Hoi An is well known for its many many tailor shops, so the group went off to have custom dresses, jackets, and suits made. The workers are incredibly fast, with a 1 day turnaround on most items. I really didn't need any more clothing, but it was a lot of fun to window shop. These tailors can pretty much make anything you want; casual clothes to cocktail dresses, shoes and handbags too!
We've been incredibly lucky with the weather so far. Yesterday morning was overcast and ended up perfect for a 3-hour bicycle ride around the Hoi An countryside. We biked past multiple rice paddies and got to see where exactly the rice comes from (harvest is about 3 weeks away). There were small family farms everywhere, with neat rows of vegetables and herbs. Chickens would randomly cross the road, and children ran around waving at us happily. It was so serene and idyllic that you have to admire the people for their simple way of life.
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| Rice stalks. Once it blooms, the 'flower' portion becomes the actual rice grains. |
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| Low-tech but efficient way to water the farm |
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| Peaceful and quiet |
It seems like every day brings a new mode of transportation as well. During our bicycle ride, we had the opportunity to get close to some water buffalo, who are resting until harvest begins in a few weeks.
These gentle giants were incredibly patient; they were obviously trained to help around the farms. Most of them were grazing in the fields or lying in the shade, but one of them was brought into service for us to ride! I wondered if he would get annoyed at carrying a bunch of tourists around, but he didn't seem flustered at all. I imagine that it is probably harder work to pull a plow around the fields.
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| Cute little fella! |
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| buff-a-lo, buff-a-lo |
It didn't feel like we went very far, but the tour guide said that we had cycled for 18 kilometers (around 10 miles)! I'm definitely working off all the food I'm eating. We rode a boat along the river with our bikes to return back to the hotel.
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| Fishing for lunch |
Hoi An is an interesting city to visit. Tourism is very high and the price on goods mostly reflect that. I really enjoyed seeing the countryside; life was simple, and the people worked so diligently. And even though they lived in tiny houses, the locals seemed content to be working alongside the earth. It's a reminder that happiness is a choice and not something that just gets handed to you; there can be satisfaction in the most mundane of tasks.
Next stop: another overnight train ride, and then the beautiful beaches of Nha Trang!
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