Vietnam: Day 2

O.K.  Vietnam is amazing, but I keep thinking of all of the war movies that I've ever seen.  I literally heard the phrase "anyting you want" from a woman yesterday.  I don't quite remember the movie, but I do remember the scene...something like a woman in a brothel-esque, red-light-sporting business in Saigon.  This was nothing like that, but she did have a heavy Vietnamese accent.

 You can get anything you want made in one of a hundred clothing shops here in Hoi An.  I'm not sure why there are so many, but I keep thinking it's because they make so many clothes for people around the world.  I'm going to ask someone about it...really.  Here you see Erin getting sized up.  "Wow, you've got long legs."  We got clothes and shoes–something for everyone in the family.

 This river, which you only see a channel of here, is one of the many life bloods of culture in Viet Nam.  This one is touristy, French-influenced, and muddy.  I love the eyes painted on all the boats.

 This is the larger, main course of the river, but you still only see less than half way across here.  That's an island there.

 We couldn't get off and explore beyond the gate as there was a ticket checker table set up just in front of Finlay, and, of course, we didn't have a ticket for the historic old town walking/biking area.  Nobody was there, but Fin's a rule follower and we weren't wishing to get thrown in jail today.

 The unheated pool means lots of fun...but only for short spurts.

 An Banh beach is very quiet these days.  You can see why by the look of the surf and the slope of the beach.

 The beach erosion made for some cool "cliff's" to surf down and jump off.

Nobody here.  Fishing fleet may have been banned from the water.

So far we have been impressed with this country.  Well this city at least.  We just enjoyed a welcoming dinner from the owner of the hotel for all of the guests.  What a treat it was to meet another teaching family from Australia, a couple from India living in Melbourne, an ethnic Iraqi from Sudan living in the U.K., a family traveling for half a year from Switzerland (daughter with a Mariners t-shirt on) and another family from Sweden.  It is so interesting to hear from so many different points of view, but really, so similar.  We loved it!