of the Senses

Sight: My eyes wandered up a piecemeal cement path that meandered alongside a tributary to the mighty Mekong River. Each twist and turn uncovering more beautiful countryside and a growing urban area, the result of population swells into Can Tho city, Vietnam.  Flourishing palm fronds and banana trees breaking up the suns's rays throwing dappled light onto the trail ahead. Brown, muddy waters of the flowing river being churned up by small wooden skiffs and fishing boats plugging along.

 

Sound: The 110 cc wiz of oncoming motorbikes zooming around bends, the rattle of my rusted bicycle chain, birds chirping, the relentless low roar of barge engines struggling against the weight of their cargo, laughter coming from small houses, orders being barked by men managing conveyer belts as one by one bags of rice and other goods are dropped onto boats for distribution around the delta. 

Touch: The sensation of the warm breeze hitting the beads of sweat collecting on the back of my neck and chest, my sit bones absorbing the shock of my tires rolling over large crags in the deteriorating cement path, the sudden halt of my inertia as I pull on the jerky brake levers, my feet in socks and shoes for the first time in weeks, emerging from the shade of bougainvillea vines into the sunlight and feeling the temperature of my skin rise. 

Smell: Smoke of small wood burning fires boiling water to make rice, fish, fish and more fish, sewage, fields of marigold flowers in full bloom, sweet mangos hanging from their trees. 

Taste: Dank air hitting the back of my throat, dragon fruit plucked from a tree and cut up for me to enjoy, steeped iced tea made from rain water collected and stored in large clay pots for just such use, Vietnamese pancakes, tangy tamarind left over on the corners of my mouth after sucking some seeds of all their chewy goodness. 

A great bike ride yesterday.