Day 27 Hoi An

 Our last day in this vibrant and endearing city so we headed to the beach. It felt strange to be back on the bikes and also hot. The beach was a very different experience, we had to pay for parking, to go to the loo and of course for a sun bed. The sun bed war unfolded as we occupied ours- the long line of sun beds belonged to different cafes and on patrol and harassing tourist were the enforcers- trying to outsmart their competitors by seducing tourist to their particular beds. It was liked a choreographed dance as a tourist approached the competing enforcers performed a ritual dance to try to attract the attention of the approaching foreigner This kept me occupied for hours and those who know me well will vouch for my aversion of any kind of beach activity. Jen managed a couple of sea dips during this time.

The other interesting diversion for the said beachophobe was the ladies parading up and down the beach trying to sell their tat. These were all well wrapped up and doing everything possible to avoid the sun’s rays degenerating their skin- some even wore gloves and it was baking. All had a sob story to tell about their children and no one buying ( we bought some lovely mango). A mature chap a few feet away made the fatal mistake of buying from one of the ladies and in no time at all he had a procession of sob story sales ladies plying him with goods- to which he bought. Do not feel sorry for the said bloke he also appeared to negotiate a photograph of them as part of the deal.

Meanwhile the beach was a regular fishing boat Mecca as they motored  all along the beach front vying for fish. The competition her was just as hot but much less dignified as we experienced our first altercation at sea. Two boats trading insults and aggressive gestures to one another. I suspect the Vietnamese communist party had kept these two miscreants out of the tourist eyes until now.

Lovely being in the sun and people watching but one of our party got carried away and managed a little sunburn- two guesses whom?

Back to the Hoi A for a lovely vegan baguette and onwards to our hotel. Jen having lost her sun visor yesterday spent the afternoon scouring the market for a replacement and a few other purchase (yes Jen is learning the art of shopping), all successfully completed.

The evening spent at a lovely little restaurant near the hotel that sold a glass of beer for 25p - food was good too. Meal and beers for less than £10 between the two of us.

Tomorrow reality strikes as we hit the road again heading south and a much more limited diet I suspect.