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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!

I was having a bad hair day today, so having passed many massage places mentioning hair shampoo I thought I’d give the experience a whirl. Turned out to be far more than just a shampoo and blow dry!  It’s a “buffet” of relaxation, including shampoo, deep scalp massage and a facial over the course of...

Early start today in order to make the high speed train departing at 9:50am. Believe it or not the alarm had to be set for 6am as we knew the short car ride to the station would be in peak morning Beijing traffic and we had to be at the station an hour before departure....

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....

Conveniently located down the road from our hotel, this UNESCO world heritage site (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/881/) should have been easy to organise a visit to. However, the complexities of arranging anything independently made obtaining tickets a BIG deal…..how hard can it be I hear you ask… well I’ll tell you… Normally a visit to the internet would...

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and the Palace Museum; this was a big walking day and time on our feet. We joined a tour to cover off these places as it can be easier than trying to do it yourself, especially getting through all the security to get into the Square and into the Palace Museum....