Happy New Year from Hoi An, where New Years Eve was every bit as big as in the U.S. Can't imagine Tet, the upcoming lunar New Year.
Hoi An was a trading center, a seaport from the 16th-19th centuries, with Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese influences. It's is the #2 tourism destination on Viet Nam (#1 is Ha Long Bay) and the old center is a living UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Today we left the hotel at 7 a.m. to drive to My Son. This Hindu temple complex was built be the Cham people in the 4th-13th centuries. In 1969 My Son was carpet-bombed, and largely destroyed.
Arrived in time to have the place literally to ourselves, and left as it was getting crowded. Mary's best birding day so far- drongos, barbets and bulbuls.
Not writing much as a cold or flu has laid me low, and a really sore throat makes it hard to sleep.
Hoping the "Cures Sore Throat and Calms Cough" tea I drank at lunch will help.
A few tidbits-
- Yesterday afternoon we visited the small and simple rural home of elderly friends of Hank's . At the top of the large altar, a statue of Ho Chi Minh. Of course, says Hank. They're both members of the Communist Party.
- Ever wonder why we spell "Vietnam" and they spell "Viet Nam?" Most Vietnamese words are very short. The longest word in the language has only seven letters. Seems when Western journalists started filing dispatches from the wars, they were still using the telegraph, and putting Ha and Noi or Viet and Nam together saved a space!
- On the drive to My Son, we passed many wedding ceremonies. The timing of these is set by shamans, and today must be an auspicious day. As we passed one, Hank asked the driver to pull over, and we piled out to congratulate the bride and groom. They and the family took it in stride.
Tomorrow we leave Hoi An, and fly to the beach town of Nha Trang.
Love, Toni
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