Hoi An - Cooking Class and Tailoring Day

We hadn't realised from our itinerary that today was going to be another cooking lesson. We started the day by cycling into town (about 4k) on some pretty bone shaking cycles belonging to the hotel. I had envisaged a gentle cycle along country lanes but in fact we had to cycle the busy road right into the town centre including through the market which is always bedlam. Out of town was not too bad, we were the slowest thing on the road so I figured if I just kept on course everything would go around me, In the town was a different matter, people wander about everywhere in front of you so now you have to start manoeuvring, whilst avoiding the things manoeuvring round you who are avoiding the traffic coming the other way - all this in a very confined space. Then of course there are the crossroads and intersections, "just keep cycling steadily across" said the guide! In England I am sure we would have to have filled out several disclaimer forms, that's if Health and Safety would let you have that much fun at all.

01 Our chef instructor looked like Hong Kong Fouey

02 Steaming the rice panckes

We were part of a group for today's lesson; it was run by a local restaurant. The group seemed to mainly consist of Aussies but they were all good fun. We started with the trip to the market, and then boarded a boat for the 20 minute trip to the cookery school. On arrival we had a guided walk around their herb gardens before a combined demonstration and lesson. It was fairly basic in that most of the preparation was done for you but we did make fresh rice pancakes on a cloth over a steamer, which was really interesting. At the end of the lesson we had lunch of the mornings produce. Stir fried squid in chilli sauce, Vietnamese spring rolls, rice and aubergine in a clay pot. We had filled and eaten the fresh rice pancakes as we made them earlier.

03 Now you just have to get them off the cloth!

After the boat trip we picked up our bikes and cycled back to the hotel. We had a free afternoon which was very welcome so we decided to get the hotel shuttle bus back to town to do some unaccompanied shopping!

04 Not more *** vegetable carving!

05 Our Aussie classmates

06 Duck Farm - Thu Bon River

07 Fisherman 1

08 Fisherman 2

09 Fisherman 3

10 Fisherman 4

11 Fisherman 5

12 Market madness

13 Market madness 2