Hoi An Yet Again

Today was a "rest" day.  I spent a lazy morning at the hotel (first time I am not in a hostel/dorm) and then I decided to wander the streets again.  And a bit of shopping.  One tends to get swept up in the hunt for "a bargain" and these folks are good at negotiating.  "You name your price and we both lucky."   If you don't buy--"I am so unlucky today."

Oh get over it.  On to Ho Chi Mihn City tomorrow and I hope I am lucky with the trip.

Room of girls studying in the late afternoon.

Narrow alley lead to new discoveries

That's alot of eggs!

How about them chickens?  or ducks?

Yeah Right.

More Hoi An

More street scenes from Hoi An.

Tire shop for bikes

Hoi An

Hoi An, a Unesco World Heritage Site, was once a major port for trading through out Asia.  It boasts grand architecture and a beguiling riverside setting.  In the Old Town, an incredible legacy of tottering Japanese merchant housese, Chinese temples and ancient tea warehouse has been preserved.  Many buildings have been converted into restaurants, wine bars, and way too many tailor shops.

The town levies an admission fee -- and 80% of it goes to support local renovation efforts.  The ticket allows one to pick 5 buildings/museums/temples/old houses to enter.  After that -- pay a bit more.

And best of all -- it is a cycling and walking town!  Sensory overload!!!  Hoi An is also famous for its tailor shops & shoe shops.  Anything you want will be made for you in 24-48 hours.  The shops are packed with silks and other fabrics.

Lots of flower markets -- flowers decorate temples, altars, and pagodas.

Circular incense burning for good luck (or wish on yellow card)

Those are snakes.....

Lunch snack -- white rose -- a dumpling with minced shrimp and veges.

Soft Shell Crab from a street vendor...

Riding to Hoi An

If there is a symbol of modern Vietnam it must be the motorbike, motorcycle, scooter:  you name it!  I jumped (literally) at the chance to ride a motorbike up and over the mountains ("ocean cloud pass") along Vietnam National Road 1 from Hue to Hoi An.

I opted for a ride along trip -- they did the driving and I did the riding.  It was an all day adventure because we stopped at several small villages, a "sliding rock" in the mountains, a seafood buffet by a lagoon famous for fishing, and multiple other sites.  There were 5 tourist riders and 4 bikes (1 couple rode together on their bike).

It was BRILLIANT!  And now I spend a few days in Hoi An, the historic trading City of Vietnam.

Off I go ... she is my driver.

Traditional lifestyles remain in the villages

Banana Cakes made with Rice Flour

Moving water from river to rice paddy.

Upstream against traffic.  

Rock statue to honor all the extinct elephants?

Climbing the pass.  22 km up and over or 7 km through the tunnel.

Looking back.  On the south side -- much warmer and clearer.  A change in the climate.