Hoi An - Last Day
Today was, dare I say it, not quite as hot as previous days. In fact, by early afternoon, you could almost call the weather simply hot - not unbearably hot.Liz and I spent most of the day by the pool and in the pool and had a lovely long conversation with some Australians who were in Hoi An for a few days as part of a tour group.
Pete and Jim went off for some photographic work in the town - Pete very nobly assisting with lugging equipment around and spying out good photo opportunities. They came back early afternoon, sweaty and overheated, and couldn't find us - as we were lounging about in the water down behind the pool bar. A couple of hours later, they were astonished to find we had been in the pool all along.
Jim very bravely went off to have a massage at the Vinh Hung Spa & Beauty Centre during the afternoon - and came back glowing and glistening with oil. He said he felt a million dollars after having an all-body massage - which included ears and eyebrows - and insisted we go along and have one too.
Liz and I ventured into the Spa Centre and were greeted by Vincent, a small Vietnamese man in shorts with a pencil thin moustache. Vincent, plus the soft red lighting and red carpets, gave the place a suspiciously brothel-like appearance - and if it hadn't been for Jim's recommendation, we would have been out the door quick smart.
We were led upstairs into a softly lit room and were given a full Swedish massage by two tiny Vietnamese girls. I've no idea what they think of us Westerners. We must seem like great lumpy whales to them.To their credit, they got in there with great enthusiasm and lashings of oil and we came out feeling relaxed and probably a little taller - considering the stretching which went on.
By this time, evening was approaching and the weather was positively balmy. The best weather we've had so far - just the day before we leave.
We had a celebratory cocktail by the river and then sauntered into the town to eat dinner at "Good Morning Vietnam" - Hoi An's best Italian restaurant - recommended to us the night before by Italian architect, Marco.
Marco said we should tell the owner, Luca, that Marco sent us - so we did - and were served the most wonderful Italian food - a lovely antipasto platter, focaccia, gnocchi, lasagne, ravioli, tiramisu. We rolled out of there with stomachs bursting but very satisfied.
On coming back to the resort at 10 pm, we went for a final swim in the small pool outside our room and floated in the water, gazing up at the coconuts in the trees and the clear sky.
A fitting way to finish off our last day in Hoi An. Bliss!
No comments:
Post a Comment