H’ok my Monkey Headed friends, updates!
We spent a few days in the town Nha Trang, renowed as a “party town” on the South China Sea. Oddly, this visit coincided with a change in weather. On the plus side, we now know the Vietnamese word for “TYPHOON! RUN!”
Not really, but it is rainy and windy here right now. For the last few days it has been about 80 and overcast with occassional heavy downpours of warm water. Weird.
That didn’t stop us from spending a whole day at the beach. The up shot was that the ladies on the beach selling fresh (like, right in front of you) boiled crab were totally into us.
Oh, we got lost one night trying to find this mythical place that served Schneitzel….ended up in some hole in the wall. We ordered several beers and the weirdest things on the menu.
Kate had crab (an entire, angry looking boilded beast) and I ate a few frogs. Weirdest part:
“This isn’t egg plant! THIS IS FROG SKIN!”- We were big hits.
We headed to Hoi An today, and I must say this place is one of my top aisian picks. Firstly, there are about 2% of the motor bikes on the road as anywhere else. Secondly, it has a real architectual style dating from the 1900’s (kind of). It is protected, in that they don’t let people put up 5 story tell neon-light colored discos next to the historic building.
We have been here for a few hours (we flew from Nha Trang this morning, beat out a 12 hour bus ride over bad roads). So far I was fitted for custom shoes ($15!), ate a crazy good lunch (Fish in Banana leaf for me), and got a nice little hotel with a view over an old bridge. Plus! We watched part of Back to the Future Two. Major cultural tour de force.
Some random things:
“Happy Birthday to you” is phone ringer numero uno, as long as it is set to “deafing loudness”.
When confronted with too good of food, I simply utter “Wow! Woooooow!Wow!” over and over again. This has removed any respect for American Oration these folks had…also, the waitresses find me hillariously ackward.
Some houses have mini gas stations out front of their places, just a cart that says “Xang” and pump. Looks like about 5 gallons max.
Hoi An is known as a place to have clothing, shoes, whatever made. It should better be know as home to the world’s most powerful sales girls.
njdiana | 17-Jan-08 at 2:35 pm | Permalink
i cannot WAIT to see your custom shoes…
Rodrigo Grande | 19-Jan-08 at 12:08 am | Permalink
Hey Ryan and Kate.
Sounds like a rippin’ good time … especially at night after eating “frog skin”. Now Kate knows why Russell doesn’t travel with Ryan anymore!
Hey, how about more pictures? Stop goofing off at the beach and spend some time satisfying your audience’s needs.
Travel safe and don’t drink too much of the beer. That formaldehyde does add flavor, but it is deadly in large batches.
Hugs,
~DD~
redkev | 19-Jan-08 at 10:45 am | Permalink
Are you saying there is something wrong with motorbikes? But really, I’m sure the noise from all the 2-srokes gets to you, not to mention the smell of 2-stroke oil permeating the entire city. Nothing like the smell of blue #2 in the morning. We miss the Hoffpeople greatly.
ExportRyan | 20-Jan-08 at 6:13 am | Permalink
Miss the Hartlings too.
Motos make up about 98% of traffic here, I can’t imagine what it would be like if they were replaced with cars. All of the houses have ramps next to the stairs from street so bikes can ride up and be parked in the living rooms. I, of course, suggested installing a series of pulleys in each home…no results yet, but I think they are receptive.