The main cave of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam is a spectacular underground river, meandering through gorgeous stalactites and stalagmites. The main pathway to the cave is on a boat, and in the local tradition, all the boats are rowed by women. It’s not an easy job – the boats are quite big, holding around 10 tourists each.
My boat was the last one for the day before the park closed. As the couple of remaining tourists disembarked at the exit, I asked to be taken back to the Phong Nha village a few kilometres away.
One of the rower ladies caught the ride on the same boat, and as the evening approached, she sat quietly at the bow, taking in the beautiful surroundings of the Phong Nha mountains, in a rare moment of not having to physically work while doing it. She surely earned it.