The sun is out today and I head for a dander round the old town. So quaint with no shortage of tailor shops looking to catch any business passing by. I stop off in a coffee shop overlooking the river to seek some shade from the sun. What a nice change from my poor weather in Hue.
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I head to the market, because I'm still looking some shorts. A woman come up to my and is very friendly, asks my name, where I'm from and tells me how handsome I am. Ha. Of course. Next she asks what I'm looking for and I tell her shorts, conveniently she sells them in her shop. I am encouraged to follow her. I know what is going to happen, but I think, what the hell, I have the time. She leads me away from the tourists and in to an area of the market that is covered. From then it is in to a factory and I am sat down with a Next catalogue in front of me and told to point out what I would like. So I enquire about shorts and shirts, pick a few styles and look at some of the fabric available. I have said on numerous occasions that I am only looking, and get reassured that this is not a problem. However, when I try to leave the women start to get angry, much less friendly. It's a little uncomfortable but I manage to get out alive, only to be greeted by 4 women telling me how handsome I am and telling me to come to their shop first. So I'm lead to a another shop where they sell shoes. Many catalogues, many shoes. This woman is much nicer and when I leave without buying it is not a problem. I leave right in to the arms of another woman, she takes me by the hand to her stall. There are no other foreigners about and that is why I appear to be such hot property. This woman has a typical stall, selling all manner of things. The only thing that interests me is the tiger balm, I ask the price and she says only 60,000, now I reckon that's pricey and so I tell her. She asks me wheat I want to pay, I tell her 20,000 she screws up her face saying no no no. She has good English and we have a bit of banter while we are talking. When it becomes clear I am not going to buy she leads me up a little bit and on to a plastic chair. I'm presented with the book of experiences from other travellers. While I'm reading she tells me how she does massage, as she starts rubbing my back. I have to physically remove her and tell her I'm not interested. Then follows the whole list of services she can provide, shaving, eyebrow pluck, cuticle cut. Unbelievable. She makes one last attempt at the tiger balm, offering it for 30,000, I stick to my 20,000 but she doesn't sell and so I'm on my way. It was a funny afternoon but I'm glad to be out now.
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I meet Orta and Gemma for a few drinks and suggest that we rent motos for tomorrow, unfortunately they are away tomorrow so no can do. We meet up with a couple of locals, Tea and Sinh and have a few drinks. I tell them about my market experience and Tea offers to take me tomorrow and help me buy. It's not a late night, but again when I'm et back to my hotel it is in lockdown! Some shouting and I'm in.