In for the kill!

A super typhoon was approaching northern Vietnam so we decided to stay in Phong Nha which allowed us to still so the HangEn cave.

I adored Phong Nha. It was one of the most beautiful natural places I've seen in my life. Nothing can compare to the gigantic rock formations jutting out of the ground.

We visited TE dark cave which was awesome. You take kayaks from one side to get to the cave. When you get out its a short walk into the cave that gets darker and darker. Once you ditch your life jackets you proceed through dark tunnels with only your headlamps and hard hats. Slowly and bit by bit the mud gets her. Starting just at your toes by the time you reach a kilometer in the mud it put o your waist. It ends when you go down a mud slide into a full on mud bath! We all turned our lights out and had the weirdest smeary experience feelings around in the goofy textured mud in the pitch black. The people in our group quickly became our friends.

When we went to leave my bike was broken.... Again! The guide decided to tow my bike back.

For dinner we all decided to go outside or the main town of Phong Nha into the really rural area to a little place called "pub with cold beer."The name has nothing to do with what actually goes on there. It was a short drive down the main road and then a turn down off into the dirt roads. The place itself was nothing more than a family living on a farm in a field. They opened the restaurant as an authentic Vietnamese experience.

We ordered two chickens for dinner. Before I knew it two girls under ten brought the chickens out to weigh in front of us. We were told to go to the back behind the house. The mom asks who is going to kill the dinner. Obviously I raise my hand and so does another boy. After I volunteer I got a little nervous. Oh man I'm going to have to kill a chicken!!!!

The one little girl positions me on the ground pinning the chicken down. She then proceeds to hand me a giant knife. Woah what is wrong with this picture. A little girl the age of my kindergarten students just handed me a giant knife!!!! The mom quickly explains that I have to cut the throat and bleed it out. They don't waste anything, not even the blood. It is all used. I feel sick I don't think I can do it. 

I look the beady creature in the eye. Well at least this chicken is going to be used! Ill skip the details but it was pretty surreal. When it was over I pass the knife back to the child! Once again feeling guilty that I'm passing a small child a knife. The other child takes the twitching chicken and begins to swing it around likes its a play toy. These girls are going to be pretty awesome and tough by the time they reach 12.

They cook and prepare our chicken. I can say it was my best Vietnamese meal I had the entire time. They had a peanut sauce that is to die for. If you ever get a chance to to to Vietnam, visit phong Nha and visit this lovely family. The two young girls will play anyone in pool and I promise you they will kick your butt and win. I saw it happen against ever guy we were with.