Showing posts with label Hoi An. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hoi An. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Looking back at 2012 - Part 1. Cycling in Hoi An

I am collecting my memories from last year to share; one every few days until I run out of them. There are many of them; vignettes that gave me cause to smile, gave me a story to tell and a reason to be grateful.

Cycling in Hoi An
When we were in Hoi Ann, the most memorable event was the bicycle tour to Kim Bong Village.

I treasure it for its simplicity and ease for a disproportionately enjoyable experience. The group of us could have been friends on a day's excursion; our local guides; Thuy and Tuan, 2 ladies from Penang, a Frenchwoman, an Indian man and us .
Money did not change hands as the tour was free - operated by English language teachers from the Danang City University. (visit - http://www.hoianfreetour.com)
It was educational as Sean and Sara learnt to cycle albeit a little late in their young adult lives. Our tour was environmentally friendly and fairly quiet, save for Sara ringing her bell at everything that is in her way (including a parked bus!).
There was no fixed time table - in the morning, we herded our bicycles onto a river ferry at Hoi An pier to get to Kim Bong Village, there we cycled on lanes in between small houses and paddy fields. We were serenaded as we cycled; classical music played through a public address system strung along the fields and lanes - no doubt a remnant of a long ago propaganda programme. It was a bit surreal yet strangely moving. On a impulse, our guides took us to the seaside, we stopped for coffee and ate lunch along the way.

That day, it felt as though Time waited for us. And it was a wonderful feeling.










Sunday, January 15, 2012

Bicycle Adventures in Hoi An

Happy New Year!

We just returned from Hoi An, which explains the late start to the first post of the year - but there are many sketches to share, recording our cycling, culinary and cultural experiences there. 

Stayed tuned.




It was a ten-minute walk from the hotel to the ancient town centre where we had our first meal in Hoi An - we were strolling by when we heard a familiar name. 'Tau-fu-fa' which is bean-curd jelly served warm with palm sugar syrup laced with crystallized ginger. 












Most things in the ancient town is at a leisure pace; your lunch took time to arrive - this is good as it allows time to talk and sketch and peel open the hand printed chopstick wrapper. The words mean "welcome"