Saigon to Hoi An via Danang

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Sunday, December 5th

We took an early flight from Saigon this morning. The airport gate area included a diverse market where one could buy anything from liquor, to male aphrodisiacs, furniture, leather goods, or frozen seafood. Also available, one could buy a frozen coiled snake - mmmm, a delicacy?

We arrived in Danang, Vietnam’s 4th largest city with over 1 million people. The Cham people originally occupied this area of south-central Vietnam, but suffered numerous wars with the Cambodia and Vietnam from the 11th to 14th centuries. The Vietnamese were eventually victorious. Originally Hindu, the Cham converted to Islam in the 16th and 17th centuries before migrating to Cambodia. We visited the Cham Museum in Danang whose collection includes stone carvings of the gods Brahma (the creator), Vishnu, (the preserver), and Shiva, (the destroyer and reproducer). Mel thought I resembled one of these statues - can you guess which one?

Leaving Danang, we passed through the Marble Mountains consisting of five marble outcrops that were once islands. Following the shoreline, we passed China Beach - an area frequented by our G Is during the Vietnam War. Danang is the site of a former major U.S. Naval Base that was not damaged during the war. Our troops first landed in Vietnam at Danang.

Arriving in Hoi An, we stepped back in time to a centuries old international trading port. Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose aim is to preserve the culture, art and architecture of this amazing city (population 78,000).

This afternoon, we took a walking tour of the city which included a visit to a silk producing shop that uses the threads to loom carpets, a lantern making workshop, and a tailor shop. Mel had pants made and I ordered a jacket and pair of pants. Our new clothes fit perfectly and were ready the next day. Amazing!

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Photos

Mel at Siagon domestic airport
Who knew all the wonderful things you could buy in an airport?

Is that a snake in the freezer?
No we are not bringing one home with us!

Cham Museum in Danang
Sandstone sculptures of gods and other creatures

Yaly's tailor shop
A very busy place!

Comments

[CAROLE]

Aren't you glad you lost so much weight so that the photo op Mel availed himself of is blog-able? How are the other people? How many in your group? (Or do you not want these kinds of descriptions going out to a wider audience? How about the food, etc., etc.? I love keeping in touch this way! Car

[Scott van Hoften]

Comments from Scotty
Marlese, I am enjoying following your travels. I would dearly love to get to Angor Wat but don't expect that I will at this point. I am jealous of the fabulous picture taking opportunities available to you. Hope you continue to enjoy your visit and trip to Taiwan. Scotty