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Published: February 16th 2016
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We had our free meal at the hotel last night. It was OK. Had drinks before, as did other guests. One had his birthday and the hotel provided a cake. We sang, but luckily didn't have to eat any. It was so brightly coloured we'd have been awake for a fortnight. It had the feel of an expat do, not my scene so much, prefer the scruffy backpackers. Two Kiwis told us about a charity for disabled people in the town called the Lifestart Foundation which does free Vietnamese classes and lantern making/painting (€33) courses. Sounds fun! We thought we'd like to do it this afternoon. The receptionist phoned up for us and they said yes, but could we go and pay a deposit. Didn't really want to go to town so early, so she phoned again and got us out of it. Need to be there 1.45 for a 3 hour course. We had said last night we'd go out with the expats to an Indian restaurant, but as we have to leave at 7.30am we didn't trust our stomachs enough! Just in case…..
So next on the agenda, pay our hotel bill in dollars to see what we'd
got left, then walk into town and find a nail spa on the way. They were all too smart looking (we wanted a cheap, cruddy one in someone’s front room) or couldn't do flower art. We got all the way to the market with no success, then were dithering on a corner and a VERY forceful lady said you want manicure? Our default is to say no to everything, so we did, started to walk off and then realised OK, maybe. Yes, she can do flowers, 150,000. Way more than Saigon, but our energy for bargaining is at an all-time low so we said yes. Where was the salon? She grabbed hold of my arm and started frog-marching us into the market. Don't worry, don't worry! I wriggled away but she had Sam by the thumb, literally! and towed her along. Sam wanted a picture of this strongarm technique but I was too slow. There was a big crash of two motorbikes behind us (locals), we turned to look and got badly told off. Apparently this rubbernecking is very unlucky around New Year. So are a lot of other things.
She took us into her little shop where her
daughter was, there was a sofa and a basket of nail equipment and they set to work. Then you can do shopping, buy souvenirs! Sorry, our bags are too full. She used to have a salon but the government closed her down to build something on the site.
It took a while, but was a very thorough job. Sam had a French manicure too, very happy with the result. She got slapped (again, literally) on the arm about 4 times when she was too impatient/cheeky and once on the bottom when we left! We had to write a recommendation in her notebook and I had to read it back to her to make sure she was satisfied, and she gave us cards to give out in the hotel. No marketing stone was left unturned. It was the most bizarre experience. Finally she put our shoes on for us, hung Sam's bag from her shoulder and we escaped, feeling a bit shell shocked.
Sam needed to change some Hing Kong dollars, so we went to the exchange place we saw yesterday, where the rates looked good. What a swizz! The prices quoted (see photo) were for large notes only,
500 dollar ones. Sam had 3 100s, so the rate was a lot less. She managed to haggle a bit. It's probably why the guy yesterday asked if we had £50 notes. Better to bring larger ones, then. We found the lantern making place (looks very professional) and paid 660.000, went way for a drink and play on the wifi in a café opposite a motorbike shop to while away half an hour. We finish at 5, and can then pick up our jewellery. Perfect timing.
There were 4 of us for the painting part of the course, 2 German girls, one of them and Sam had studied art at uni, and the other 2 of us just along for the ride. The teacher explained very carefully (although the German girls struggled with his pron) and the technique of using a weasel hair brush and ink made of soot was apparently quite alien. Not to me - I was starting from zero anyway. You have to holed the brush still and move your whole forearm. Sam was frustrated as it isn't how she does things! We were given a picture to copy and he took us through each part
and helped us. We practised on normal paper and were then given a card made of rice paper for the real thing. He gave us some facts too, it was interesting and the time went quickly. Sam refused to try the boat, being a perfectionist, it hadn't gone very well in the practise part, so stuck to the grass and flowers and then added the sun. At the end he put our efforts into a sellophane bag and they looked almost passable. Then the other girls went and we did the lantern making with amother teacher, excellent English. We chose the colour fabric and she explained that the glue is very sticky. We needed help with the trimming, and I stuck the ribbon on the wrong bit and had to add more. It was really good fun again, but have no idea how I'm going to get it home in one piece. At the very end we saw 2 videos about the work of the foundation, started by an Aussie woman - it had us both crying! Bought a few more things from the shop downstairs, then went and collected our jewellery - very pleased with it and are hoping
it really is silver......
Dinner locally tonight, up early for our transfer to Da Nang and flight to Saigon at 10am.
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