We're The Wanderers, Yeah The Wanderers, We Go Around Around Around Around Around

Today, we walked out of our hotel and we turned right......

Through a section of An Hoi Island (where our hotel is) that isn't filled with shops and touristy bits and pieces.  Instead we walked past people's homes and past local restaurants where local people were sitting, meeting with their friends.

Chris helped a gentleman to untangle his fishing line.

There was a far bit to get through.....

Usually I'm not one to braid my hair in Bali or wear a hula skirt in Hawaii or buy a beret in France...... but today, in Vietnam, it was as hot as hell.  I had taken an umbrella to walk under (just like the Japanese do) but I couldn't hold it and take amazing photos as well..... I asked Jenny if she could be my umbrella holder, but she has a technique of holding the umbrella just above her own head, which means that I get no shade and my eye is occasionally poked out if I happen to turn my head quickly. 

So, I saw the traditional Vietnamese conical hat and thought - they're airy, so your head doesn't sweat and they're light and they tie under your chin.  So I bought one and wore it proudly, much to the amusement of most of the Vietnamese people we walked past.

Chris and Marie put a bag of laundry in at the hotel reception on the first day and when it didn't come back the next day we thought that perhaps it might be hanging around the town somewhere drying..... we kept an eye out on our walking adventure.

This was just in the back street.  It didn't look like it went anywhere and was just in-between two regular looking buildings.  I think we could take a leaf out of the Vietnamese people's book and jazz up our laneway entrances.

The back streets is where a lot of work gets done, like the drying of rice right there on the footpath.......

And the making of the rice paper wrappers.......

...... In the building site!

It is a lot quieter in the back streets....

Except for the occasional palatial building that is hard to understand....

The locals like to keep you entertained as you wander though......

As with any country there were people who were a little wary of the 3 foreigners walking around the residential area with their cameras, but most called out a 'hello' or a 'g'day mate' which was nice to hear.

Still looking for Chris and Marie's washing in the background there.....

But all to no avail.....  There is no obvious reason that this ladder is here, but nevertheless, there it sits.

Bless Chrissy, she came to Vietnam armed with little toys to give to he kiddies and we really hadn't seen any to give them to, but today all the babies were out and about and confused about what the hell this little bear shaped things was.  One man said in excitement "Ah.... Kangaroo!"  When we said, "No, koala" he furrowed his brow and said in a less excited voice "Kangaroo?"  

The poor koala - always second fiddle to the roo!

On the other side of the island we came across fishing boats....

And little jetties....

This gorgeous ramshackle chook house....

And quite a few dogs.

All the guide books and safety websites say that you should assume that all dogs have rabies and stay away from them..... but look at this little fella. He may not have the friendliest face, but don't you just want to reach your hand out and pet him?  He looks like he wants to be petted....

This beautiful Tiffany green colour is everywhere - it so pretty and brightens the place up nicely.

There are coconut shells everywhere.  There is a big open space behind our hotel filled with them and this is where you put them on this street.  Perhaps there is a coconut shell person who comes to pick these up?  I'm not sure.

Maybe this is him?

Have I mentioned how hot it is here in Hoi An?  I know there are hotter places and that I'm not here forever, but I just don't function well in humid heat.  There are some people who love it, but I'm just not one of those people.  We stopped for a coldy at this little cafe and the lady (you can see her in the back) raced (walked at a normal pace) across the road to the shop that had a fridge to get the cold drinks.

As we were approaching the cafe we walked past what looked like an adult English class.  A couple of the girls noticed me in my conical hat and giggled.  Fair enough!

They were learning to say:

"How long does it take to get to your house from here by motorbike?"

"It takes me 10 minutes."

There was a lot going on in the street besides the English lessons.... This chap came to swapper the fridge.  I'm not sure if he was the refrigeration mechanic or just the man with the van, but the whisked the new one off and threw the old one on the truck to be taken somewhere.  It was a very swift manoeuvre.

Walking back down along the river, there was a hive of activity.  These men were part of a dragon boat race style practise.  They were very lucky to have stayed afloat!

These are the makeshift jetties they use on the river.  Nothing fancy, but the clearly do the job.  Imagine trying to steer a wheelbarrow full of beer down one of those!

When you're looking around, it's the out of place or the crooked or the out of the ordinary that catches my eye..... like this lamp post....

Or what looks like it may be a toilet on the back of this boat!

It must be hard work for the local Vietnamese who live here, but for the tourists, Hoi An is all about the simple, ,easy, slow placed life.....

Look at all these pretty things here.......