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Published: March 10th 2011
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Yesterday was March 8th and it was International Women's Day. This special day is celebrated in a wonderful way, whereby special greetings are expressed to all women everywhere you go. Street vendors, vegetable sellers, merchants, hotel clerks, gardeners and even "Women with Wings". Our tour guide greeted us with flowers first thing in the morning. Flowers are exchanged and special meals are prepared, some of the shops in Hoi An even closed their doors early in order to celebrate the contributions women have made in the world.
In celebration of this special day we boarded our touring bikes (in great need of a tune up) for a trip through the country. I didn't even get by butt on the seat before I was flat on the ground. Some hadn't been on a bike for 50 years while others used their feet as breaks. (thank goodness shoes can be make here for next to nothing)
Our trip to the local farm took us over land on tiny narrow bike paths past rice fields, fish farms, herds of cattle and water buffalo, through villages, grave sights and past many local motor bike riders honking their horns at us.
We survived
Hoi An, Vietnam
International Farm Workers our journey and were greeting by the local family with cool mint tea.
Grandma sat on a table in the corner chanting, singing and talking to herself while life around her went on as normal. During the US War (as the Vietnamese call it) she along with others suffered and unfortunately never recovered from the shock, loss of loved ones and changes that their country experienced.
The plan was for our ladies to experience farm life and gardening, but as you can see by the picture only two ladies actually got their hands dirty. We toured the small garden patches maintain by local families in the area. The soil fertile with plenty of compost and the crop was plentiful. Every seed is planted, nurtured, harvested and sold in markets and to restaurants and hotels. Absolutely nothing goes to waste here.
As you can see we did a bit of cooking however enjoyed the eating more. We were pampered at this remote little farming community, each of us having a foot and back massage while we listened to the roosters crowing. Time to head back to the luxury of the Palm Garden Resort, this time a longer but
Hoi An, Vietnam
Vietnamese cooking experience safer route.
A quick shower and on the shuttle to the Old Quarter for last minute shoe and clothing fittings, a little more shopping and dinner at Miss Ly Cafe 22. This was a wonderful find we loved the food and the price was very affordable. I'd say about 5$US per person including local beer.
We loved our R & R in Hoi An, although the weather wasn't as hot as we would like it we enjoyed 2 days on the beach, time by the pool and wondered the streets of the Old Quarter every night.
Thursday, March 10th and we are off to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Temperature here is 35 degrees, alot warmer than in Hoi An. Enjoyed an delicious lunch, with more spice and fresh sea food. And here we are in an internet cafe with free wireless (our hotel charges 12.00US for 12 hours) its 9:30PM the noise is unbelievable and the scooter traffic is insane, the temperature is about 30 degrees. Time for a few hours of sleep as tomorrow is a busy, busy day. Can't believe we only have 3 days left.
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Jackie
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IWWW
International Women Workers of the World Unite! What a perfect photo for IWW! You're having way too much fun. Best wishes to you all.