day 46... kids in hoi an

our new buds(who's names were unpronounceable)

share stories about life in NAM

take kurt for joy rides around town

and ate all his oreos

a cultural exchange indeed

meanwhile saying goodbye is never easy

bubye dear friends

day 45... made in vietnam

seeing as hoi an is the capital of custom made, we figured we'd go all out (3 pairs of shoes, 6 button downs, 2 wool coats, 1 fall jacket) off to the cobbler

with decent results for a $100 total

next stop the tailors

michelle's new fall jacket

kurt's shirts (finally enough room in the shoulders!)

last but not least the woolly jackets at two for $120

damn it's exhausting

day 43 , 44 ....... hoi an

walking the weathered remains of colonialism

where market stalls line the streets

gas comes in green or orange

and dumplings are white rose

even the music is colorful

not to mention the riverside sunset

yes life remains simple in hoi an

day 41, 42 ........ lang co beach

catching the 5:30 AM train south

all board the "soft" seat car

vendor's peddle dried squid through the chainlink windows... not thanks

taxi's into town

r&r

and gettin the toes wet

all very well indeed suited up and ready for war... our chariot (minus the broken gauges, light, brakes and starter) revs with anticipation and we're (barely) off! rolling through the countryside to elephant springs

a rocky outcrop which gave the springs its namesake

below fresh water pools form amongst the boulders and cabanas

finally back at the beach with a bowl of bun bo hue