Mekong Circus

Yesterday, whilst Walk-about, I witnessed a circus act every bit as amazing as anything that Cirque de Soleil has to offer. At the far end of the river-front, the cargo boats arrive, carrying everything from coconuts to cement. Tied up to the bank were three scows, each loaded to differing degrees with small cinder bricks. These types of bricks are the standard issue building material in much of SE Asia.

The street level is well above the height of the boats on the bank, and the mud and rock bank drops steeply into the water. From the prow of each boat, the most precarious of planks links the boats to the quay side.

I was sitting at a cafe having my elevenses and amusing the locals with my presence. As I watched, a rickety three wheeler pulled up and began chatting with the boatman on one of the brick scows. Then commenced the circus.

The boatman grabbed a crude hod carrier, a short board about a half meter long, with two stubby block feet. He zipped down the plank and shortly reappeared, bouncing up the plank with a full hod of bricks. The things were stacked as wide as the board and almost chin high. There is no possible way this man could see the narrow, unreinforced plank he was treading, a plank that was sinking and rebounding with each of his steps. It was easily four meters to the watery mud, with no railing or support, but he walked it like he was born to the high wire. The plank sank and lifted like a slack line and I was reminded of the movie "Man on a Wire." Up and down the plank he scurried, dropping full hods to the tri wheel driver and grabbing an empty hod before clambering back down to the boat.

Eventually, the agreed upon number of bricks were hauled, all in 90 degree heat, and that was the end of the show. i was so enthralled with his performance I forgot to take a photo. Today i went back to the scene and got some evidence of the feat.