Good Times and Good Byes in Central Vietnam

Happy belated 4th of July!!!!!!!!!!

After a 10 hour train ride, we arrived in Hoi An on the 4th of July. Upon recommendation, we met our traveling English and German entourage at their hotel via motor bike taxi with our giant backpacks. Upon true North America fashion, we proceeded to imperialistically impose USA celebrations on all encountered nationalities at a local bar, picking up a couple other proud Americans along the way.

A UNESCO world heritage sight, Hoi An is known for its preservation as an international trading post as far back as the 17th century. Along with unique historic architecture and delectable regional cuisine, Hoi An offered made to order tailoring of shoes and clothing. Such opportunity demanded our full designer attention!!! Never had we thought our imaginative creativity was at the level of couture. After12 hours of sweaty toiling over fittings and alterations, the receipt of our goods was all but gratifying. While a few of our creations were comparable to Coco Channel, the majority were well below fabulous. We literally “shipped” a few items home and the Lisa and Gabi Summer Collection will be arriving in Seattle in time for Thanksgiving!

Tired of high end fashion, we were ready to get back to our grungy backpacker routine. Now sharing a hotel room with our favorite travelers, saving just $1.00/night, we decided to join them on a 90 minute moped ride to My Son, a UNESCO world heritage sight. Weaving through bicycles, mopeds, trucks, and people we arrived dripping and thankful we were alive! Lisa drove both ways alone on a moped like a pro. In over 100 degree heat and high humidity we lethargically wandered the ruins of the ancient Cham city of My Son dating back to the 4th century.

   

Working up an enormous appetite, the following afternoon we treated ourselves to a well deserved private Vietnamese cooking class. A talented and very patient mother and daughter taught us and our friend Dan the art of making fried spring rolls, spinach-garlic stir fry, and a sweet and sour hot pot. We garnished each dish with homemade shallots. Without hesitation we feasted. Look out for our five star meal on your local Vietnamese menu sometime late September.

Our cherished moments with Phil, Dan, and Robert were celebrated at the beach with about 200 other foreigners watching the World Cup, playing foosball and taking a late night dip in the China Sea. We rolled into our hotel as the sun was rising dripping, salty, and exhausted via xe om (moped taxis).

From Hoi An we ventured to Hanoi on a 12 hour "sleeper" bus. The seats, too narrow and short for even us, were stacked three wide and two high down the length of the bus. We felt lucky not to be the 6' 2'' Australian man on the bunk above us. Gabi, with a phobia of throw up, was greeted by a woman sitting across from her already vomiting into a clear plastic bag before the bus left the terminal...enough said.

The next episodes of Girl Talk will feature Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Sapa. Don't forget to check out our Picasa web album link to get more visual accounts of our travels.