Hoi An 1

This morning we visited the My Son archeological site. It was an active Hindu religious temple complex from the 4th to the 14th centuries and is perhaps the longest inhabited and most prominent archeological sites in indochina. This was an operations center for the Viet Cong and fell under heavy bombing in the American war which took its toll on the site. The fact that significant historical sites were bombed in the wars with the French and the Americans appears to be a function of their utilization as military posts. There are a number of building clusters and here are a few images from the best preserved set of ruins.

We had the same driver on the trip from Hue to Hoi An and for our visit to My Son barely spoke English and we had a good time trying to help understand each other. I added a few words to his vocabulary, firework, statue, courthouse. I don't remember any of my words ;-). Among other things, I do remember an interesting statistic he provided - there are 90 million Vietnamse and 40 million motorbikes in Vietnam.

When I asked our driver what this sign meant, it made sense when he said it means we are leaving town and the speed limit changes. However, he said "Today is a police holiday, so you can drive whatever speed you want." The speed limit, when it is not a police holiday, is 50kmh in town and 80khm out of town.

We saw the below scene may times. School boys, and men in general, in short sleeves and comfortable clothing but school girls, and also most women, bundled from head to toe with only there eyes showing. They were surely baking in the heat. This is not the Muslim religious imposition of head to toe covering on these women, but a Vietnamese cultural one. Women are prized for their fair skin and as such do not want any sort of darkening due to sun exposure. Note the socks and the gloves on the girl as well.

During our first afternoon in Hoi An I became a road traffic hazard when we grabbed two of the available bikes at our hotel, put the kids on the back racks, and started pedaling our way through town. I am at least a descent biker, but this machine had some serious steering issues. It was difficult, if not impossible to go straight for more then a meter at a time. Which makes me a little nervous considering how traffic functions and how one must be predictable, not swerving wildly all over the road. But today I found one with better handling and all was well in the two wheeled world.

I had my first $0.15 beer today, it was actually pretty good.

Across the street was this bike repair shop.

We had dinner on a balcony with and older couple from Switzerland under lightning filled skies and the watchful eyes of our Gecko friends.

Patti has found new freedom now that we are in Hot Central. She does not even bother with any kind of hair maintenance beyond brushing as the humidity frizzes it out 'electrocution style' and makeup just comes off with the sweat.

I have to say, Vietnam has the friendliest mass of people I have ever been around on any of my travels. The Vietnamese people seem to have a cheer about them and nearly everyone will give you a smile if you first smile at them. Here again are the Black H'Mong girls who accompanied us on our trek down from Sa Pa.

All images in the Hoi An album linked at right.