Apsara

Paige makes a reservation at this cool restaurant in the downtown of DaNang. Our taxi driver is a little scary as he drives on the wrong side of the road and then cannot seem to keep the car going in a straight line. We cross the big swing bridge - the most famous thing in DaNang now. Somehow, we arrive safely at Apsara to enjoy traditional music and dance called "Apsara".






The food is great. Wines from South Africa and South Autralia (Hardy's Sailing) add to the enjoyable evening.

Our very 'techy" audiologist, Joanne, sets the sound meter on her iphone to warn us of loudness levels - ah, too loud. Oh, now there's a good reason to get an iphone!

The music really is fantastic and the dance - exquisite! The whole evening is enchanting.

How nice for our January Mobile Missioon team to enjoy this Vietnamese dining experience together.

Thank you, Paige!

Please see the Apsara slide show (on the right of the blog) and VIDEO, yes, Video (at the way down very bottom)!

Hoi An

We meet Amanda from Perth Australia at breakfast and invite her to join us on our visit to Hoi An. After 7 of us cram into the taxi, we pause on our way to see the rice fields. Some of us in the way back want out....I never thought I'd go running in a rice field, but geesh, it is kinda fun to run along the ridges between the water gardens. We talk with the women who are doing the planting as they throw the seedlings into the empty water filled sections. The farmer comes along to show us the seed. We are enchanted with the process and hate to leave, but the shopping is waiting for us in Hoi An. This ancient city is a artsy community of tailors, farmers, lamp makers, and tourism. We wander the curvy lanes and little streets finding our fun. Yes, we find scarfs and kimonos ready to buy. We order dresses to be made to fit us - Joanne, Judy, and I order the same style - no, we are NOT all going to wear it to the next conference. The seamstress measures each of us. While one is being measured, the others can wander the inner rooms of the shop to select material. We see that the shop turns into their house then into the sewing room where other tailors are fast at their craft. These people live and work in the same place. We notice beds, mats, TV, and a child grabs a chair to climb up on the table to help himself to some rice from the rice cooker. As I bicker the price down, it is very hard for me to think how huge the difference of one dollar is to this hard working seamstress. Should I pay $5 USD for an "artificial silk" scarf (that being polyester). Should the silk dress being made to fit me cost $20 or $19? Can't they give me a better bargain? Ah, NO, becasue the equivalent of one US dollar is the average daily wage. A worker here makes about $450 for the entire year and I am trying to talk her down one dollar?
She must think I am crazy.