Wednesday, October 23 Hoi An
Larry still sick. Netsy and I are picked up at the hotel by two young Vietnamese women on motor cycles and brought to their office, Heaven and Earth bicycle tours. We, and two Australian women, around Netsy's age were each paired with a bicycle and off we went. First to a ferry boat filled with other bikes and motor scooters, and with Vietnamese returning from market with various baskets to their home island. All the women wore conical straw hats.
On that first island, we were brought to a beautiful fishing boat in the process of being built. Interestingly, the wood is from an endangered tree species which is not allowed to be cut in Vietnam so it is imported from Laos. The planks are cemented together with tree resin, nails are wood and metal. Each boat has two elongated eyes painted on the prow, to scare evil sprits, or so fisherman who are tipsy from too much rice wine will be able to tell which is the front end of the boat.
Back on the bikes, riding up and down roads and lanes, over bridges, past rice paddies, many many chickens, water buffaloes, modest homes, grand homes, little kids playing, big school kids on bikes, all of whom shout "hello" to each of us as we pass by. It's an easy ride, flat, not too hot, 45 minutes, great way to see the countryside. We stopped for lunch under a thatch roof patio of a private home, then met with a guy who makes round, woven boats, one of which Netsy paddled in the river. Then off to visit with women who make beautifully designed sleeping mats on a wide hand loom set up on the floor. Some more cycling, two more ferries and we were delivered back to Hoi An.
Larry was feeling a bit better so we had a celebratory dinner in a highly rated restaurant. All our travel within the city has been by bicycle provided very inexpensively by the hotel. We got one of two outside tables and had our best meal yet. Early on we decided to share everything we order. This time it was wonderful food, served beautifully
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