Hannoyed...

We've arrived in Hanoi, sleep deprived and exhausted after a sleeper bus journey from hell. We've decided from here on in, never to mention said bus journey again. I think these pictures say most of what needs saying...

...NB placement of toilet. Needless to say after 14 hours next to this Alex's face wasn't quite so happy and smiley! Joy. No further questions please.

x x x

Tailored for two...

Saturday was our 3 month Wedding anniversary! By the end of our trip we will have spent the first 4 months anniversaries of our marriage on 4 different continents! We decided to celebrate in style...

...and went out for a gourmet dinner in Hoi An (which was still ridiculously cheap!), the chef popped out to say hello and promptly gave us some free champers! Hurray! We ended our night lighting some floating candles on the bridge which you then set sail onto the river... we watched the candles glide silently off into the night, pretty!

We spent our final day in Hoi An at the beach, just 4km away... we picked up a couple of bicycles, cycled the pot holey roads there, and then back via the paddy fields... beautiful! Hoi An really does have it all!

We will miss Hoi An! A definite favourite spot so far...

x x x

Ahoy there Hoi An!

On Wednesday night, we guzzled some Pho (noodle soup) and fresh coconut before we hot footed it to catch the overnight train to Hoi An...

 Due to our last minute booking we only had 'hard sleeper' berths available to us... that's kind of like 3rd class (mmmm honeymoon special!). And they weren't joking about the hard part. 3 story bunk beds and a small child already in my bunk welcomed us... Alex was up top with just enough room to turn over in the night, and I was in the middle bunk. After turfing said small child out of my bunk, the 3 adult, 3 child family we were sharing the compartment with gradually congregated into the bottom two bunks as more people joined us in our compartment. This was going to be a fun journey!!!

Ha! Actually, as we boarded at 11pm we mainly all went straight to sleep, even the kids! Trusty ear plugs assisted greatly when they woke up super early mind, and despite the incredibly hard beds the journey passed pretty swiftly.

A short taxi ride later and we were in Hoi An :) In a rather fancy hotel too... not bad for a tenner!

Hoi An has managed to preserve it's Japanese Merchant houses, Chinese temples and tea warehouses... it's full of more beautiful naturally shabby chic establishments with colourful glowing lanterns everywhere, a very relaxed ambiance and friendly people. It's famous for it's silks and has, not kidding, over 500 tailors here who can whip you up a 3 piece suit in 48 hours... (try not to think about the people up all night making them though...)

More fabulous food just keeps coming at us, it's hard to say no when it's so cheap, and so tasty! We loved this restaurant Bale Well, where you make up your own spring rolls and dip them into spicy satay sauce - a local speciality, they seemed to love us too!

Yummy!!!

And not wanting to be one to brag too much about all this amazing food... but look at these! Another local dish called 'White rose' which is sort of like an open dumpling... very very yummy, and pretty too! Om nom nom!

Okay, okay, no more photos of food ;)

x x x

Ho Chi Minh does 'shabby chic'...

Ho Chi Minh is 'shabby chic' central. No fancy expensive paint treatments, no hours of distressing with sanders. It just is. Even the Pagodas, it's like religion does 'shabby chic'. Elle Decoration should do an article here!

Thien Hau Pagoda, built by the Cantonese in C19th. It is believed that the goddess Thien Hau travels over the seas and up to the skies on a magic carpet as and when she pleases...

This Pagoda was so beautiful. We spent so long here soaking up the atmosphere... the giant spirals of incense hanging from the ceiling, wafting their fragrances and dancing in the breeze. Pink papers lined the walls with wishes to the Gods and goddesses, and the building itself - the freezes surrounding the courtyard and entrance were just stunning. A real wow of Pagodas! (Not so fun when the incense ash falls on you though - ouch!)

We walked around Cholon, the district Thein Hau is in. There's not much of the old French Colonial Saigon left sadly. A few glimpses can be found behind the shop hoardings, but it was an interesting walk around the area famous for it's herbs and spices... and various disturbing looking potions...

The Jade Emperor Pagoda also tempted us in, the other side of Ho Chi Minh... not as wow as Thein Hau, but still an amazing fog of insense, candles and imposing statues. This Pagoda was built in 1909, again by the Cantonese. It honours the supreme Taoist God, the Jade Emperor - the King of Heaven...

Particularly liked this offering to the Gods ;)

x x x