VIETNAM - Hoi An - Part 2

After promising Bich I would return to get some clothes made by her (which is what you are supposed to do in this town) I got measured and showed her my designs. She gave me some ginger tea and then I left to go explore town and shop around. A lot of walking and looking. Lots of shops to see but mostly I just wandered around looking and all the locals living their daily lives and working so hard. Most of them work 362/365 days in the year. I cannot believe his but it is true. And the thing is they are the happiest people. And the most thoughtful. They all know one another and talk with each other as each day goes by. They are one big family. Bich would take me by the arm and take me to her best friends store booth and show me the things I could get. After shopping a little I went back to the hostel to rest and eat some lunch. Then I set back out to go see Bich and my clothes that were already done! In one day! I tried them on and they made a few more modifications and then sent them back so I could get them tomorrow when they would be done finally. Back in the hostel around 7 there was a free spring roll making class. And I probably ate 20 spring rolls. And they had this mega spring roll you could make which was a friend spring roll rolled into a fresh one. Pretty cool. Also the sauce was so amazing that I literally drank it. After that I went into my room with my spring roll baby and went to bed. The next morning I woke up and rented a bike to go explore the Water Coconut Palms near the beach. They were really cool but it was a cloudy day and was starting to rain a bit so I headed back. I got my new and finished clothes from Bich and we sat have some more ginger tea and then she ordered so take away Cao Tau and we ate at her store. She paid for it even though I offered money but she denied it. She even offered me to stay at her house for Tet or Vietnam New year as they say. She is so sweet. It started to rain the rest of the day so I just relaxed and read some books in the hostel. For dinner I went exploring across the bridge to find a small street cafe where I got some steamed spring rolls and white rose dumplings (a local cuisine only found in Hoi An) after sitting a while I got to talking with the sweet old lady working there and it turns out her whole family lives in San Jose and has a Vietnamese resturant! What a small world so I wrote down her information and might be making a visit to see her family when I go back! After I walked over to the night market and I tried some coconut cakes which was crepes stuffed with shredded coconut, condensed milk, and chocolate sauce. Yum. Next I just slowly wandered through the lit streets and watched the locals clean up their shops and try to make their final sales. Such a great town. Went back to get some free rum and coke and then hit the hay. Tomorrow a big adventure awaits me!