Someone told me today that the best thing about traveling by yourself is the fact you are never really alone and they are 100% right. Since my trip begun I have made so many friends that there has never been a dull moment.I arrived in
The hotel was down a little alley in down town backpacker’s ville. The room was particularly nice and even had a bath tub and HBO movies all for the bargain price of 6USD.<br>
After arriving late and desperate for something to eat I wandered all of 10 meters before bumping into two German guys from Cologne I had met a week earlier, quick to exchange the last weeks adventures I informed them of the highway robbery and showed them a picture of the guy. At once I noticed their faces change, part alarmed and another part surprised they looked at the photo and in unison exclaimed ‘that's the guy who approached us’ what a small town
The following morning I planned to go on my own little adventure tour but given the nauseating heat, my inability to even work out which direction to walk I only managed to find a fairly large market that smelt like every bad smell I have ever smelt before merged together, silently I wished that I had not gotten rid of my cold and that my nose was still blocked.
On arrival back at the cafe across from my hotel, I remembered a friends wise advice and booked a motorcycle tour around the city. The ride was amazing and safe because it was pre booked with a tour company. Minh my driver was fantastic, ducking and weaving out of the endless traffic like a pro.
We went and visited some pagoda's, temple's and war trenches and before long my 5 hours were up. That night, I joined up with the Germans and we went to a night club named 'Brown Eyes' where I met a guy I nicknamed the beaver, given his penchant for carrying around a soft beaver toy around the South East Asia and photographing it in various costumes and in the arms of a variety of pretty girls.
The music was terrible- Asian techno is a sound better heard than explained but soon I was on my feet and dancing to the music like no one was watching me.
Safe in the custody of the Germans (both martial arts enthusiasts- we decided to get a cyclo home) and giggled all the way to slumber.
The next morning I departed
Hoi An is beautiful I booked into a plush hotel (10USD) and ate dinner quickly and prepared for a quiet night to save my energy for my big birthday party the following day.
I awoke on my birthday to the delightful song of my 2 1/2 year old god daughter singing me happy birthday and the day only got better.
Hoi An is any girls heaven, they have shops there that tailor make cloths by request. I was fortunate enough to gea couple of dresses made (for fun) and 4 new suits (for not so fun). Hoi An is also a foodies favorite; it is filled with gourmet restaurants and I was lucky enough to have dinner at Cafe de Amis, a great find, where Mr. Kim the owner treats you to a delicious Vietnamese 5 course dinner for 4USD.
