Part Deux: Danang and Hoi Ann

               After 6 weeks in Saigon we finally ventured out of the city and into the countryside. Of course it isn’t fair to call Danang the country side, but after getting out of the city, I do see why all the Vietnam guidebooks stress just how crazy Saigon is. It was a little bit of ”moto traffic shock” on the way home from the airport upon our return to Saigon. Libby rightfully said Danang was like a single district of Saigons 10 or 11. There are the footfhills in the background and the beach in front, so Danang definitely blows Saigon out of the water in terms of natural beauty. As I mentioned before, I hung out with just the guys for the first time on Sunday night while our flight left at 6 am the next morning. The combination of just finishing working 22 of the past 48 hours and being with the guys inevitably lead to WAY too much beer (the English are pretty impressive drinkers across the board)…anyways, it honestly felt like I woke up in Danang, which was pretty cool yet at the same time I was like, just take me back to my bed in Saigon. Luckily Danang had the perfect cure-a very nice beach. The beach wasn’t stunning, but the sand itself was impressive; it actually sparkled and glittered gold in the water when the sun was hitting off it as it floated in the water. Also there was like a total of 5 people on the beach, which goes on for at least a mile or two. I just sort of flopped around in the water like a Walrus and by the time lunch rolled around I was like a new person.  Our friend Linh and her sister were in Danang at the same time, so we met her sister and their mother for lunch at one of the authentic locals’ place-that they said Lonely Planet had already put in their book hah-but it was pretty delicious Ban Xeo. I ate entirely way too much but the Grandmother was both very gracious and Vietnamese in that she kept my dipping sauce full the entire time even though we couldn’t talk to each other, just smile.  

We had rented a moto in Danang which was great for expediting our exploration of the city (In fact, I almost want to rent a moto in any city I visit from now on). Anyways after lunch we headed to the Cham museum. I was iffy about going in the first place but since it was raining we went for it. Sure glad we did, thankfully the Vietnamese know to put their museums into the beautiful French colonial buildings. It’s amazing what they had to design to help keep things cool before the advent of air-conditioning. The art was definitely the most impressive Art in Vietnam and the museum itself has been open for 100+ years which was also very cool. 

Into the foothills at the point of Danang bay (Danang is in a bay). There is a very beautiful and come to find out very new Pagoda here. Only 3 years old! Which is a bit funny but at least religion isn’t on a precipitous decline everywhere. It was so nice to be surrounded by vegetation on the drive up to the Pagoda, you forgot how relaxing it is when you’re in the concrete jungle. It had just rained and the Sun was starting to burst through the clouds which made for a stunning view of Danang.  Libby’s favorite part of the Pagoda was the enormous Lady Buddha that watched over the city, she liked to think of her as Mary. My favorite part was the courtyard of Bonzai trees, I think I found my new life hobby. Those trees were manipulated in the most incredible ways, I never knew you could literally attach the roots to a branch in essence creating what looks like secondary, tertiary, 4ary, 5ary, 6ary trunks. 

TO BE CONTINUED.......