Sat. Feb 6 2016 Lotus Hotel Hoi An
Off by 7:30 this AM for about an hour bus trip to The My Son sanctuary where we walked amongst the ruins of the Champa Kingdom. We then watched a stage show with dances and music. We got back into to town around 12:30 PM and had a group lunch. We went back to the hotel for a siesta. We then headed back into town with Mike and Jana around 5:00 PM. We walked around for awhile, then had happy hour cocktails overlooking the river. Next we had a delicious dinner which consisted of pizza, bruchetta and Greek salad. Next stop was a lively bar where we clearly were the oldest people there, but we had a blast anyway. We wrapped up our night at the hotel bar. We really had a fun night and lots of laughs. The town is really beautiful with all the lanterns lit up, flower markets roadside, and hustle and bustle for last minute Tet preparation.
Off by 7:30 this AM for about an hour bus trip to The My Son sanctuary where we walked amongst the ruins of the Champa Kingdom. We then watched a stage show with dances and music. We got back into to town around 12:30 PM and had a group lunch. We went back to the hotel for a siesta. We then headed back into town with Mike and Jana around 5:00 PM. We walked around for awhile, then had happy hour cocktails overlooking the river. Next we had a delicious dinner which consisted of pizza, bruchetta and Greek salad. Next stop was a lively bar where we clearly were the oldest people there, but we had a blast anyway. We wrapped up our night at the hotel bar. We really had a fun night and lots of laughs. The town is really beautiful with all the lanterns lit up, flower markets roadside, and hustle and bustle for last minute Tet preparation.
My Son ruins
A handsome visitor to My Son
Just lending a helpful hand
Walking path through ruins
Area of ruins not excavated yet
Excavation in progress, large mortar hole left from bombings during the war
Our electric cars getting ready to whisk us down to the theater to watch the entertainment
A little entertainment
Back at the Hoi An waterfront - so beautiful
Mike, Jana, Jon and I had our cocktail hour up on the balcony on the right with a great view over the river
Cocktail hour
Jana and Mike
We watched the lights grow brighter over the river, as the skies grew dark
Walked into town for dinner
Ended up at a bar where we were cleary the age of all of the kids there, parents
Nightcap back at our hotel
So good - lime muddled in sugar, with vodka
Demonstrating my skills from my bartender days to the youngster bartender
Sun. Feb 7 2016 Yasaka Hotel, Nha Trang
Today is the official start of Tet. Up and back on the bus to head to the airport for our flight to Nha Trang. We stopped in town to pick up Bahn Mi sandwiches from a shop that according to Anthony Bourdain is one of the best ! We then stopped and walked across a bridge called the Dragon bridge that provided us with some good photo ops. We got in late afternoon and headed straight to Xom Gio village on the outskirts of town, We were greeted by the village Chief who was in the South Vietnamese Airborne division. We first met a family who made bamboo chopsticks, then a second family who made bamboo baskets. Jon and I tried our hand at making both the chopsticks and basket weaving. We then went to the Chief's house where we had a discussion period. The girls then helped cook with the Chief's wife Sue in the kitchen while the guys sat outside and made big pitchers of mojitos. It was a unexpected really enjoyable outing. We then headed to our hotel, then after we checked in we headed out to explore and join all the revelry celebrating New Years Eve. There was entertainment everywhere, reminded me of a first night celebration for our New Year's Eve - it was festive, fun, and we really felt a part of all of the happenings !
Sun. Feb 7 2016 Yasaka Hotel, Nha Trang
Today is the official start of Tet. Up and back on the bus to head to the airport for our flight to Nha Trang. We stopped in town to pick up Bahn Mi sandwiches from a shop that according to Anthony Bourdain is one of the best ! We then stopped and walked across a bridge called the Dragon bridge that provided us with some good photo ops. We got in late afternoon and headed straight to Xom Gio village on the outskirts of town, We were greeted by the village Chief who was in the South Vietnamese Airborne division. We first met a family who made bamboo chopsticks, then a second family who made bamboo baskets. Jon and I tried our hand at making both the chopsticks and basket weaving. We then went to the Chief's house where we had a discussion period. The girls then helped cook with the Chief's wife Sue in the kitchen while the guys sat outside and made big pitchers of mojitos. It was a unexpected really enjoyable outing. We then headed to our hotel, then after we checked in we headed out to explore and join all the revelry celebrating New Years Eve. There was entertainment everywhere, reminded me of a first night celebration for our New Year's Eve - it was festive, fun, and we really felt a part of all of the happenings !
oh yes, traffic in Hoi An
Vendor making and selling intricately carved watermelon
All the Tet decorations everywhere
Anthony Bourdain proclaimed this place the best Bahn Mi shop so we stopped here on our way to the airport to get Bahn Mis
Busy Bahn Mi makers
Old barracks from Vietnam
We walked across the Dragon Birdge
Jana, Me and Danette
We are ready !
Flying into Nha Trang
Driving by coast line on our way to our hotel
We arrived at the village for our tour and dinner - these two little cuties came running out to greet us
The village chief
We stopped by one home where they were getting ready to eat dinner. They all stood up and offered us their dinner, and then served as all shots !
Sorry to have missed the chicken feet, but we were saving our appetites for our dinner to follow at the Chief's house
Demonstration on how the chopsticks are hand carved
Jon and I both gave it a whirl - it was a lot easier looking that it actually was to whittle the wood down
Jon's jumbo chopstick
Cutting the wood to be woven into baskets
I was amazed at how easily and for how long these people could stay in a squatted position for
My squatting and weaving was good for about four minutes
Next on to the Chief's house - helping Sue in the kitchen
Meanwhile, the men were squeezing the limes and preparing our cocktails
The Chief was telling Jon how smart they both were to have married younger women
It turns out Sue's sister lives in Boston and has Vietnamese restaurant there in China town - to think I may have eaten there - small world
Young, Jana, Mike and Jon - dining at the Chief's house
Checked into our room - very neat view of the decorated boardwalk
Strolling around for New Years Eve
Still reminders everywhere that Vietnam is a communist country
One of the several stage shows we watched
Dragon Dance
Mon. Feb 8 2016 Nha Trang
This is a hustling beach town full of Chinese and Russian tourists. We were up early and at a temple to see all the locals who were at the temple dressed to the nines. It is local custom to pray for the deceased, and burn incense. We then took a boat to an island where we sat at a private resort, sipped on cocktails adn enjoyed the relaxing surf. On our way to the beach we stopped at a floating village. We were taken out for a ride in one of the coracles which we have seen all over the coast. It was tricky getting in and out - it required perfect balance to keeping the boat from tipping over. We ate lunch together back in town, then got back to the hotel for a siesta. Tonight we had a group Vietnameses dinner. We walked around after dinner with a bakery stop, admiring all the beautiful holiday decorations.
This is a hustling beach town full of Chinese and Russian tourists. We were up early and at a temple to see all the locals who were at the temple dressed to the nines. It is local custom to pray for the deceased, and burn incense. We then took a boat to an island where we sat at a private resort, sipped on cocktails adn enjoyed the relaxing surf. On our way to the beach we stopped at a floating village. We were taken out for a ride in one of the coracles which we have seen all over the coast. It was tricky getting in and out - it required perfect balance to keeping the boat from tipping over. We ate lunch together back in town, then got back to the hotel for a siesta. Tonight we had a group Vietnameses dinner. We walked around after dinner with a bakery stop, admiring all the beautiful holiday decorations.
Lots of traffic at the temple as we joined families there to celebrate Tet. The following pictures are of the temple and of some of the wonderful people and children we saw
This is my favorite - pure joy !
Next stop was down to the harbor for our boat ride, and visit to the floating village, then the private beach resort
This sky tram took visitor out another private island
Fishing boats
Arriving at the floating village
Young
Squid
Our coracle coming to pick us up
Jon is in
We are finally all balanced and are heading out
Getting out was actually trickier than getting in
Approaching our private beach resort
Herding a bunch of cats is exhausting work and we have worn poor Young out
Back on mainland having a lunch at a brewery, and loving these two gals in their itsy bitsy bikinis
Now this is how all beer should be delivered to the table
Dinner
We had a large pot of boiling liquid in the middle of the table, and then you add the raw seafood, even the squid with the big eyeballs
A nice after dinner stroll around the hotel to enjoy all of the lights
Tues. Feb. 9 2016 Sammy Da Lat Hotel Da Lat
We left Nha Trang this AM for a four bus ride over a zig zaggy mountain pass and arrived in Da Lat around noon. We had an American food lunch in an old railroad dining car, then checked into the hotel. We had a bus driving city tour, then took a train ride followed by a visit a large pagoda complex all finished with broken pieces of ceramics, fashioned into mosaics. We had a family hosted dinner with a delightful family. The mother Sue, is a TV producer of a show about women's health, and the daughter, Na, 26, was up visiting from Saigon. She teaches English to children who appear on a TV show for kids. The dad, Hung, works in communications at the airport. The daughter was delightful, and Sue was very interested in talking to us about female health issues.
We left Nha Trang this AM for a four bus ride over a zig zaggy mountain pass and arrived in Da Lat around noon. We had an American food lunch in an old railroad dining car, then checked into the hotel. We had a bus driving city tour, then took a train ride followed by a visit a large pagoda complex all finished with broken pieces of ceramics, fashioned into mosaics. We had a family hosted dinner with a delightful family. The mother Sue, is a TV producer of a show about women's health, and the daughter, Na, 26, was up visiting from Saigon. She teaches English to children who appear on a TV show for kids. The dad, Hung, works in communications at the airport. The daughter was delightful, and Sue was very interested in talking to us about female health issues.
We had a beautiful drive to Dalat. We passed by rice fields, and were able to get out and look at the rice
Pit stop by river
We bought tis rubber rooster who crows like crazy when you squeeze him so we can bring the sounds of Vietnam home with us
Kiddies and pigs
Driving through the mountains to Dalat
Roadside waterfall
Young
That's Jon way down yonder
Getting into farm country
Once in Dalat - green houses everywhere
Hillside cemetery
Lunch in a train car with Jim and Danette
Dalat Train station
our ride on the cog railway
On our way
Inside the temple
The outside is mosaics made of glass and broken pottery
The Happy Buddha
View from the top of the pagoda
Let the sunshine
Up close of the mosaic details
Family Hosted dinner
We'd. Feb 10 2016, DaLat
We had an optional tour this AM to learn about the local agriculture. DaLat is renowned for it's agriculture and flowers and there are green houses as far as the eye can see. We then stopped at a place where they have weasels and make weasel poop coffee. It is quite expensive coffee, and is literally made from coffe beans fed fed to the weasels, that the weasels then poop out. It was about 20.00 for a quarter pound of coffee ! Next stop was to the Buon Chuoi village that we were brought to by a tractor pulled wagon. We walked around the village and met with the village chief. Afterward was a group lunch that we skipped because my stomach is not happy. Late in the the afternoon we took a sky tram trip with amazing views of the country and town, then visited a zen retreat with beautiful views and gardens. Young then surprised us with a home visit to his home to meet his lovely wife and two children. Young's wife had prepared snacks, and wine adn we had a really enjoyable visit. We had a group Vietnamese meal following, and we are home early tonight, 8:30 PM, because we have a 5:00 AM wake up for our 8:00 AM flight to Saigon.
We had an optional tour this AM to learn about the local agriculture. DaLat is renowned for it's agriculture and flowers and there are green houses as far as the eye can see. We then stopped at a place where they have weasels and make weasel poop coffee. It is quite expensive coffee, and is literally made from coffe beans fed fed to the weasels, that the weasels then poop out. It was about 20.00 for a quarter pound of coffee ! Next stop was to the Buon Chuoi village that we were brought to by a tractor pulled wagon. We walked around the village and met with the village chief. Afterward was a group lunch that we skipped because my stomach is not happy. Late in the the afternoon we took a sky tram trip with amazing views of the country and town, then visited a zen retreat with beautiful views and gardens. Young then surprised us with a home visit to his home to meet his lovely wife and two children. Young's wife had prepared snacks, and wine adn we had a really enjoyable visit. We had a group Vietnamese meal following, and we are home early tonight, 8:30 PM, because we have a 5:00 AM wake up for our 8:00 AM flight to Saigon.
Heading out on our agricultural tour
Gerber daisy green house
Got to pick a couple of daisies to bring with us :)
Greenhouses
Coffee plants on the hillside
Coffee beans
Looks like a caramel and peanut candy bar but, those are coffee beans pooped out by a weasel
Up close coffee bean weasel poop, and large trays of weasel poop drying
Took a bite of the coffee bean, not bad
The local guide fed the fresh coffee beans to the weasels in the cages
Weasel and coffee bean meal - that is all they are fed
Bottoms up - sampling the weasel poop coffee
Package of weasel poop coffee
Catching our tractor to be pulled down to the Buon Chuoi Village
Riding on the tractor
Route in to the village
Kids were all excited to have visitors
All the kids jumped on to the tractor for a ride after we got off - so fun to watch
I spotted this kid up on the roof - looked very mischievous - and it looked like his older brother was on watch.....
This guy was keeping watch
Look at these precious faces
Oh the stories she could tell
the village water well
Back yard of one of the homes in the village
We visited with the chief of the village, and went into his home where his wife was busy weaving
Not too busy weaving to take time for a smoke though
Outside of the Chief's house
Our ride
Pit stop heading back to Dalat
Just two swingers - Colin and Jon
View from tram station
Just too cute
Ben and Jon in our sky gondola
Laundry day for the monks
Inside temple
Looked like this monks job was to sweep
Inside of the temple
Young's wife greeting us when we arrived
Young's wife and youngest son
Young and his gorgeous wife and children