Day 220, Hoi An, Vietnam

On the island 

We had all decided to do the optional activity, which was a cycle tour around Hoi An and nearby villages on the islands. First a ride on the ferry across to the island. From there we had the most wonderful time. We didn't just do a cycle tour, we stopped numerous times with visits to local people's workshops and houses. Almost first stop was to show us how bamboo was dyed in a pot of boiling water (over an open fire of course), ready to be made into sleeping mats. Next, we were shown how the bamboo was then woven. A simple loom, husband and wife working together, him working the loom and her feeding the bamboo through on a long wooden stick. The sleeping mats are very colourful and last about a year, and with Tet coming up (Vietnamese New Year celebrations), new mats are in high demand as that's the time people get new mats. It takes the couple 3 hours to make a mat and it sells for the total sum of $3.00!

Weaving a sleeping mat

Next visit to the beautiful Mr Dao. Mr Dao lost his leg on a land mine in Cambodia and now makes rice wine for a living. 70 litres a day! We were shown the process, all very home made, and taste some too. Then a cup of tea and Mr Dao got his guitar out to sing for us. What a gorgeous smile and beautiful generous personality, just a lovely genuine person to meet.

Lunch was with a family in the village; the wife showed us how to make rice noodles, a fun and easy process and then we got to eat them.

Mr Dao

Like I said, it was lovely to meet all these locals and they really opened their doors to show us their trade as well as their way of life.

Back on the ferry, a crazy situation, trying to fit as many bikes and scooters on as possible, some precariously close to being pushed overboard! A lot of shouting and gesturing, but finally we were off. When we got to the 'mainland' we all had to scoot to one side of the ferry to prevent it tipping, oh the delights of no H&S regulations!

Having a go at rice noodles making

Later another walk into town, pick up my dresses from the lovely Mrs Tan Tan, very happy with them and then out for dinner with just Cheyenne as Samantha was meeting friends from Cambodia.

Rice everywhere 

I bumped into some Danish girls that Inger & I had met on the train to Sapa, and this is the third time I have seen them since! This is bizarre, it keeps happening to me!