Hoi An

Hoi An is a strange place.  On one hand it is a massive tourist trap but on the other a charming place oozing character.  It was world heritage listed to protect a number of the buildings in the old city which date back to the 14th - 15th centuries.  We spent the first day wondering the streets looking at all the old buildings and fighting our way through the markets. The markets are very dangerous to me.  As I try and not be rude to anyone, I got dragged into a couple of different clothing shops and measured up for shirts, suits etc.  I did end up purchasing a couple of shirts and a new pair of pants which I picked on the second day.  They appear to be well made, and they fit perfectly (especially after the alterations were done)  We ran into a trio of German girls on the train to Hoi An, and agreed to meet for dinner that night, so when the time came, we found a resteraunt and enjoyed a delicious set menu.  It was all authentic Vietnamese, and the first food I had eaten in a couple of days.  Very much apreciated.

Today we visited the My Son (pronounced Mee Son) ruins which are about 50kms south of the city in the mountains.  The temples were only recently made ruins when the Americans bombed them during the War.  What was left was facinating.  The Cham people were influenced greatly by Hindu, so there were carvings of Shiva and other Hindu gods carved in what remained.  (photos below)

The remainder of today was spent getting my clothes and trying to rest up a bit.  Tomorrow we are headed by bus to Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam.

Photos!!!

Anna take note, there is never too many departments.  Though I did wonder if they were European of African swallow nests that were collected???

Streetscape (sorry I didn't turn it, ran out of time)


The Japanese bridge.  Built to slay the dragon which caused earthquakes stretching from India to Japan through Vietnam! (not sure how affective it was???)

One of the legs to get to the Cham ruins was via this genuine American Army jeep.  It was "liberated" at the end of the war at Danang Airport

The Cham ruins at My Son.  Fun fact for those playing at home, the Cham people constructed these with no cement.  They somehow cured the bricks together using some glue and then heated it up.  A feat the western world has not yet been able to replicate! (i.e. to restore the ruins)