Orchid Garden Family Resort Hoi An

... wall. However, next day, when the tide was out, we did venture in for a brief swim, followed by some pool time. We did a 4-hour trip on the back of motor-bikes, where we visited a local fishing village, the famous white sand dunes, the canyon (an eroded river bed), the red sand dunes and the fairy stream, all very interesting. After a couple of days there, we went by bus back to Nha Trang, where we stayed in a hotel that had only been opened a couple of ...

... abut I suppose transportation would be the problem.

During the drive were came across a funeral procession. At the rear of the vehicle containing the coffin were people throwing out handfulls of paper money. Apparently this is the way it is done here. At the front of the procession was a group of motorcyclists with large banners, I suppose to warn people that the funeral was coming.

... spring rolls and a milkshake at a little cafe looking out over the river. I then did a bit of sightseeing. First I walked over the Japanese Covered Bridge. The emblem of Hoi An, it was built in the sixteenth century. As you enter the wooden structure off Tran Phu from the east, immediately on either side of you are two dogs statues, and on the other side of the bridge are two monkey statues; work began in the year of the latter, and ended in year of the former. All of them are ...

... workshop. This is probably her most challenging task, and some are keener than others, but progress has been made.

Mark has continued sending letters to businesses operating in Viet Nam, seeking to establish relationships and perhaps gain some sort of philanthropic funding. Some responses are gradually filtering through. Having contacted all the members of AusCHAM (Australian Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam), he has now been working his way through the members of AmCHAM (American ...

... his Puma thongs being stolen several months ago. When Paul and Jol visited, they brought another pair, which was great. When we had a chance to assess what had gone missing in the flood, there was only one thong in the house and Mark was beginning to think these bloody thongs were bad luck. Anyway, after noticing Paula’s conical hat in the block of land next door, presumably washed there, he went exploring and found the thong submerged in the mud about 10 metres away ...

... br>gets a foot massage, I get my eyebrows and then my whole face –
threaded. Threading is old-school hair removal. Taking a cotton
string and making it a double strand – hairs are removed from the
follicle. Both mother in law and daughter claim that it is better
than waxing, lasts a REALLY long time – and “makes smooth skin.”
Bracing myself for pain – I find ...

... during the war & where every hotel chain in the world is now building a MASSIVE resort, to Hai Van Pass north of Danang.


Really windy mountain road with great views of the mountains going down into the seas & lovely white sandy beaches. Up at the top of the ...

... now that we've spent the money seems expensive ... but to get clothes which actually fit properly and are well made (according to our guide this was one of the best tailors in the town) I'm thinking its worth it.
I guess we'll see when we pick them up tomorrow!
We met up for dinner and drinks with Glenn's mum and ended up with the rest of our tour group at the Beach Bar ... they run free shuttles from the town to the club about 4kms away on the beach and they pack ...

... still no Costa Rica beach." And if you do find a nice beach... you wont enjoy it or stay on it for long to enjoy it because the people wont stop bugging the hell out of you, as well- you will be disappointed by the loads of trash on it... or the very noisy highway running right along the coast.

But on a more positive note.. there are more beaches to see.. and I hope that I have a different tone in 2 weeks! Until then, Hanga Ply (See you Soon)

Well, I was originally planning on spending a few days in Nha Trang, but decided just to move on after arriving there to rain (and a forecast to continue). So, I left Dalat at about 7:30AM, arrived in Nha Trang at about 2PM and immediately bought a ticket north to Hoi An to leave at 7PM. I just arrived at 7AM but feel remarkably good thanks to a few samples of sleeping pills ...