Hoi An...Suits you sir!!!!

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Hi all,

First off thanks to all for leaving mesages and comments, we sure are getting a good laugh from them. So next stop on our travels was to the town of Hoi An in central Vietnam. First impresions here were not good. It seemed to be from the same place as those packake tourists resorts... the very depths of hell itself. Street after street of tailors and souviner shops. But as they say you should not judge a book by its cover and we ended up having a great time here. The first day we spent wandering around the old town area and along the river which is pretty picturesque. We later bumped into Thomas and his friend Wolfgang who had now joined him on his travels. We arranged to take a vietnamese cookery course at Bups Cafe 96 along the riverfront. What a laught this turned out to be. For $5 we were shown how to cook traditional spring rolls, squid salad and bbq fish in banana leafs. The best part was getting to eat it all afterwards. We were joined later by Heike and Alex who thomas had met earlier, So we decided to have a night out on the town. Cocktail and beer flowing to the earlier hours..Post!!!(German or is it Bavarian for cheers I believe). We took motos to the beach on sunday for a lazy afternoon. The hawkers here were not a bad as we were expecting. They usually leave you alone after a minute or two. Its full moon festival here at the minute so the festivities are in full swing. Kids dressed up as dragons dancing to the beat of a drum being played by another kid being pushed around on a cart. So for $1 I managed to talk my way into a lesson from the kids at the beach. Finally, we couldnt blog from Hoi An without mentioning the Tailors. We were given a recommendation for a tailor shop Guys and Gals from people we had meet earlier. It turned out to be very entertaining indeed getting measured for the clothes we wanted made. The next day most of the clothes were ready for fitting, unbelievable. However as expected they did need a few alterations to fit more comfortably. On our final morning we had to go back to shop to collect our purchases. They organised a taxi to take us to the post office to send our package home, take us back to th hotels to lift our bags and finally on to the airport. All free of charge. Oh I forgot to mention we were feed with full moon cakes before we left and got a lesson in vietnamese from the shop assistant.

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Photos

Beer with the chef11
ok thomas is having an ice cream (what is that all about)

Having a drumming lesson from the kids
This cost me a dollar.. aparently expensive.. but well worth the lesson and photo I thought

Guys and Gals Tailor shop.
NEw dress and coat $45
2 New outfits $40
2 pair of trousers $40
Lesson in vietnamese from little shop assistant PRICELESS!!

Comments

[Catherine]

15p a pint, that's great but just remember to have them after you finish cutting up your dinner with that weapon!!! We don't want to hear of any nasty accidents.....and remember one drum lesson does not make you an expert, I don't want to have to be subjected to listen to you banging away on pots and pans when I call for a wee visit ....................the piano and your cd collection is bad enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brenda where is this lovely hat you told me about?

[Fergal]

MMMM. Beer
The picture on the beech of the dragon looks like the Vietnamese equivalent of a Pink Elephant after 10 pints @ 15p a pop. Nice 2 see your using ure culinary skills 4 once and nial u may get ursell a suit that can fit u when ure over there.... short arse. HeHaw

[Ann Coyle]

Brenda Cooking?????
Brenda cooking that photo cant be right!!!! Now shopping that a different story. You look like your havin a fab time.

[Shaun]

Well kate just showed me your blogg.......................well Niall no surprise you found some beer. Brenda, your hat (very first picture), could sadie have it for the wedding....looks great. Glad to see you are having a great time. Toodles.....

[paulw]

Suit
Bought a suit then did we? That should be worth seeing. Im assuming your not bored yet then and looking to come home judging by your photos and text. Been to London our annual away day last Fri/Sat - quite a good day out - trip up Thames on Cruise with meal drink etc. Met Jason McAteer Briefly in hotel Fri night - got autograph for you (not) - Lee sharp also wandering about. Would have wet yourself with excitement if you were a football fan. Unfortunately not a wag in sight. Talk later.