Been in Hoi An since Monday, now Thursday..totally losing track of the days/dates. Loving Hoi An (although we have loved everywhere so far!). Spent Tuesday just wandering about the town, is really really hot just now. The town is so nice though and people just want to stop and chat to you all the time. Lots of little cafe/restaurants overlooking river so nice to stop for a drink and bit of air con now and again. The local brewed 'fresh beer' is sold in most places - they all have ice cold barrels of it and it's delicious and only about 3% alcohol, but best of all it's only between 10p and 14p for a half pint!
Went to a spa on Tuesday afternoon, even Lewie got right into the idea of a massage after trekking in Sapa. We all had a full body, head and feet massage, totally bliss. I thought the kids might mess about and giggle the whole time but they didn't, think they just loved the chance to totally chill! As with everything it was really really cheap, probably about £6 each for 2 hours. Highlight for the kids was getting lifts there from the hotel staff on their motorbikes. Still can't get over the roads/driving here. In theory they drive on the right but people just go wherever they want, zig zagging between each other. Crossing the road is a bit mental at first but amazing how quickly you get used to it.
Went for cocktails/mocktails at night and watched the incredibly quick sunset over the river then off to Before & Now for a fab dinner and more people watching.

Wednesday - went on an Eco tour. Was meant to be a group tour but as it's low season here it was only me and the kids on it. Got picked up at 8am by minibus and drove out of the town to the farms nearby where we got our bikes. Went for a cycle on little quiet lanes to meet some farmers. Was really quiet and peaceful but full of very old people working tirelessly on the fruit and veg crops that they then take to the markets. Got to ride on a water buffalo (bloody thing stayed still for the kids to sit on it's back then when I got on it decided to go a wander, very nearly ended up face down in a muddy field of buffalo dung!), then went to help an old farming woman..no idea how old she was but she looked about 80. Got to water the crops with huge iron cans attached to wooden plank that rested across our shoulders. Really hard work, no idea how she does it all day. Also helped to plough the field and sow some seeds which were mixed with dried buffalo coat..nice! Guide bought some lovely fresh mixed greens for us to have at lunch.
Got back on bikes and cycled to the boat. 'Captain Cook' was in charge and totally entertained the kids - all vietnamese people just love children. Met a few different fisherman and got to try their traditional fishing techniques which meant jumping across to very very small wooden boats, standing on tiny benches and lobbing huge nets into the river. Fortunately we managed to not fall in. Went on to an island where viet Cong soldiers had evaded the americans for years by hiding out in the coconut and bamboo trees that are really difficult to manouver through. Had home made tea and sweet potatoe with one of the old soldiers who still lives on the island. Really lovely old man, lost his foot in the war so can barely walk but spends his days building bamboo furniture and coconut leaf roofs for the people on the island. The houses were amazing - all made by hand using the wood and leaves around them.
Went back to boat for more fishing - this time over to another island where there are huge wooden pulleys for pulling up massive nets in the river. Have to use a big wheel which you pull back with your hands then push down with your feet. Kids couldn't do it but I managed to get it going, was really hot, slow work and I was ready for passing out after 3 minutes but the fisherman kept saying "you stop..I lose my fish!!" no pressure then. Finally got the next up so had to go out in tiny bamboo bowl to collect the fish jumping around inside it. Hard work but great fun. Finally went back to boat for a massive seafood lunch. I got to sit on deck in the sun with a cold beer while captain cook took the kids out on the bamboo bowl for a real White knuckle rollercoaster ride.
Back to hotel for a well earned sleep then up and out for the football - Spain vs Germany. Met a group of spainish people in a bar where they football was to be showing but they had just found out that there was a big screen in the town square showing it so we all headed up there at 1. There were about 300 locals there, loads of the obligatory wee red plastic chairs set out plus a beer fridge. Amazing atmosphere. The Spanish guys were brilliant, they totally loved Lewie and had him singing and cheering in Spanish all the way through. Just as the second half started there was a massive power cut (nothing new here, happens all the time) and the entire town was plunged into darkness, we could literally see nothing apart from the stars. You would have expected people to go nuts but being Vietnam it was just the usual laid back, oh well that's a bit annoying but we'll get the scores somehow attitude. Ten mins later a generator was found (reckon there must have been someone with contacts in the crowd) and the football came back - but no power was on in the rest of the town so the only light cane from the screen. When Spain won it was absolutely amazing, everyone singing and dancing and cheering, Lewie was put up on Rob's shoulders and run around screaming and shouting. Brilliant night. We were then stuck with the challenge of walking home in the pitch black at 4 30am. Fab though, we all walked together with mobile phones shining on the path. Left the spaniards at there hotel and wandered the ten mins back to ours. People were already getting up to go to Market and were stopping to chat to us, can't imagine feeling as safe and secure walking home at 4 30am in Glasgow with no street lights!
Anyway spent today in bed til 11 then went for a wander and a swim. Nice chilled out day, dinner at cafe 43 which has become our favourite place - amazing food, great family who run it - including baby whisky (don't actually know his real name) and Rum the dog with a diamond earring. 3 meals, 2 ice creams, 4 cans of juice and 2 beers for under a tenner - can't beat it!
Had a drink in Treat on the way home as kids love the pool table and the chocolate milkshakes and I get to sit and watch the works go by and have the odd to chat to folk. Nice to just have random conversations now and again, we've met so many nice people and don't even know their names! Have booked bus tickets to Mui Ne for Tuesday so have another 5 days here, much longer than originally planned but we just love it and are looking forward to the world cup final here - hopefully without any blackouts!