DAY 9 - HANOI/HOI AN

Weather: feeling warmer, yea! Peeling the layers of wool.

This morning, walking along the lake after 7am to our favourite coffee house, the we were delighted in seeing the locals out so early! They were dancing, exercising, playing badminton, doing tai chi, walking and simply enjoying the early morning, smiles everywhere. Their happy energy was contagious.

Left Hanoi today. Flt. to Da Nang, drive to Hoi An.

HOI AN - wow! What a charming, beautiful, and magical place! Food has been the best, so far, on our travels.

This is also the place whereby if you can dream it, they can make it!

Happy Budha: Gary's been, do I say, excited about getting shirts and stuff made-to-fit for him here. But what's cracked us both up is the girls keep 'smacking' his belly and laughing while saying 'happy Budha'! Then correcting themselves by saying 'small happy Budha'. I couldn't

believe what I was seeing & hearing, I fell off my chair in laughter......Gary, was speechless! Then AGAIN, during the belt measurement, again the smacking of his belly, 'happy Budha'!
Gary's now thinking he may be revered.....as a Budha. Oh dear!

The night is all alit in the magical glow of colourful lanterns everywhere. There is also lit candles floating on the river, wishes made by someone, which makes the experience so very SPECTACULAR! The only surprise is, it's unbelievably crowded here! People everywhere! More crowds!