A Last-Minute Trip to Hoi An

Our trip had taken an unexpected turn -- for the good. Two weeks ago, we learned that our dear friend from Vietnam, My, was graduating from University with a Bachelors in English on June 30th. 

My in her sun-blocking outfit (the pattern is little monkeys)

In six months, My will be receiving a second degree in Business from a different university. We were very excited to hear about her graduation, and were really grateful that we were so close. Had we been in the U.S., there was no way we could make it to Vietnam with so little notice.  Shortly after My told us about her graduation, we learned even more exciting news: in her class of nearly 800 graduates, My is FIRST, and she will be giving the valedictorian speech at the graduation.  We couldn't be prouder of My, and we are thrilled that we can attend her graduation.

So here we are, in Hoi An, Vietnam. We have been here many times, and it's a plca we love. It's quiet, has a lovely old own, and is romantic in the evening with all the colored laterns lit up. See my blog, Hoi An at Night. The people are kind, and the beach is only a few miles away.  We arrived in Hoi An and immediately felt like we were "home".  What's not to love?

Better still, I found Green Tea Home Stay on Airbnb. It's run by two wonderful sisters, and boasts free bicycles, motorbikes for rent at a great price, a great breakfast with both Vietnamese and Western offerings, and most importantly, is situated on a quiet residential street close to the Old Town.  During the day, there is moderate traffic, with few horns honking, and there's hardly a peep at night.  If you've been to Vietnam, you can appreciate how rare and luxiorous this is. Oh, and every day, we get towels folded in the form of a different shapes.  Today it was hearts; yesterday it was elephants. 

We're enjoying ourselves so much that we've extended our stay. 

I'm sure you're wondering about the photo of Tadashi. Today we went to the beach on the motorbike. Most people go to Cau Dai beach, but we wanted something quieter. And that's exactly what we got. Today, like the past three days, has been overrcast--which we appreciate because it's hot enough and the sun would just make it miserable. We walked in the beach a bit, then sat on lounge chairs and enjoyed a beer. The temperature was perfect for relaxing. After a couple hours, we could see rain on the horizon and decided it was time to go.  The rain started the moment we got on the bike.

After about a mile, we decided to pull over and wait it out.  This time of year, the rain doesn't usually last that long, so we found a tree to wait under. It so happened that this tree was in front of house, and the owner waved us in. She pulled out chairs for us, and we were able to wait out the rain on her front porch. She didn't speak a word of English, and of couse, we speak no Vietnamese. But we smiled at each other and tried to introduce ourselves. She even offered us a bottle of water. We spent about 20 minutes there before deciding to forge through the rain.  this is one of the things we love about Vietnam: complete strangers will invite you into their house. We've lost count of how many times this has happened, not only in Vietnam, but other countries too.

So on through the rain we went, continuing our five mile ride back to the guest house. By the time we arrived, we were both completely and thoroughly soaked from neck to toe. Our helmets were keeping our heads dry.

When we got back, I headed for a warm shower, and Tadashi headed out to take photos. I am currently relaxing on our private veranda, enjoying my dry clothing and a wet beer. Cheers!