We arrived in Hoi An today. Love it. Small beach town, quieter streets, great food, excellent accommodation. Our hotel is funky and helpful.
On the drive here we went over the Hai Van Pass - apparently one of the world's great drives. Hairpin turns and children nausea. We headed up up, ready to look at the amazing view. Of the clouds. Due to the typhoon there is a low system over all of Vietnam, and it is cyclonic type weather. So no view for us today. We thanked our driver for making an unnecessary windy drive instead of going straight through the tunnel under the mountain.
On arrival we hired bikes again and cycled downtown to get measured for our tailored clothes. Annika and I got a bit overwhelmed in the first shop with choice and pressure, and unwittingly did the bargaining method of sitting on the curb and crying for forty minutes. They dropped the price. But we went to another shop anyway. Gab was measured for a dress and swimmers, and Annika got a dress she designed herself. I was measured for a party dress! And Chris got shoes. We pick them up tomorrow.
I love the feel in Hoi An, and would have liked to spend more time here. Gab is keen to hire a motor scooter tomorrow. It will depend on the weather.
Chris' Cultural Tip - The Only Australian Animals are Kangaroos and Koalas
When you traipse around the streets people often try and soften you up for the sell by asking where you are from. And in response to saying "Australia" the common response is "Kangaroo! Koala!". Even if they have little English they can usually get that much out. The interest usually stops there as the hard sell comes next. So if you believe retailers in Vietnam the only Australian animals are kangaroos and koalas.
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