Hoi An! Take 2.

It's been a while since I last posted and I am back in central Vietnam. I couldn't resist, Hoi An was too charming! And I am so glad I returned. Although my wallet isn't. The shopping here is UNREAL. Literally insane. I mean, most shops carry about the same stuff but that makes it all the more easier to find the best deal. They do attack you on the street though asking you to buy things so that is a little intimidating. It took me most of the day to get good at ignoring them. This was after I bought 2 custom-made dresses at 2 different shops, some jewelry, and a bunch of bananas (that lady got me good!).

Last night I went out to some bars and met a bunch of people - all European. I seem to run into many more Europeans than Americans. I love it, actually. It's really fun to meet other travelers and learn about where they are from. This morning I woke up a bit groggy but figured I'd better embrace the day. I hit the breakfast buffet at the hotel (like woah) and then gathered myself and hit the streets. Literally within minutes of walking out of the hotel a woman scouted me out and did her routine on me. Since this was the first tailor who had approached me I didn't know the deal and I was hooked. It actually worked out really well because the dress she made me is beautiful (pictures to come). Then, another woman managed to do the same thing to me minutes after I left that tailor. Another beautiful dress came out of that encounter. After those two woman, however, I was onto these tailors.

For anyone ever planning to visit Hoi An (which I highly recommend!), here is a tip. The tailors come out and stalk you. First, they ask where you are from. Then, they tell you you are beautiful. Then, they say you should just come see their shop and they'll give you a card. If you are as gullible as me you'll be getting measured within minutes. I did want some dresses made so I am not at all disappointed by my inability to resist the tailors.

Vietnam is the first place I have ever stayed in a hostel. One one hand, the one's I've stayed in here have been lovely. On the other hand, I am noticing a trend. Here in Hoi An every 3rd girl is wearing these stretchy, "Ali Baba" pants (as one Vietnamese shop owner referred to them). While I want to reject this backpacker stereotype, I admittedly want some of these pants - they look so comfortable! I will just be sure not to wear them whilst actually staying at hostels so no one mistakes me for a typical backpacker. I do actually one a version of these pants. They are solid-colored (most of the backpackers here have print ones) and they are 3/4 length. They are actually amazingly comfortable and thus I want more. Don't judge.

I am laying low tonight (hence updating my blog) so as to be able to easily wake up early tomorrow. I have booked a tour as a way to avoid shopping more. Also, the tour sounds awesome. It is a trip to this nearby island where I get to go snorkeling! Hol-la. I am desperate to go in the ocean so hopefully the weather holds up for me! I'm taking my chances coming to central Vietnam during their rainy season. After my tour I will inevitably shop a bit more, pick up one of my dresses and my new jacket (oops) and hopefully find some more gifts! I've bought a few so far. I much prefer shopping here to shopping in Ho Chi Minh City. The city is just toooo big and busy, I don't know where to shop!

I specifically brought a spacious suitcase here for all of the items I knew I'd buy ... hopefully I can fit everything! I also bought 10 small lanterns (that do not fold up!) and 2 new pairs of custom-made sandals (they are amazing). Pictures to come! 

Travels around Vietnam

Last weekend I took a trip to central Vietnam. I flew into Hue. I met up with this German girl I met on CouchSurfers and had dinner. She was very nice. She has been working in Hue as part of an internship for medical school. She was working at a psychiatric hospital there (they have those?!). So that was interesting since we sort of had that psychology background in common. We had a seafood hotpot for dinner which was good but nothing particularly special.

Here you can see that Hue is basically right in the middle! Quite far from Ho Chi Minh City, I had to fly.

On Saturday morning I got up early and my plan was to rent a motorbike and drive to Lang Co beach and perhaps this place called Elephant Springs. Both about 1.5hrs away. I easily rented a motorbike at the hostel and they asked me if I knew where I was going. It was basically just one road (Highway 1) so I figured, how hard can it be? They gave me a map and suggested I follow this couple who was also heading that way to Hoi An, which is quite a bit further but they would get me on the right road. They were young, from England, very nice. The couple had been told they should follow this motorbike tour group going to Hoi An. So, me, Matt and Jade, and this tour group consisting of 3 girls riding on the backs of the motorbikes of the tour guides, and one other girl riding her own, set off!

My plan, like I said, was to stop at the beach. Right off, however, the tour was really fun and everyone on it was about my age. So, after having lunch with this group, they quickly convinced me to stay on the tour and go to Hoi An with them. We went swimming in this beautiful spring with a waterfall, stopped for lunch at a restaurant with an insanely breathtaking view, and drove through Hai Van pass through the mountains overlooking the ocean (literally mindblowingly cool), and then made it to Danang, just 30km or so from Hoi An. In Danang we drove along the beach and then made our way to Hoi An. We arrived at the hostel where the four girls were staying and I easily got a bed there. This hostel was luxurious. A bathroom with an actual bathtub (quite novel here), it had a pool with an outdoor bar, pool table, restaurant, big lobby, breakfast buffet! It might as well have been a 5 star hotel as far as my standards are concerned. So, the tour crew and I dropped our things and went and got some drinks. Several beers later a few of us decided showers were overrated and we wanted to get some dinner. Dinner in Hoi An was DELICIOUS. I forget what it was but it was a noodle dish, obviously, but it wasn't soup so it was a nice change of pace from Pho. Then we went and had drinks on a restaurant boat on the river. Hoi An is known for its beautiful lights at night, it's quaint and there were lanterns floating by us in the river. I could move there.

After our fancy boat beers we headed back towards the hostel to meet up with the other girls and ended up going to a backpacker bar till quite late. I met this other girl there, Yolanda, who currently lives and works on a remote island in Cambodia. I have informed her several times I'll be visiting.

So, after a long night Yolanda and I walked back to the hostel, got some waters and crashed. The next morning I was pretty tired but I loaded up on the breakfast buffet and headed out to drive back to Hue. I wanted to at least spend a little time exploring Hue and I only had that day, as I had to fly out of Hue at night. So, I drove the 4 hours (it took me, at least) back to Hue from Hoi An. I realized after I left I didn't really know where I was going so I followed a bus going to Danang, from there I actually remembered how to get back (Highway 1!). I only stopped a few times, to take some pictures, enjoy a view in the mountain pass, and jump in the ocean at Lang Co beach real quick. Lang Co beach is very pretty but since Vietnamese people don't like sun, there was NO ONE there. Apparently it's also not touristy. Literally no one was there, so I found that to be a little weird. I just jumped in and ran back to my bike! Then, since I didn't have a towel, I continued my journey soaking wet. I was dry by the time I got back to my hostel in Hue though!

Once back in Hue I quickly washed up and changed and headed out to explore! There is this old citadel in the city, surrounded by a moat. In the middle of the citadel is the Forbidden City which you have to pay to get into but it was worth it. Most of my pictures are from there, it was so scenic and peaceful (no motorbike traffic in there). Then, after exploring I had to find this restaurant I was told about that is run by a deaf guy. I'm pretty sure I found it, though I didn't see any deaf guys. The food in Hue is amazing. They are known for their vegetarian food so I went with that and had this stir-fried veggie/tofu thing that you wrap in rice paper (see pictures). It came with a peanut sauce - kind of like a gravy, for dipping. Then, finally, after lunch I had to catch a Xe Om (motorbike taxi) back to the hostel, pack up and head to the airport. It was sad, I really loved that area of Vietnam. I plan on going back to Hoi An for another weekend and getting a dress made! They are known for having custom-tailor shops where they can whip up a dress for you in a few hours for like, $25. I haven't bought any clothes here yet so this sounds very appealing ...

Here are all of the pictures! You can click on them to enlarge.

View of the street in Hue from the deck at the hostel.

It is so quiet in Hue at night ... not like Ho Chi Minh City.

The deck at the hostel.

Stopping for some pictures on the motorbike tour- mountains!

Where we stopped - just a rinky-dink place on the side of the highway.

Fishing nets (I think?).

Note the guy working behind me.

New friend! This is Matt.

More new friends. Georgia and Jade in the blue.

The waterfall and spring we swam in. Crystal clear, perfect temperature water, off the beaten trail (we had to off-road motorbike a bit to get here!)

Some other tourists (who left shortly after I took this picture, leaving the spring just for us!)

I was a bit skeptical of that bridge...

Stopping for the view.

Olivia.

The restaurant - nothing special on the inside but note below.

Oh, just completely open to a lake and a beautiful mountain view ... no big deal.

I don't know how to turn this. Note: Bood Cockles ... what are they?!

Lemon grass distortions? They must have used google translate.

Our crew having lunch.

Lang Co beach. This is from the beginning of Hai Van pass.

Obviously hard to see in this picture but through the mountains you could see the ocean.

We came up that windy road!

Right in the middle of Hai Van pass, people trying desperately to sell you things.

Sad dog :(

Marble Mountain from the street in Danang.

Danang - looks like any other beach town to me!

My fancy hostel. The Sunflower!

Ok, here begins my crazy photo shoot of Hoi An. Unfortunately, using a crappy camera phone doesn't do it justice. Trust me, it was amazing.

Lanterns floating in the river.

View from our bar-boat.

On the boat.

Georgia and another new friend (I forget her name...)

Nice little street through Hoi An (I know, these pictures are terrible).

Ok look! AUV. The owner of the school I work at here is trying to open a university in Danang, here is her one and only building so far.

In the way background is this really freakin' cool bridge with a dragon through it. In Danang.

This is not my picture but just to give you an idea, it also breathes fire?!

(Not my picture)

(Not my picture)

This is mine, and this is how far away I was! Oh well.

The less cool bridge I went over.

Brown river!

Danang

Another view from Hai Van Pass.

I want one!!

Just having a snack on the side of the road on the mountain.

Back at Lang Co beach.

The flag pole in the Citadel at Hue.

Moat.

Entrance to the Forbidden City

I love this ... all of these pictures are from Hue!

Very quiet, and open. You could wander wherever you wanted. It was so peaceful!

A theater.

Leaving the Forbidden City.

This is just around town!

Some kids enthusiastically saying hello to me!

Lunch!

My delicious rolled up stir fry thing! Quite messy to eat, worth it.