After a good night sleep, which I was out like a light in no time at all the night before, I was up and ready to go, it seems that Mike, Kat and Elise had got bad stomachs, lucky for them we only had 30km to go, arriving on a Saturday morning was not the best idea but that’s just the way it worked. Zach, Elise, Mike and Kat were going to stay at a nice hotel so I went in search of a cheaper option.
Everything was pretty full, went to about 7-8 hotels that were full and then went back to one I had found earlier, it was a bit more then I wanted to pay but it has a pool which as I was sweating in my Bike gear seemed like a good idea having, and I was correct it is great having a pool. Refreshing on a hot sunny afternoon, which it has been all week.
Spent the first afternoon just relaxing, and chilling out, catching up on the blog was the biggest mission as I was about a week behind. Caught up with Zach later on for dinner as everyone else was still held up in their rooms with bad stomachs still, it looked like we were going to be spending a few days in Hoi an, which I have to say after my first day here I had a really good feel for the place. The sales people are not that pushy and the motor bike drivers are fairly good as well.
So all I have been doing for the last few days is typing and swimming and relaxing, this is what holidays are all about. Hoi an is a jewel in Vietnams crown, the old part of town is a world heritage site, the river front section lights up at night, the glow from the shops and reflections on the river are really beautiful, Hoi an has some stunning architecture, from a Japanese style covered bridge to Chinese styled pagodas the silk shops are more numerous then the locals, it seems every other shop is a silk shop with a few restaurants thrown in just to keep the shopping spirit up.
By the third day in Hoi an the sick were starting to leave their rooms and emerge into the light, we all meet up for a birthday dinner for Mike and Elise who had had their birthdays on the way to Hoi an from Nra Trang. We all indulged and spent a lot more then we normally do on dinner, but it was well worth the expense and it was good to see everyone up and around again.
The next day it was my turn to be sick but it was a cold this time, bugger, could this have come from my little dip in the stream besides the road, I did get a little cold that day. It ended up that we were all going to stay another 2 days any way, the only trouble was my cold was getting worse. Lucky for me our next ride was only 30km, a 103km the day after but that will be kill or curer ride.
I had considered buying a jacket in Hoi an because they had some really nice styles and no way could I get a wool jacket with silk lining for $80NZ, but of cause it would mean 1: I carry it all the way up north, no thanks 2: I send it home but I already have a lot to send home when I leave Hanoi 3: and the biggest thing putting me off was I don’t really need it, and I could spend the money on diving things when I get home.
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