Hoi An

I woke to the sound of loud hailers calling from the fields across the river – can’t understand a word of it of course, and it started at about 5.30am. Its very hot – thank goodness for the air conditioning. I had thought about getting up and going for a swim, but the swimming pool is right at the front of the complex, right outside reception and the restaurant, so just a little public for me in the broad daylight, so I quietly read my book until breakfast time. The birds are noisy here and there is some insect that makes a funny clucking noise, haven’t managed to see what it is that is making the noise. And every now and then you catch a darting movement out of the corner of your eye and it’s a ghecko or lizard darting up the wall or across the floor.

Did I tell you about the movement I saw in the restaurant the other night – I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye, it ran between Dianne’s legs and across into the garden. When I looked and tried to see what it was the waiter very calmly said “don’t worry, it’s just a rat.” A rat, in the restaurant, oh my god. So now we are all a bit jumpy. Last night a can fell onto Kylee’s lap and she let out a squeal – yep just like I used to do if I thought I saw a mouse!!!

Yesterday was a full on day. Seven of us took the optional half day trip to My Son, the ruins of the Champa Kingdom from the 4th Century. This place was almost completely destroyed during the Vietnam war and you can still see a lot of the evidence – bomb craters and marks in the buildings. Apparently there are still unexploded bombs around the area so the books warn not to wander off the beaten track. There is a lot of restoration and preservation work going on here but what a huge job it is going to be to complete it.

We were fortunate to see a dance performance which I have captured on video – but unfortunately  I can't attach it here.