We had a second class carriage this time from Nha Trang to Da Nang, and boy, did we notice it! When the girls and Erik arrived in their cabin, they found a used nappy on the floor, an old bag of strawberries full of crickets, and the sheets were very dirty. Our cabin wasn't so bad, but our sheets were also dirty and we had to get the conductor to change them. The blankets also were very thin, which was a cause for concern for me as I was to be on the upper bunk this time with Francois below. Given that the air conditioning in the train is always too cold I was afraid I wouldn't sleep very well, and was pleasantly surprised that I did. The toilets however needed to be avoided at all costs...
We arrived in Da Nang around 930 and were met by our bus driver who took us to our hotel in Hoi An, some 25kms away. The hotel was the Vinh Hung 3 and it was probably the nicest we've stayed in so far. The beds had a hanging cover which I suspect was a mosquito net but which gave the impression of a four poster bed. The shower was awesome - you had the choice between a power shower or you had a separate hand held nozzle if you preferred. The future was very smart, with a lovely dark wooden colour. It's a short walk from the hotel to the old city, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, and it truly was beautiful. Glorious old buildings, ornate pagodas and lovely lanterns line the streets which are full of shops, particularly tailors - so immediately upon arrival we set off for Yally, one of the best tailors in Hoi An. Most of the group had outfits made - mine was a black suit - jacket, trousers and skirt - for $125. You choose the style, the fabric and anything specific details you want included, and they just make it for you. They also keep your details online so when you get home, if you want another item made, you can just email them and they'll ship it to you. They're able to make your clothes in 24 hours and deliver them to your hotel if you want.
Alas, there had to be a downer to this wonderful experience, and it was this - as I am standing there, being measured by the lovely Nicola, dreaming of the suit I am getting made, I look over Nicola's shoulder and see none other than Monica, one of the naughtiest girls at my school, standing there with her mother. What?! An All Hallows' girl in Hoi An? And not just that, but one I actually taught?! Wouldn't read about it now, would you?
And unfortunately she was there again later on when I went for my fitting. She told me that they were also going to Hue, so I hope I don't run into her there...
After the tailors, we headed off for lunch over on the little island of Cam? The food was magnificent, and so cheap too, and we ate really well. We then hired bicycles from the laundry lady outside our hotel (who does brilliant laundry, I might add - $1 per kilo and they come back smelling amazing) and then set off on our cycling adventure! The only problem was, we needed to negotiate Vietnamese traffic - and we know what that can be like!
Recovering from the initial shock of finding oneself on a collision course with speeding Vietnamese, we soon got the hang of it, and began to explore the streets of Hoi An. No map, no matter, the plan was to get lost in the thick of it - so it was not surprising when we took a turn and suddenly found ourselves sailing through the covered market (bending down low so as not to entangle ourselves on the low-lying cloth roof), whizzing past the stalls and generally having a whale of a time. I wonder though if there is a law against videoing whilst cycling? Can't imagine there is, as the locals seem to get away with mobile phones whilst riding...
We came flying out of the markets and that's then whether fun began for Shantelle. As she approached the bridge, no one really saw what happened, but the next thing we knew she had crashed into a local on a motorbike! Secretly we think it was Shanty's fault, but later Vaughn said that the local, having come from the bridge, needed to give way, Either way, the poor girl had popped her tire, and was visibly shaken, so she couldn't continue the journey. Sophie and Shanty then headed back.
The rest of us continued the journey and explored the little island, the Japanese bridge, and the old town before venturing out on the highway, cycling 4kms to the beach. It was a cute beach too, and we enjoyed watching the little basket boats bobbing out on the water. Our way home took us down some cute little lanes and past lots of rice fields, their owners busily toiling away.
Our dinner was at a traditional restaurant by the river. We ordered our food first and then made our way to the tailors for our fittings. Poor B wasn't terribly happy with hers but suggestions were made for improving it and she seemed happier after that.
The dinner was lovely and we did head out for a nightcap but the bar was full of westerners and loud music, and as we were all so tired, we called it quits for the day. Especially because we had an early start the next day...
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