Hoi An

Great food. Really good accommodation at a bargain price and gorgeous lanterned streets with some helpful friendly people.

We have had a great time here. Firstly we managed to bargain our hotel room down to $16 US from about $25 US. Everyone in the place had just checked out and we knew we would stay a few days so we hung out until she gave in. The room had clean crisp sheets, a bath, fridge and a TV with cable and the hotel also had pool in the garden out the back.

We didn't do much sightseeing, in fact we didn't even venture to the beach 5kms away. Our days consisted of eating until we felt nauseous (Em couldn't even finish her chocolate mousse desert which I think is unheard of), lounging in the cool room watching movies and going swimming in the pool.

We had some yummy croissants at the cargo cafe, scrumptious 5 course dinner cooked by Mr Kim (whose waiters were hilarious- one guy persisted in showing us how to eat each meal to the point where Jono was convinced he was going to try the aeroplane spoon technique), had genuinely friendly service from a family restaurant across the road from the hotel and one dinner at this collection of street styled vendors near the waterfront. Our waitress and cook were a sister team and we tried all the Hoi An speciliaties (white rose- shrimp wrapped in rice flour dumpling, cau lao- pasta like noodles with salad and tofu and beansprouts and fresh spring rolls). We also got a little tipsy on local beer (bia hoi is the fresh beer and is quite low alcohol and bia tuoi is the next step up, more alcohol but tastes about the same at 4,000 dong a glass- cheaper than water).

We also splurged on some clothes and even had to buy a bag to put them in. I justify this by saying the bag will be useful in Europe. That and it only cost AUS$14- even if the zippers don't work it's still good value.

We visited the Lifestart Foundation workshop, which was set-up by a Melbourne lady (Essendon) to fund orphanages and street kids training in skilled positions. Em got to meet the lady who made her stuffed elephant 'Eddie'. She had a treatable patentcy in her heart that went undiagnosed as a child and now needs a full heart-lung transplant. The foundation sponsored her because her previous job could not pay for the medications she needs. She was so good and enthusiastic at her job that she is now a supervisor. Makes you think you're a right loser when you're wishing you could buy more suits. You can look them up at lifestartfoundation.org. Great place.

As long as we ignore the bank balance it was a perfect few days. Next we are off to Dalat, where it will be cooler and they make quite nice wine.