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I took the bus from Hue to Hoi An, a great journey through mountains and paddies and the city of Danang if not slightly bizarre as the seats were all beds. Fairly unnecessary for a 4 hour journey but very conducive to napping.
I stayed in a delightful home stay (Thien Tan) a little out of Hoi An town. The women working there are so lovely, they sit and chat with me at breakfast and they invited me to have lunch with them today which was great, they kept putting bits of food in my bowl and asking me lots of questions. I think they feel a bit motherly to a lone female traveller and want to make sure I'm ok. I guess it's a cultural difference that they don't understand why I'm on my own. One of the first questions is always 'Do you have a boyfriend?' I think this reflects the importance of marriage to most Vietnamese. Indeed, yesterday on a cycling trip we saw so many wedding parties in the villages, music pumping and amusing portraits of the bride and groom outside huge tents erected in the streets for the party. Sunday is the lucky day for weddings.
Hoi An is a lovely little town. Undoubtedly touristy, you can't help but feel that contributes to the upkeep of the city. There are lanterns and coloured lights everywhere, quaint little yellow buildings on both sides of the river and the sing song sound of Hoi An Vietnamese chatting and selling. There are also beautiful undeveloped beaches and rice paddies all around the town.
My home stay has given me a free bike and Will and I have been cycling around and beach bumming. So much fun. We parted ways today as he's off home this week.
Tomorrow I am going on a 600km six day motorbike trip through the central Highlands following the Ho Chi Minh trail with a Vietnamese guide, called Mr Bin. The bikers call themselves easy riders showing tourists the 'real' vietnam. Dennis Hopper eat your heart out.
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saroj bell I like the idea of the home stays ( Thien Tan). Do you organise that through tourist information ( or such like)? It helps one to experience 'real' life. Keep having fun, Rach. I feel lucky reading this when most people are at work.......joys of part time occupation!
Sian Yes!!!! Beautiful!!! Mr Bin - brilliant. The Vietnamese have the best names.