Guess whose iPhone clock reset to SG time and ended up waking up at 6.30am Hoi An time!!
Ended up going to the Central Market really early and bought some chopsticks and plates and a HUGE bowl for my mummy… got some good deals coz they just want to make the 1st sale of the day… pantang…
Had some desserts sitting amongst locals on benches in the market, under the shelter of haphazard canvas sheets… had a Tao suan like yellow paste that also had a strong taste of Ginger in it =) also saw the plates of food for what singaporeans would term as chap chai berng…
Found the White Rose restaurant… 51 Nhi Trung which is now known as Hai Ba Trung street and has a new address… but it was good and so were the wantons. Do not be fooled by all that wikitalk that the fried wantons are the same as those in the rest of Asia coz those in Hoi An are one of a kind!
Met a snooty German who looked kinda pissed (though he prob wasn’t) since the sweet viet girl couldn’t explain what was in the white rose or wantons so we did the honour of show and tell. White roses and wantons were awesome though I much prefer the Hang Me back at Hue.
Walked the supposed 4km to Cua Dai Beach and man, was it a looonnggg walk! Albeit scenic! Padi fields and Thu Bon river gave me a sense of peace and tranquility. The quaint riverside cafes were so nice even if they were right beside the dusty roads… The beach was beautiful though I can’t say much for the waters that looked so much like those of Singapore’s.
Also stopped by a local’s front yard along Cua Dai Road (and I do mean the front yard of someone’s house) for some chendol like dessert! It was yummy! More red beans, kidney beans and peanuts without the gula melaka and green jelly!
At Cua Dai Beach, I was taken by surprise by an old lady at the public toilet who said “2 thousand for toilet, 4 thousand for shower”… Her English in that phrase alone would have put some of us to shame =) I had to smile though I was thinking Darn! 2,000 VD for toilets HERE?!?!
Took a cab back to the ancient town and spent the next 2 hours taking photos of the riverside and sunset =)
It was a sight to behold… simply beautiful!
While taking photos of the lanterns, the opportunistic shopkeeper had to show us his lanterns and we had to show a slight interest and guess who got sucked in?! Com’on! I was surprised to hear it’s only 1usd each!! I was expecting much more!
Stopped by the performance area and an old lady carrying her bamboo baskets of bananas on her shoulders said ‘foto! No money!’ and I smiled, shook my head. She found her target, an Ang moh who gladly took a photo of her and next thing you know, she says ‘buy banana!’ *lol*
Was famished and went looking for the grilled meat noodles roadside stall at the corner of Le Loi street… Yummy! Think satay bee hoon but with the gado gado sauce instead plus lime!
Couldn’t resist the Com Ga diagonally across our hotel after… had to da pao! The old lady had me when she smiled ever so sweetly =)
Also stopped for another fruit shake but ended up with custard apple shake and a centrella shake (it’s like wheatgrass green stuff)!
Was pooped by the time we got back to our hotel! It’s a good thing it’s only a couple of minutes from all the action!
