Vietnam: Hoi An - Sunday 20th April

This morning we were up early as we were going to My Son Sanctury, which is cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa. We left the hotel at 7:30am for the 45 min car journey - it is recommended to go early as it is in the middle of the jungle and we were warned it gets very hot there - have I mentioned it is Hot in Hoi An? :-)

The ruins were an amazing sight to see - and because we had got there early we had beat the crowds and there was only about 6 people there when we arrived.

We found the place fascinating, and with the searing heat and the sound of the birds and constant hum of the crickets we really did feel we were in the middle of the jungle.

We saw lots of butterflies flying around and we even came across a lizard who gave us the beady eye! We also saw lots of MASSIVE cobwebs but thankfully no massive spiders to go with them!

I am watching you!

We were there about 2 hours and were sweaty messes by the end of it - I don't think we had any fluid left in our bodies by the end as we had sweated it all out!

Once back in Hoi An, and after we had cooled down a bit, we went to one of the local family restaurants for lunch - we loved the wontons so much last night we had them again (it's a Hoi An speciality - it would be rude not too!).

Hmmm Wontons

Our view whilst eating lunch - it's a hard life!

Whilst walking back to our hotel for an afternoon of relaxing we came across this house which was drying chillies out on the street!

Anyone for a chilli pepper?

After lunch I had a long dip in the jacuzzi, which was lovely as it was so hot! And then I went for a massage. Now, after my earlier experience of a massage in Asia (see the Phuket posting on my blog for the full story!) I thought I would play it safe and just have a 1 hour foot massage - when I had one in Bangkok a few years ago I was sitting in a seat so was surprised that I had to lay on a massage bed, and even more surprised when she straddled me and started pummelling my back!! I thought 'oh no it is Phuket all over again' but I thought just wait before I yell for her to get off (I just want my feet rubbed!). All I can say is that, although it turned out to be more than a foot massage, the majority of it was very nice and I would say only 10% was borderline painful! My 'foot massage' consisted of reflexology on my feet, massaging my legs (she tucked my summer dress in to my knickers!), pulling my legs to stretch my muscles (watch it lady, I am not that flexible!) and massaging my shoulders, head and face (which was mostly enjoyable apart from when she was pulling my fringe - don't ask - and doing that chopping motion ON MY HEAD!). It was only £10 though!

This evening we went to a restaurant in the old town - it had a garden out back that you could sit in and have your meal. I had just finished my dessert when I saw something out of the corner of my eye - I thought it was a cat until I looked properly and it was a great big rat! I told Peter and it then scurried behind me in to some foliage. He kept looking which freaked me out as I thought it was behind me. I asked for the bill and they took so long that it came running out again and in to another part of the garden - everyone else was oblivious! Not a great end to our last night in Hoi An.

 

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