blew a million!

Cheese for breakfast today!! How exciting to see processed cheese slices and laughing cow spready cheese on the table!! Another early rise for us to set off at 7.30 to My Son, World Heritage Site and the biggest and most evocative Cham site. Dating from the 7th to 13th centuries, in its heyday it had 70 temples. The site was discovered by French archaeologists in the 19th century who found that the Cham were master builders - insead of mortar they used a resin of ground brick and mollusc shells, which left only a hairline crack between the bricks. Unfortunately the Viet Cong based themselves there in the 1960s, so the site was pounded by B52 bombers and many unique buildings were bombed into oblivion. We arrived ahead of the crowds, and had a quick look round before stopping to watch a traditional dancing show at 9.30. it was quite dark and I was disappointed with the pictures I got.

The site was impressive but it was extremely hot by this time and at about 11 we called it a day and headed back to Hoi An in the bus.

A wander around the town to better get our bearings, and some lunch at a café with delicious looking cakes, followed by a hilarious episode that nearly made the blip of the day. Saw three old ladies with the traditional over-the-shoulder baskets squatting across the road, and just as I was about to take a pic one of them spotted me. I waved the camera at them, and all three stood up to attention, beaming smiles, not the shot I wanted but fun anyway. Then they came dashing across the road to sell us some fruit. We said we'd have a mango but before you could say blip they had a mango, two bananas and six rambutans (like lychees) in a bag and wanted 120,000 dong for them - that's 6 dollars!!!! Talk about trying it on. We eventually got away with paying them 70,000 dong, about £3.50 but it still makes it the most expensive photo yet!!

The afternoon was spent looking at some of the old buildings, merchants' houses, museums and the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, the adopted emblem of Hoi An. It is known that a bridge has been on this site since the 16th century and rebuilt several times to the same design. At about 4pm we managed to shake off our guide, Hai, (we think he's lonely) for a mooch around on our own. We knew about a handicraft centre where all the goods were made on site, so headed off for some present shopping and that's where I blew the million - I spent 1,210,000 dong, or $60!!

Knackered in the heat, we came back to the hotel for a swim in the small pool and a bit of relaxation, then ate the expensive fruit and headed out again - back to the lunch spot for cake and coffee as neither of us was very hungry. We shared strawberry cheesecake and brownie cake, which we assumed were imported but the owner told us they were all made on the premises - impressive!

here are the three entrepreneurial ladies, the bridge at dusk and a well laden scooter.

Confession time. In general I'm disappointed with many of my pics. A lot of washed out skies. I brought the wrong filter and wonder if I had the polarising one it would have made a difference. If you look at the shot of the bridge, the reflection of the sky shows the true colour of the sky. I still have an awful lot to learn.

Scooter diary:
5 cages of live birds
Several orchids in pots
Large supply of brooms
Glass case full of baguettes
5 butane gas canisters
a large box saying 'Alaska showcase'