June 27th, 2006
Hoi An
There’s a lot that’s authentic about Hoi An, despite the number of shops and restaurants targeting the US dollar, or the Vietnamese dong in the pocket of the foreign visitors. You only have to watch life on the river, or walk around the market to see local life carrying on with little regard for prying eyes and cameras.
The river is alive with boats, large and small, punted, rowed or motorised. Large nets, a long pole attached to each corner and fixed to the riverbed, are lowered into the water and later winched out again to catch fish.
Motorbikes and people are packed onto ferries, along with goods going to and from market.We spent a couple of hours at an orphanage one afternoon, in a classroom with a group of about 8 young boys, some disabled.
I played ‘Connect Four’ with one lad whose coordination meant that it was difficult for him to drop the counter in the right slot—but there was nothing wrong with his understanding and strategy. Another boy would have beaten me soundly at ‘Pairs’ if he hadn’t given me so much help.
written by alan_nesbit from iE