Indulging in Hoi An

January 11th - 14th, 2009

It has been all about pleasure here in Hoi An, Vietnam. We did absolutely none of the things we planned to do here except shop. The weather was not beach weather so driving along the coast and looking at the famous China beach from the taxi cab window was good enough. Huge resort billboards cover the empty coast with the future monstrosities that will be built there. This coast will be completely different in a few short years all the way from Danang to Hoi An, completely changing the culture of these cozy little places. The government is full speed ahead promoting tourism.

Although we skipped out on alot of the must sees around here, we spent 3 days and 3 nights as happy as could be. Our first night here our cab brought us to the more expensive sister hotel of the one we asked to go to by "mistake" (how convenient). But after over 2 weeks (with a few exceptions) of some variation of smelly, dirty places with barely warm showers, one look at the enormous soaker tub that produced a never ending stream of steaming hot water and i was sold. I think i actually heard it call out my name! lol. This was luxury! and it was still really cheap compared to home ($35)! So using my first blow dryer, we slept in and ate at the amazing buffet and finally stumbled back downtown to budget travelers earth ($10/night) the next afternoon and stayed a few days.

The streets are so beautiful here, old and fading colorful paint gives this place so much character!

Hoi An is the tailoring capital of the world I'm sure. Over 500 shops all calling you "come please look in my store, you don't buy no problem, i can make you anything you like" We shopped....a lot! The prices were incredible. We had suits, jackets, pants, shirts, shoes all custom made! If something wasn't quite right, no problem, someone on a motor bike took off with your stuff only to return in less than an hour with it all fixed! The food here was incredible, the best we've ate yet. Every meal. So we left Hoi An fatter and better clothed than we came, we'll see what Saigon has in store.

Lyn is fixing up Chris' suit jacket

She makes me feel huge! Kim is the tiniest little thing but a very good shoe salesman.

The package we sent home, teetering behind this girl, no ties or anything!. The weigh scale sandwiched in front of her. I can't believe how people transport things around here on their bikes.

Just relaxin'

Pretty colors even at night

The river by day, flooded the street by night.