Hoi An is a beautiful little town that has been set as a world heritage site for it’s historical significance. There is a very high density of tourists there, but the town has strict guidelines about building so everything has a quaint and friendly feel. After the bustle of Hong Kong, it was quite a nice change.

When we were buying our fly threads at “Hoa Cloth Shop” I kept finding my mind wandering back to an incident that happened on the way over there so before leaving the shop, I wrote up what happened in my journal.

Sometimes life throws you a beautiful event that shows you just how great humanity can be. In Vietnam Keely and I were walking down the street and are both taken by surprise by a curb. I was just startled but Keely twisted her already hurt ankle. She crumples on the ground and tears begin welling up - she’s really hurting. I crouched next to her to comfort her but didn’t know what to do. A Vietnamese woman came over and began rubbing peppermint oil onto her ankle. After this Keely could walk - it was very helpful. We were saying thanks and I wanted to pay her - I mean, she had this little kid and no shoes. But before I can offer her money she is gone carrying her kid off.

This happened hours after I was thinking, “oh great”, passing judgement on the entire culture based off some rambunctious teenagers behind us on the plane and a business man who felt entitled to the entire armrest and a few inches past it. (Actually, this was typical for airplane rides in Vietnam, but people on the street behave quite differently.) Such decisive kindness can make you feel foolish for harboring cynicism.

2. Tuesday 033

Originally uploaded by theloneconspirator.

Mike got this wonderful shot of a Hoi An fisherman tossing his net. I think he caught the movement beautifully.

I asked a travel agent in Bangkok to help me arrange our trip to Vietnam, and to set up a tour of My Son (ancient ruins) for us. He made it a full day tour, with Hoi An’s ancient town as a part of it. Not fully remembering the details of last time I was there I thought it would be ok. Unfortunately, I hurt my ankle again on Monday night when I stepped off a curb I hadn’t seen, and hurt it much worse than it had been (I believe Mike has a post about that experience on the way). Walking on Tuesday was nearly impossible.

Though I wanted Mike to go without me, our guide convinced me to go, saying that he’d hire a cyclo driver to pedal me around between sites, and then I’d only have to walk at the sites themselves.

The problem with ancient town is that they have taken the opportunity presented by having tourists captive to add in the hard sell. Neither of us have much patience for that sort of thing, and quickly tired of the tour. I also felt that further irritating my ankle simply to put up with sales pitches was bad.

Mike mentioned to the guide that we would rather not visit any more places where they are selling stuff, which felt a little awkward, but the guide whisked us off to a boat ride on the Thu Bon River, where this photo was snapped. It was a lovely ride, watching fishermen fish, the local flora and fauna, and checking out all the homes we passed by. Also: much more gimp-friendly.

Afterwards they dropped me off at the hotel and went on to My Son, where there is lots of walking necessary on uneven ground, so I felt it best I stay behind. Fortunately I went there last time, so I don’t feel like I completely missed out.

BTW — The ankle is still on the mend, but walking is much easier now.

hoian (11)

Originally uploaded by lady3jane.

Here’s a photo I like from Hoi An.