Jo and Hayley's SEA tour

 Hi all! We are in Danang today, and will meet with Ron for dinner, will be lovely to catch up! Yesterday we were fed four times, all the exercise we did previously was to no avail. Yesterday we were picked up from our hotel by Suong and her husband and off for morning coffee, followed by a breakfast stop.... this was fried egg, steak, tomato, a strangely wrapped pork ball..., onions, broth served on a sizzle plate and baguettes. When we say we are not hungry the air of disappointment is plainly obvious, so we keep eating..... After breaky we headed back to the Tailor shop, and Suong headed to the market to buy food for lunch!!!!! Was very nice, fish in a tomato sauce, rice, soup, and prawn and spring onion spring rolls (we asked for just a small lunch). We then arranged to meet for dinner later that night, as we had declined the previous evening. Last year we met a small boy who sells clay whistles, so we brought him some gifts from Australia, a hat and a stuffed kangaroo and some Aussie dollars. Was great to see him again and he invited us to his home. We were to meet him at our favourite restaurant at 4pm. When he arrived he led us out of the back door to the river, where his Aunty was waiting with a little wooden boat. It took about 15mins to row to his house(Hayley and I weighed the boat down somewhat). The living conditions were very poor, half the house had a dirt floor, and the water marks from last years flooding were half way up the walls. We met all of the family, and they set up a plastic table with bottles of cola and fanta. Then out came food for us, spring rolls, squid and prawns, followed by bananas and bon-bon. We weren't hungry, but we felt obliged to eat as they had gone to so much trouble for us. Was very pleasant, though very little english was spoken, many smiles, and our bowls continually filled. Then we were taken by boat back to the town.... a little heavier again. Then we had to meet Suong and her husband for dinner, we explained that we had been fed, but the disappointed looks made us realise that of course we could squeeze in a little more...... fried chicken, rice and salad at a little local restaurant(little plastic tables and chairs, gas burner and wok) very tasty! We rolled home, literally, looking and feeling much fatter and realised we were being killed with kindness and hospitality!!!! Back to diet today! Off to Hue tomorrow for four days and then we will return to Hoi An, Suong and her family were disappointed we were only staying a week, so will go back and spend more time with them, though we have already said we can only eat two meals a day. Suong countered this with 'maybe just a small lunch also?' We will try and stand our ground. Lovely people, we feel very lucky!!! Love to all!xxxxxx