Monday, April 20, 2020

Vietnam Traditional Farming, Massage and Cooking Lesson and Rice Paper Making on the Commune in Hoi An


Here's one from the travel Diary.  We were in Hoi An this time last year and it was some of the times of our lives. Magical is the only way to describe old town Hoi An by night. It's crazy, colourful, crowded and noisy but so exciting and sooooooo romantic.

Here's my travel entry
Everyone was beat last night, but I wanted more of the town under lights so I left everyone in the pool and got a taxi into town by myself and did some shopping, which was great as I got to do what I wanted.
We are getting some tailored clothes made there too. Earlier in the day, we had a ball with the seamstresses bargaining on price and just generally laughing with them. I'm looking forward to seeing them again this afternoon for our fitting. I'm having a dress and coat made, which you could wear to a wedding (perhaps my next one) or a Melbourne Cup lunch. The Biggest Beach House Brat is getting a suit made for his formal coming up in June and Mr Beach House, well he is getting a smoking jacket made with Chinese patterned silk. Ever the joker, as he walked out he said, " Great I just paid $US75 for a jacket I'll never wear, but trust me he can't wait to walk into the next event wearing it. Now we just need to be invited to an event. Maybe we should get married again so we have somewhere to wear these beautiful clothes.  Maybe in Hoi An.
The rest of the day was spent cycling out into the countryside amongst the crazy traffic to visit a family farm. The Littlest Beach House Brat did a great job of avoiding the overtaking trucks going full bore on the highway which give you little room to think, let alone ride safely. But as I said previously, this is the wild west (or should I say east) and going with the flow is the best way to enjoy it.
The family farm was in a traditional village. We did a bit of farming, had a beautiful foot and shoulder massage, learned how to make rice paper, had a cooking class using said rice paper and then sat and ate it all for dinner. What a lovely day spent with a beautiful Vietnamese family on their government-owned plot of land. They pay taxes for the use of and they all seem pretty happy about it. It's kind of a commune with lots of families also in the village doing the same thing all helping one another and sharing the cost of machinery etc. They all came out around dinner time to start working the land again as it had been too hot in the middle of the day. Our host said that none of the young people want to farm anymore and there are collective concerns for the future of agriculture in Vietnam. In about 10 years when the old people are too old or no longer around to provide all the wonderful fresh food available here, they said they worry about who will provide the labour.
One other funny thing happened and of course it involved our resident comedian Mr Beach House. We were served a welcome drink (see photos). It was delicious and even had a hollowed out piece of lemongrass as the straw which fits in well here with the 'waste not want not' culture. After having a few sips we were asked to guess what the squishy little balls with a black centre floating in the drink were. None of us could guess so we were told. "Oh they come from the river and they are frogs eggs......Very good for you" I did a double take and thought oh well I've already downed half the drink so there's no going back now. I'll defo be sick tomorrow, but I kept drinking as I didn't want to appear rude. Mr Beach House pushed the drink away and gagged. Our host was kacking herself. The balls were actually lemon basil seeds and they were darn good too. This joke is no doubt a standard part of the tour.
Today is a rest day, which we will use to take Layne surfing. There is a little beach here with small waves akin to Kiddys' Corner at Palm Beach so just the place for kids to catch a few waves.
Hoi An Old Town By Night



Hoi An Old Town By Night

Hoi An Old Town By Night

Hoi An Old Town By Night

Hoi An Old Town By Day

Our Lovely Tailors


Traditional Farming at the Water Wheel farm

Traditional Farming at the Water Wheel farm Hoi An

Traditional Farming at the Water Wheel farm Hoi An

Traditional Farming at the Water Wheel farm Hoi An


Traditional Farming at the Water Wheel farm Hoi An

Traditional Farming at the Water Wheel farm Hoi An

Traditional Farming at the Water Wheel farm Hoi An

Making Rice paper the Traditional Way at the Water Wheel Farm in Hoi An

Making Rice paper the Traditional Way at the Water Wheel Farm in Hoi An

Making Rice paper the Traditional Way at the Water Wheel Farm in Hoi An

Making Rice paper the Traditional Way at the Water Wheel Farm in Hoi An

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Traditional Cooking Lesson at the Water Wheel Farm

Traditional Cooking Lesson at the Water Wheel Farm

Traditional Cooking Lesson at the Water Wheel Farm

Traditional Cooking Lesson at the Water Wheel Farm

Massage at the Water Wheel Farm

Foot Massage at the Water Wheel Farm




A beautiful meal we all cooked


Market Gardens on the Commune

Welcome Drink
Oh Vietnam how I long to return.  Frr more travel stories go here.

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