Hoi An, Vietnam

After I arrived in Hoi An on Friday (2 February) afternoon I spent a long time walking around looking for the famed 'best bargain rooms in Asia'. But apparently those must have been in Vang Vieng, Laos as the best I could do in Hoi An was $7/night. There were a few places for $5 or $6 but they weren't very exciting or in bad locations. For $7/night I do have a great location, satellite TV, and a large clean bathroom... Its actually an HI 'hostel' and I think they might have dorm rooms, but I didn't bother inquiring for some reason. I spent the rest of the day walking around the small, historic town. Hoi An is really a special place I think, if you can get past all the tourists and all the touts trying to sell you stuff. I got in contact with Sally and Carolyn from Hanoi and we made plans to meet up later that evening which we did. They were leaving the following day however.

Hoi An is famous for being the place to shop for cheap, custom made clothes. After 8+ months of wearing the same 2 pairs of pants and countless repairs on them, I decided this would be the place to pick up a new pair. So on Saturday (3 February) morning I - blush, blush - went shopping. I really, really hate shopping and Hoi An has not changed that in me. The problem with buying anything in Asia is you have to shop around a lot to make sure you are not getting ripped off. So after visiting numerous clothes shops - which are set up side by side on every street around - I ordered a pair of custom pants for $8. 'Custom' as in I want this fabric, color, design, pocket, zipper, here, here and here. Not bad. Then I went to a barber and got a $2 haircut, before eating my $.65 lunch in the market. While in the market I found a button down, short sleeve shirt for $1.50. Its nice to have one shirt that is not a tee shirt for once.

I may have gone a bit overboard - by my traveling standards at least - as late in the afternoon I also ordered some custom board shorts for $5.5o. But I figured if I was getting a new pair of pants I also needed a new pair of shorts, as both pair of my zip-off pants are looking pretty worn. So I got a button down shirt, custom made shorts, and custom made pants for $15!!

All of this has made me realize that its going to be really, really difficult to return home and pay western prices for things once again.....

Some time during the day I bumped into someone I met in Ninh Binh and I met her for dinner that evening. I was also suppose to meet up with some other travelers I met the previous night but they either forgot or stood me up. Its was a pretty mellow and actually boring night.