HOI HAN HERE WE COME!

UP EARLY AND OFF AT 8AM WITH TRONG AND NAM FOR A SHORT TRIP TO HOI AN...WITH SOME PLANNED STOPS ON THE WAY.

READY FOR THE OFF!

 

 

FIRST STOP is by the side of the beach road on the way out of Danang where we see ladies sat almost on the floor cleaning and cutting up the mornings catch Dog Fish from the fishing boats anchored of the shore...they had been there since 2am...

 

    Tough, smelly work, but they weren't complaining

 

 

A little bit further up the road and we stop again at the fish stall....where they are sorting and selling the fresh fish, crabs, shrimps and lobsters!  People just pull up on motorbikes to buy what they need...its all on the floor...no fancy stalls, crushed ice and parsley decorations here!

 

ON THE WAY TO MONKEY MOUNTAIN WE STOP TO TAKE IN THE VIEWS...

 

 

 

AT MONKEY MOUNTAIN ...we get some more great views of Da nang and marvel at the beautiful Buddhist Statues and Temples

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT ITS MARBLE MOUNTAIN ....and big climb up steep steps and through caves to the very top...the views are amazing...its has started to rain so Trong and Nam have kindly provided us with rainwear...its all the rage and every one in Vietnam is wearing it!

 

THE BUDDHA SAYS ORANGE IS

PAUL'S COLOUR

THE LITTLE OLD LADY ON THE RIGHT SOLD US SOME INCENSE SICKS TO BURN FOR THE BUDDHA IN THE CAVE AND TO BRING US GOOD LUCK....ITS WORKING!

NOT SURE WHITE AND BLUE ARE MY COLOURS BUT ITS KEEPING ME DRY!

 

STRIKING A POSE AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN!

 

BY 1PM WE ARE IN HOI AN AND ITS STRAIGHT TO THE TAILORING SHOP

as recommended by Trong.....We are warmly greeted, offered a seat and a bottle of water and presented with an old NEXT catalogue from two years ago and asked to choose anything we wanted from it and they would make it to measure (Emma...just as you said). Before long Paul is being measured for a new suit, has picked the fabric (cashmere and silk) and bartered them down to a reasonable $150...they ask to come back in 3 hours for the first fitting! Then its off to the Sunshine Hotel ($18 a night) where we are dropped off for one night before our real adventure starts tomorrow. The suit is ready after 5 hours and 3 fittings hooray!

 

DINNER TIME AND TRYING THE LOCAL DISH CAU LAU....YUMMY!

BEFORE SOME NIGHT TIME RETAIL THERAPY AT THE MARKET JUST OUTSIDE.