Lazy Hazy Day

After crashing late last night, we were looking forward to sleeping in.  Little did we know that immediately below our room there is a temple and they have morning celebrations for Tet.  I woke to the in-melodic sounds of what must have been singing over a loud speaker and the thumping of drums both amplified by loud speakers.  Needless to say, there would be no sleeping in.  

The scene of the crime?

I was still half awake when Ken presented me with a beautiful pair of earrings shaped like lanterns as a New Year's gift.  Chuc Mung Nam Moi to me!  The other day when we were shopping, I was looking at them and he pronounced them boring. He had already bought them for me in our hotel lobby after I'd oohed and aahed at them a day earlier and didn't want me to ruin the surprise. How sweet.  

Fully awake, we headed to the hotel restaurant for breakfast.  The buffet offers a wide range of Vietnamese and western foods.  After coffee, Ken had his usual, eggs (this time in an omelet) with croissants and toasted baguette.  I selected a plate of fruit to start and then had a look at the Vietnamese offerings as I'd had eggs the past few mornings.  I tried a couple of the spring-rolls, a traditional Tet speciality - fried sticky rice cake, fried rice and stir fried chicken.  Other than the sticky rice cake which was a bit tough, I enjoyed the change or maybe the same same.  I love most Asian dishes so sampling the local delicacies is a pleasure.  

After breakfast, Ken headed out on one of the hotel bikes looking for a decent cup of coffee while I headed to the pool to write the blog.  Ken reported that the streets were deserted, shops and restaurants closed and the market was empty likening it to the scene from The Walking Dead when Rick wakes up in the hospital when he returned a short while later.  We decided that a day lounging around the pool reading might be a good opportunity to catch our breath.   I do love lounging in the sun and I had snagged the princess lounger complete with canopy so I was in heaven.

   
Many hours later we got cleaned up and headed to town for dinner.  Needed to get some steps in to meet our 10,000/day + goal.  The shops were open so we meandered down the road checking out the wares until fortuitously we arrived at our destination.  The Hai Cafe is a lovely courtyard restaurant featuring Vietnamese BBQ.  Even though we had missed National Drink Wine Day on the 18th we wanted to celebrate it so we ordered a bottle of Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, a favourite of mine.  Dinner was sweet and sour pork that turned into chicken for Ken and BBQ chicken breast with stir fried morning glory and garlic for me.  We shared a banana split for dessert so I guess that means we'll be walking home.  The food was simple and perfectly cooked, the ambience was lovely and the service fantastic.  Might have to find time to try it again.  

We wandered through town as the shops were closing and headed back to the hotel which is a bit less than a mile from home.  Many families were still hanging out and celebrating being together on this special day in the shops and in their homes.  The twinkling lanterns make Hoi An a very special place after the sun sets.  I'm sure you can tell that I like them - lol...

More tomorrow (lol, promise) ...