Travel Report #16: Slow Boat to China Friday, 13 November 2009: Day 51 – Vietnam (Goodbye China; “Good Morning Vietnam” – quote from Robin Williams oft’ repeated in his movie ☺)

Dear Family and Friends,

Oh oh, Friday the 13th, a day-at-sea, and… ‘All is well Captain’ - weather balmy, scattered clouds in blue sky, and sea calm.

With our two companions from Sanya, Fern and Albert, we arrive at the dock in Da Nang and immediately start negotiations for a 20-mile taxi to the historical city of quaint Hoi An (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Marble Mountains, two ‘must-see’ attractions. During animated bargaining, fellow passengers joined in, each new addition providing more negotiating leverage. Ultimately, having grown to a group of 10, we reached a deal for just $15pp USD to hire his van for the entire day of touring – very good, both for us and for the driver (Hund)!

Enroute we encounter a rice farmer with his Ox – jumping out, a photo op! Next, a silk-making factory, and its sweat-shop of embroiderers – creating amazing photo-quality images merely with tiny silk threads!

In Hoi An old-town

we find in quaint streets a plethora of tiny shops – and bargains continuously being proffered by vendors. On the adjacent Thu Bon River are traditional Vietnamese boats – and a photogenic elderly couple. Leaving Hoi An, next stop, 5 out-crops of marble standing proud above the flat landscape, including adjacent China Beach

made famous by US military (during the war), and in Hollywood movies. A vast quantity of marble statuary, beautifully executed, is EVERYWHERE for sale. Bob ‘runs’ up the path to the highest apex, stopping enroute at centuries-old monasteries built into natural marble caves, and rewarded by the view at the top.

Enjoying the company of our 8 new travel companions, we stop for lunch on China Beach, commit to joining for our next adventure ashore.

Our driver takes us to Da Nang city centre. Like a giant colony of army ants, the streets are near-choked with a multitude of scooters. A thrilling drive, thinking we surely must impact one or two – but no, our driver, Hund, somehow avoids a traffic accident. One enormous in-door market, Bob being the sole non-Vietnamese person there, is more like spelunking than browsing – squeezing through dark, narrow passage-ways piled high with merchandise. THAT was a

true experience of Vietnam. We had a terrific time in Da Nang. Next; Phu My - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)!

‘Till next we have the pleasure of seeing you again, very much love to all,

Bob and Kerrell – “Shin Jao” (Vietnamese – spelled phonetically) – “Hello ”, from Vietnam

PS: For picture viewing, try Zoom in the View Drop-down Menu (Forgot to mention this to view the route map in Report #15)

L-R:

Fern, Albert, Kingsley, Jacinta, Hund (driver), Kerrell, Jill, Beth, Richard, Bob, Bob