Back on the Horse.

Or motorbike I should say. 

After a lot of um-ing and ah-ing, I was (reluctantly?) persuaded to take a trip over the Hai Van Pass. On reflection, why I agreed confuses me slightly. My last experience with such vehicles didn't end so well (to put it lightly). Oh, and I hate mountain passes. But as Rosie explained the "low risk" factors (good company, good Vietnamese drivers who know the roads, good bikes etc), I allowed her to sway me. The promise of stop offs, lunch by the water and beach at the end helped. 

The views were pretty exquisite, Rosie was in her element (biker girl alter ego), my driver was a dream ("When you not scared make me happy") and his bike was pretty bitchin', so all in all I would say it was a success.

Marble Mountain.

"That one big, tall girl. That one small man". 

Proud of himself for managing to balance. 

Ron (!) the mummy dog and her beautiful babies. Granted I may not have heard them correctly, but I asked over and over and was assured she was called Ron. Clever Ron. 

And yes, they are their pets. PETS. 

Vietnamese coffee. Drip filtered with condensed milk. Must recreate. 

Made it back to Ang Bang Beach. I could breathe again. 

Pinico Bada, Wirgin Colada, Phum & Coke or Wishky & Coke? 

Next morning we got ourselves some normal bikes and cycled to Cua Dai beach. I felt like I was almost showing off what with my new found confidence from surviving the pass. Eyes gazing at the paddy fields en route, overtaking slowies, swerving through traffic (you can see how hectic the roads were), hand signals left right and centre.

E

A blissful hour of sunshine and quiet. Sweaty messes when we got back to Hoi An. 

An Ngay. Let's Eat.

A day of food in Hoi An...what could be better? Off to market with our shopping bags, cooking course on Cam Thanh island village, back to beautiful Hoi An and it's ochre wonderfulness and in case we weren't quite done yet, an amazing meal at Cargo Club watching the lanterns swim up the river under the Japanese bridge. 

Small word of warning, many food photos coming up. And a fair few Vietnamese hats....

"Are you Big Buddhas now?" asks our grinning waiter. Yes we are. Happy big full up Buddhas.