Hoi An, Vietnam Part 2

Xin chao Everyone...

We have had a lovely few days here in this very beautiful town. It has been so much fun hanging out with old friends again. We are all heading off in our separate ways today.

Yesterday we went to My Son, which was the religious and political center for the south of Vietnam - the Champa Kings occupied this site from the late 4th century until the 13th century. It is particularily interesting because the kings went to Java to study, marry and trade. So there are Indonesian influences everywhere. It has been pillaged over the centuries and the Americans heavily bombed it during the war. It is a beautiful sight to see.

On our way out to visit My Son, our driver took us to see a family who makes rice paper crackers. They are remarkably similar to pompadoms (sp?) that we eat at home. The girls each had a go at making the crackers. They are made with rice, which is ground into a powder then added to water to make a liquid. The sheaths of the rice are used to keep the fire going under a large caudron of water. Over the pot they have stretched a membrane and on that they put the rice liquid in layers. Once it is cooked, they cracker is just like a thin wet sheet. It is placed on a drying rack that is placed in the sun. Each cracker is made one at a time. The mother makes them and the husband takes them to market. They were very poor. Their pigs were a huge hit.

Making rice crackers.

Aren't we cute? Still want bacon Kate?

Late month's high water mark during the typhoon - inside the house.

Souvenir?

We moved on to marble mountain. The girls thought maybe we should buy a souvenir and have it shipped.

We then spent the rest of the day at the beautiful China Beach made famous during the Vietnam war by the large American Army base here. It is a huge stretch of beach and the waves were perfect for body surfing. The girls had a great time. Mira was catching quite a few big ones and we spent lots of time catching Kate. The showers were a great when we were finished and only cost 5000 dong (30 cents). I think they were built during the war?

Cheers sharon