Vietnam 2008

Wednesday26November

We leave Hue for Hoi An located further south about a hundred kilometers.
The city is flooded following the last rains and some streets are only accessible by boat.
Neither one nor two we take off our shoes and we will go to the restaurant as planned!

High class feet all wet under the table! 

The 16th century Japanese covered bridge was built to link the Chinese and Japanese quarters of the city.

On each side of the bridge, two statues of monkeys and two statues of dogs covered with a red cloth guard the entrances, signifying that the construction of the bridge began in the year of the monkey and ended in the year of the dog.

One of the family members who has managed to preserve this house gives us a quick history of the place.

Monument representing the Polish architect Kazimierz Kwiatkowski.

We also visit a silk clothing shop where we can see a nice little silkworm farm.

Top photo: silk cocoons.
Bottom photo: worms feeding on leaves.

Two employees of the house give us a weaving demonstration.

The Phuoc Kien Chinese Temple inscribed on the UNESCO heritage list in 1999.

All these red incense spirals are offerings or thanks. They burn thus for several days turning around the plaque left by the donor.

Bell from 1806.

Right photo: a bronze statue of God Quan Cong from the 18th century.

We will end the day in this restaurant that we will quickly forget so much the concentration of tourists was frightening!!!

Thursday27November

Today is free day!
We start the day with the market as well as some shopping in souvenir shops and we are well served in Hoi An!

The old Singer sewing machine of our grandparents

And hop, small lunch break.

The afternoon will be dedicated to cycling and the beach of Hoi An!

The beach with its coconut trees under the storm. The blue sky is not there but it is very pretty too!

Well yes Rico, it's a coconut!!!

At nightfall, some houses set up a small table in the street with incense and offerings.

The cult of the dead is very important in Vietnam, this small rite allows commemorating the disappearance of a family member.

A common house gecko, a species of gecko, albino lizard native to Asia (Hemidactylus frenatus).

Very common on house ceilings; better than Spiderman, it holds on thanks to its small suction cups at the tips of its fingers!

End of evening by the hotel pool.