Up early again, no plans today except maybe bike, maybe beach, maybe nothing?
Breakfast done, pretty much a repeat of yesterday.
Pick up camera from room and we are off exploring before the masses of tourists arrive. Some very pretty reflections on the water . Bride and groom in full wedding attire getting dragged around for pictures, would be hot already dressed like that.
Found where the local market is. So busy with locals, trying hard to stay out of their way as they go about their daily business. It is so busy with bikes and people, there is no one moving yet in the tourist area we walked from.
Came across a well with a man pulling up water to wash a basket of greens. Behind him we see is the market we were looking for last night, urgh. This place looks amazing. Now we have a problem, one more night left and only so many more meals and places we want to try... I know one meal will be here for sure.
Back towards the hotel, time for coffee break.
Coffee done, Andre likes this place that looks like Tim Hortons, he trusts the ice??? Does he forget we have moved on from Mr Noodles soup in the room? A little research and these are owned by a Viatnamese American. His was the first time an overseas Viatnamese was able to register a private company in Vietnam, 1998.
Back to the hotel and decide to take out some bikes. Front desk told me the price for the day, I said just for 2 hours, she asked my room number then said OK free. Off we go over a narrow long rickety bridge that cars don't use. Not surprisingly I walked most of it, even that was a little scary. We took a right as soon as the bridge ended, along a very very dusty sand road/path. Sand is finally out of my shoes from Mui Ne and Quy Nhon, now they are filthy dusty from Hoi An. At the end of this dusty road we come on to tiny paved side roads, so much fun back here. We have no destination in mind, just left, right, left, right. Come to a dead end, wow. It is a little canal with a bamboo we think restaurant on it. There is a motorcycle parked at the walking bridge over, but I am sure I hear a dog barking, and bring afraid of pretty much everything I don't want to cross the little bridge with maybe a watch dog on the other side. Andre crosses over and calls out to me, you have to come over, it is a restaurant being protected by frogs in the canal not dogs. Bikes parked, time for a lemon water and a LaRue. I am not in trouble today, same price for both, $.90 each.
Enjoying our bike break and one of those vendors selling something with the repeat announcement by speaker goes by. A young woman comes running out of the kitchen and over the bridge to try to catch them. Then another woman comes running out, we motion to her in our Viatnamese sign language to take one of our bikes to catch him, off she goes on our bike. Sorry to see when she comes back she has no purchases with her, but she thanks us many times for the bike. For us moments like this are absolutely priceless, you can't purchase these interactions and you never know when they are going to happen.
Back on our bikes and Andre points out we have to cross a small bridge, we bike along this canal for a bit before backtracking to the small bridge. Someone has mat weaving set up outside their home but unfortunately they are not outside working, but it was still fun to see set up.
Cross over the small bridge, what, I thought that was the only bridge. The big bridge is right on the other side and needs to be crossed again. This time I decide to walk the big bridge the entire way, on the descent I was really happy I did as it is a big corner at the bottom of the hill and I'm not sure I would have made the corner.
Bikes returned safely to the hotel and we've decided to go to An Bang beach. Hotel wanted us to take bikes, no way, so much traffic going that way. Grab drops us off, we are late for shade, every umbrella seems to have someone under it. A woman beach vendor is sitting in some shade, waves us over, yep this is going to cost us something. She tells us to buy food and drinks from guys in yellow. Sets up wifi on my phone for me. I never ask for passwords any more, I just give them my phone. Now comes the sales pitch, please buy something from the basket of 'stuff' that I am carrying around, I helped you. She knows to focus on me, I also tell her I have no money. Finally she leaves after Andre will fork out 60k for 4 tiny magnets that started at 150k. Not sure if she is happy but she has moved on and we now have 4 more little fridge magnets that we really don't need.
Arrived about 30 minutes ago, Andre ordered a beer, not sure where they went to get it, maybe back to Hoi An?
It is very wavy and windy today. Kite surfers are having fun. There are also a lot of people parasailing, you take off by running along the beach and up you go. Landing is in the water, they just drop you slowly into the water and a jetski picks you up. Andre asked the haucker what the price would be , 600K for one person, 900k for 2. We will pass, pretty sure it would be a huge struggle to get out of the water and on to that jetski.
Had our first Banh Mi on the beach with fries. Can't believe it has been 3 weeks and it is our first one.
Afternoon spent on the beach, saying no thank you to whoever comes by selling something. Oh, Andre did stop one for a beer koozie thing, he meant to bring one from home and forgot it.
We were at Soul Kitchen restaurant. No charge for chairs or umbrellas if you eat or drink there. Actually some did not even eat or drink. Nice restaurant up off the beach, and good bathrooms. Probably the most fun was at 4pm, out of no where all these BBQ vendors start arriving. The lounge chairs and umbrellas are removed from our spot, and these vendors are putting mats out and setting up for BBQ food sales. It is hilarious. Now we notice the sign by us that the kitchen for beach sales is only open until 4pm, there must be some agreement made to let local vendors take over at 4pm.
Magnet lady from our arrival this morning comes to visit us again. We have been waving each time she passes. We ask about this BBQ thing, she says the beach gets very busy with locals from Hoi An now that the sun is going down. Amazing. She also asks how we are getting back to Hoi An, we told her grab. She says for 100k her husband will come get us, but it will take 10 minutes. Sure, we can wait, we are loving seeing this beach transformation. Back she comes and says her husband is here, she walks us out and we are shocked to see a proper taxi, we were sure it would be a family car. Our good byes to magnet lady, she must have thanked us 20 times for waiting for the taxi.
Showers and decision has been made for supper, back to the place we went the first night here. Again a delicious meal, we will remember this little place for a long time.
Walk back among the river full of lanterns and boats, it really is something to see.
Back to the hotel after visits tonight at an embroidery place, a photography exhibit, a liqueur shop and passing by more tailor shops than any city could ever need. Oh, plus a stop for Gelato.
An early night again. Moving on tomorrow in our overpriced transfer that I prebooked . Last night was the first night I have woken up and had no idea where I was or where the bathroom was in the room, and we are only half way through!
Todays pictures:
Early morning walk along the canal with nice reflections
Lady tying crabs with some type of tree bark
So far so good for Wendy, love the quiet back streets with no traffic
From sandals to heels for driving scooters
Our next stop
Anthony Bourdain sure went to a lot of places when he was alive we also ate a few times at one of the restaurants that bourdain ate at. Rollande
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