It's our third day here already, and we adore it. It is such a relief to be away from the busy crowded areas and on this peaceful, green island.

An Binh is a large land mass just off the main land, yet it feels completely different. On this island are quaint, yet grand houses. The water from the Mekong River pours into little ravines that cross all over the island, which makes for a beautiful scenery. Almost every house has ravines running alongside it. We finally feel as if we have reached the Vietnamese countryside: tropical fruits, tall green trees, orchids, lovely shrubbery. And hence we are spending another night here.

Our accommodation on the island is what is known as a 'homestay': locals open up their homes to tourists, who for a fee, get a bed, meals, and bicycles or boats to explore the island. It really is a convenient option, almost like a hostel but with more space and less people. And brilliant food. Every evening the ladies of the house prepare a spread, where they also create lovely art work out of veggies and fruits to decorate the dishes. It's astonishing! Imagine a woman carved out of cucumber peel, with little flowers on her dress. Or a swan modeled from bamboo with a red chili for its beak.

To reach this lovely homestay was an experience in itself. Goodness.
We left our hotel in My Tho full of confidence and ready for along drive. But that confidence was quickly dashed when we reached the bus station and realized that there are no buses to Vinh Long. In short, it took haggling, two motorbike lifts, and a local minibus to get here. We were sun burnt, tired and thrilled. I (Rebecca) finally had to face my fear about motorbikes - especially in Asia where road rules are only a suggestion - and it was fun.

Yesterday (this would be Friday), we grabbed two bicycles and rode around the island. It's so pretty and quaint. The rest of the day was spent reading. It's really such a tranquil island.

We've met some upbeat and friendly people at the homestay - and it's probable that we'll bump into them again. Saturday was spent chatting to everyone, hours of reading, and a short walk.