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Leaving for Hanoi this afternoon on overnight train (given up on the bus in case I'm recognised from the last journey) - have heard lots of good things about Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sa Pa from people coming from the other direction so looking forward to it - sharing a 4 person carriage with three others I've met here so that should be cool although a bit cramped (god help us if anyone breaks wind) - All lovely people though.
Hoi An has been really nice, its amazing how quickly the town recovered from the typhoon - I noticed when they were cleaning up that everyone was involved - I suppose a lot of businesses at stake.
Every night here in Hoi An there were children banging drums and dancing with dragon outfits - had read in the guide book that they have a full-moon street thing every month but no one seemed to know which night it was on - its seemed to be over several to be honest. I don't think the locals knew either judging by the amount of people on mopeds stuck in traffic (if you knew there was a street festival would you drive your bike into the middle of it?) Also the rough guide said that on the main night all traffic was banned and the streets lined with lanterns - this didn't seem to happen (in fact the traffic got worse) and it was all a bit haphazard and spontaneous. Also it only seemed to be children involved - most of the adults spending their time 'shooing' kids out of their restaurants, or running down 6 year olds in dragon outfits. Colourful nonetheless.
Great food in Hoi An, in fact would have stayed around to do a morning cooking class if I'd had time - maybe in Hanoi....
Other highlights of Hoi An:-
Lovely hotel (Phuoc An) - really nice rooms, big buffet breakfast, kimonos and of course, most importantly, cable tv.
Beautiful town, lovely old buildings, narrow streets, lots of coloured lanterns
Seeing a child (maybe 3) on the front of a bike wearing a face mask (surely missing the point when not wearing a helmet and sitting in a basket)
Clothes - bought a couple of winter coats, have decided now though that one of them looks like a girls coat - who can I show it to at home that won't laugh?....can't think of anyone....does anyone need a dorothy perkins jacket?
Thought I'd found a cockroach in my bed - was in fact a three day old piece of biscuit
That drumming on its own is a bit rubbish - like going to watch 'Stomp' where they bang dustbin lids together -
"I went to see Stomp..."
- "what was it like?"
- "well they drum using dustbin lids..."
- "oh....."
The list just gets bigger piers!
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