Hoi An

Trip Start Oct 25, 2006

Trip End Nov 19, 2006

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Flag of Vietnam Hoi An, Vietnam
Thursday, November 9, 2006

The wind and the rain continued all night, thankfully no more than a decent storm, 2 weeks ago a typhoon went through and destroyed buildings and trees. Not one to be put off by a bit of rain (it's only a shower) Me, Paul and Trace (our group leader) hire bikes and set off out into the country. Along the roads of various quality, splashing through the puddles we get a good view of life beyond the tourists. All the local kids we pass shout out hello and we get a lot of laughs from the older ones who shout stuff at us and laugh. Probably something along the lines of 'What bloody idiots, out cycling in this weather'.

We cycled along the roads raised above the flooded paddy-fields. It was raining so hard I only once dared take my camera out, but the sight of the water buffalo posing for us amongst the rice paddys was too good to resist.

Buffalo

Time for lunch (this trip seems to be one gorgeous meal after another) and Hoi An has some great local specialities. Cao Lau - A pork and noodle soup with basil and mint, Banh Vac (White Rose) - steamed dumplings which come from the Chinese influence in the area, Hoanh Thanh Chien - Shrimp Wantons topped with hot sauced vegetables and pineapple salad.

I then had a lazy afternoon looking around town and generally chilling out. Now and again I'd run into one of the Golden Girls rushing from one shop to the next buying up dresses, shoes, hand-bags, pashminas and enthusing about the latest bargain.

In the evening we did a Vietnamese cooking course. Which really was a set menu we watched and 'helped' cook. Mackerel with garlic and lemon grass cooked in a banana leaf, steamed and fried spring rolls and a papaya and prawn salad. It was good fun, as was chatting to the family who run the restaurant. The restaurant is right down on the harbour side and as the night passed the waters once again rose and rose. They pointed out a tide mark about 3 foot up the wall that's where the waters reached a month ago and then one 8 feet up that's how high the water got in 1999 and took 12 days the recede. 8 people lived in the house and when it rains, everything moves upstairs.