Getting Back on the Information Superhighway

It's been difficult the past few days to get on the internet to update the blog. It seems that Blogger was a blocked website when we were in Nha Trang. Now in Hoi An, it is tough to get onto the internet terminal because a large group of German tourists are hogging it.

We got to Hoi An by plane from Cam Ranh. After leaving the Evanson Hideaway, we drove thru Nha Trang which has become a popular beach resort. This entire area has been designated as a tourist zone. The Vietnamese plan to expand the airport at Cam Ranh (the former U.S. Air Force base) and land international flights here. There is a new Sofitel resort (including a golf course) being built and there are miles of undeveloped beach. This is a sunny and dry area. Our guides say the climate in this area is similar to the Mediterranean coast. I think they are right except the temperature here always seems to be scorching.

After landing in Danang, we had lunch at a popular pho restaurant. In the U.S., everyone pronounces it F-OH. The correct Vietnamese pronounciation is F-UH, with the accent on the end of the word. The entire Vietnamese language is made up of one syllable words. Westerners here often combine mono-syllable words to make words they can pronounce easily. Even Vietnam is really supposed to be two words, Viet and Nam.

Yes, we actually do some bicycle riding on this trip. After lunch, we were off on the bikes for a ride in the countryside and the approaches to Hoi An. Here's our group going thru a typical small Vietnamese village.










Believe it or not, Hoi An is the warmest city yet (other than Cambodia of course which wins the world championship). Hard to believe that it gets hotter every day as we are heading north (away from the equator).

The Life Resort here in Hoi An is right on the river. You find yourself driving along the street crowded with all kinds of shops, and then, voila, here's this quiet, luxurious hotel tucked away like an oasis.

We went to the market in Hoi An yesterday - a total zoo of fish, chickens, pigs, vegetables, fruit, and all kinds of chotchkees.

Jordan had a new tuxedo made by a local tailor - very sharp. In about 24 hours (including two fittings), they made him a tuxedo, sport coat, shirt, vest, and tie. They must have a workroom operating 24 hours a day for this tailor shop.

We went to a cooking school one morning here in Hoi An. Miss Vy taught us how to make two kinds of Vietnamese spring rolls, mango salad with beef, tumeric spiced grilled fish in banana leaf, and various Vietnamese dipping sauces. Then we ate our creations for lunch. Very yummy.


Today we are off to Hue and we have a 36 km ride along the way. Hopefully, the weather will get a bit cooler. Vietnam is definitely a 3-shower-a-day country. More to come when we get to Hue. With more pictures hopefully.