Early start this morning for My Son Temple tour - being picked up from the resort by an (air comditioned !) bus at 730am. After various other hotel pickups in Hoi An we were off on the 45 minute drive to the Temple area. Our guide was great - with a cheeky sense of humour and was quite informative enroute as well as throughout the temple precinct. Enjoyed the countryside vistas - small townships combined with farming areas. Every possible space is utilised to grow crops of some description - rice, corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, beans, chillies....and that's just what we spotted! Harvesting of rice not all done by hand - harvesting machinery in operation in many areas. Rice as well as corn and peanuts laid out to dry - literally anywhere! Footpaths, roadways, sporting fields, front yards..!
The Cham temple ruins of My Son has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and comprises eight groups of 71 monuments some dating back to the 7th century. Vietnam's verison of Angkar Wat! Fascinating! Managed to catch a performance of traditional dance and music as well. So glad we started early as the heat and humidity continued to intensify. And, the option of the return trip by boat, though incredibly basic was an interesting experience and ensured a pleasant breeze up the wide expanse of the Thu Bon River. Plenty to see, including a visit to a boat building and wood carving village. We finished up back in Hoi An near the Central Market - a bustling area of produce and wares - and were taken to a small restaurant on the river for light lunch of pork and noodles (with quail eggs!). Enjoyed the company of an English guy from Newcastle and was interesting to compare experiences.
Then to tackle the heat again as returned to the Tailors and shoe makers. Few adjustments needed for both but all done and sorted in an hour with tie purchased as well! Back to Riverside Resort for swim and beers - chatted to young Australian couple from Adelaide by our lovely pool. Decided we would like to eat at one of the many seafood restaurants on Cua Dai Beach - Crystal recommeded one called "Hon" - so we caught a taxi ...VND25000/$1.50! Very quiet compared to the bustle of Hoi An town - we were the only customers at Hon besides a large Vietnamese group and all other restaurants looked empty! Experiencing a lull after the hectic holiday week period. The setting was beautiful - grassed area directly above the sand of the beach.....reminiscent of Jimbaran Bay or even Ornos. Such a pleasant time to be eating outdoors with a sea breeze. And, the food was great too! Spring rolls, barbecued prawns and squid! A cocktail back at the resort topped off a lovely night.