The jewel of Asia!

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Hi!
Maybe a strong word but over the past few days have come to love Hoi An, it really is a jewel compared to the Vietnaam i have seen and experienced so far. The village seems small and the streets old and narrow, but there bustlng with life and vibrant with energy. Many scooters and bikes squeeze past each other, while the markets can be viewed while passing through. There is no real side of the road to ride on but it helps if our on yur right as the majority are going in your direction. The markets are also excellent and ridiculously cheap selling a huge range of clothes/food/electronics, you name it aslong as your willing to bargain hard and then walk away- not that id know i have no money. At night Hoi An lights up with fairy lights and candlelight. It almost has a medieval look to it. There is a river that passes through which long boats and vietnamese canoes paddle up and down carrying stock and other bizarre bulks of ? This river lights up at night with the river boats and several restaurants all lit up with balconys that have a birds eye view. The town although busy by day is empty by night with mainly tourists scowering the streets and shops and there doesnt seem that many of them.
The hotel is top notch with a great room/ pool and a balcony, did i mention a free pool table (all tables are free in asia aslong as you have a drink at the bar).
A ride to the beach by bike takes around 25 mins and what a beach it is! Palm trees, a long sandy coastline and warm sea with great waves. The only down side is you get many locals pestering you with pineapples and sunglasses etc. That evening we had a mammouth pol session with me and my guide hong playing well into the early hours of the morning.

Today after scraping myself out of bed for breakfast and greeting Hong with a smug grin we set off on a cooking course at restaurant HONG PHUK's where i learnt how to make proper vegetarian spring rolls
with a crushed garlic and chilli dip sauce/ stuffed grilled fish wrapped in banana leaves with deep fried shallots, ginger,,lemongrass and spring onion/ Wontons with vegetable and sweet and sour sauce/ Fried squid with lemongrass, garlic and chilli (my favourite!).

Yes we ate it all after, and the reataurant we had the lesson also overlooked the river and was a great spot to eat!

This afternoon im having a break by the pool and reading up a bit more from my lonely planet guide- an essential item for travelling.

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Comments

[BigBro]

[Mike]

Zee prouns are coookt
Dave - this is making me hunry maybe you can come over and demontrate your talents with a wok when you get home! Take care bro!

[Elton]

Dave mate what's up dude? Im happy that you're having a good time in Vietnam!!! I'm back home now, relaxing, the eye is becoming better but I still see foggy with it. Hey man, take care and have a nice journey. And don't eat too much, otherwise you'll become mr. Piggy-Dave. See you! Cheers, your Curaçaon mate, Elton

[friend of the chad]

erm, you cooked!!!!!!! Did you have plenty of tomato sauce to cover up the burnt bits!!!

[sis & mum]

love from ross x
mum and dad are staying. they painted the lounge, looks cracking. had a delayed birthday meal with mum tonight. dinyar and dad are placing bets on match of the day while we're reading your blogs and looking through our photos of 'hoi an' to add flavour! very similar to yours! didn't find a pool table though! we heard a rumour you're back soon-we're up in blackpool 4th feb if you're there?! can't wait to see you. sis and mum x