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Day 68 – Hoi An

After a short 45 min taxi ride from Da Nang we entered Hoi An to a warm welcome at a delightful boutique hotel. The receptionist was super informative and provided a map of Hoi An Old Quarter and additional info like a good optician for new glasses/tailors/activities and what prices were fair for tours etc.

I’d already been researching opticians here as I would like a pair of multifocal sunglasses which I’ve never invested in before given the cost involved in Australia. So we marched along to the recommended optician who seemed to get great reviews from people from around the globe who have used him. The shop had plenty of frames to choose from and I quickly saw some that would work for me. The optician provided a quote (around 1/3 to 1/2 the Oz cost) which I was happy with so he took a look at my script, checked the prescription and measurements and will let me know (via WhatsApp) when the sunnies arrive (turnaround time 2-3 days). Fingers crossed this all works out…I’ll let you know!

In the evening, we went to see the highly popular Hoi An Memories Show https://hoianmemoriesshow.com. Ponchos were handed out as rain was threatening but fortunately this only resulted in a few drops of rain. This show was an impressive spectacle, although we did have trouble following the storyline, but that did not spoil our enjoyment of all the visual aspects. Hundreds of performers take part, lots of impressive stage sets and costumes, fire, water, great sound system and music…we had a good time. The only downside was getting off the island where the show is held with the other hundreds of members of the audience including tour groups blocking exits and then trying to get a Grab taxi back to the hotel!

This is a super hotel, and we’ve stayed in here twice between 2022 and 2024. Its location is about 90 minutes north of Phuket Airport, and getting here is really easy with an airport taxi which you can book in advance. The pick up at all Thai airports has always been without any problems, although...

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Any travel guide worth its salt will tell you the must-have snack to try in Macau is the Portuguese Tart. According to Google, Hong Kong’s egg tarts (daan tat) feature a stronger “eggy” flavor, a more substantial shortbread and a floral shape. In contrast, Macau’s beloved custard tarts (pou tat) are a combination of flaky...

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This was our chosen location for our final day in Hua Hin and our last trip out on the bike. Only 30 mins from our hotel so an easy ride after breakfast. I’d only seen the temple advertised on a taxi advertising board so we had no idea how large the site would actually be....

We went to Kuala Lumpur; that’s about enough said about that!! Our plans for Malaysia were to spend a few days in KL before heading up to George Town (Penang) for the New Year. However, when we got to KL and our accommodation was awful and KL felt really sketchy. We’ve done a lot of...