Our last day in Hoi An, the time has gone so quickly. Tomorrow we head to Hue by car, about a three hour drive. Today was lovely, coffee in the morning at Suong's shop and then some last minute shopping. We have sent some Vietnamese coffee and bits and pieces home by ship, will take three months to arrive. Suong cooked us an awesome lunch, tamarind prawns, spring rolls, soup, sticky rice things with red bean in the centre and then some fresh fruit, mangosteens, longans and mandarins. Tonight we went to a local restaurant, and Nathan, Sharon, Hayley and I shouted dinner for the family for Christmas, about twenty of us, for the ridiculous price of $55. Trinh and her new husband returned, so the family were together again. Yum! Bowls of Clams cooked in soup, dipped in salt,pepper and lime juice, clams cooked on charcoal with lemongrass and something else, platters of calamari, steamed squid, marinated chicken, and sliced beef which you wrap in some sort of large green leaves and dip in sauce, followed by "hotpot" a tasty broth cooked at the table on a paraffin(?) stove which slices of raw beef and seafood are cooked in, served in bowls with rice noodles. We have never eaten better. Was a great night and the whole family are wonderful. We were given little Christmas presents, Hayley got a silver anklet and I was given a really pretty hair-tie with nice bling. After dinner we went to Karaoke... Hayley and I weren't going to sing, but with enough beer on board we belted out some fabulous tunes (ha ha). Overall we have had THE BEST time!!!
Love to all!!! xxxx
