Hoi An, Nha Trang

Vietnam got a whole lot better after arriving in Hoi An. The bus journey from Hue was rather impressive - down the coast with hairpin bends and views of palm trees and empty beaches.

Hoi An itself is titchy, but has an atmospheric old quarter which is protected by UNESCO. The other claim to fame of Hoi An is its tailors. They are everywhere, are dirt cheap and amazingly good. One of my travel mates went in on Monday morning, ordered 3 shirts, 4 boxers, 3 pairs of trousers. He went back that evening and they were ready - all excellent quality and for the astronomical price of 72 dollars... You can get shoes made, suits made, whatever you want. You can even bring in an existing suit / shirt and they will copy it for you. As I still have many months on the road I had to resist the temptation.

Vietnam has also got the best price / quality accomodation I have ever experienced. My hotel in Hoi An had a swimming pool, a large bedroom, great bed, marble bath, balcony, cable tv and all that for 6 bucks a night. The equivalent in Europe would be at least 150 Euros.

Night bus down to Nha Trang, which is also great. Directly on the beach, lots of nightlife, great seafood. All the body & soul needs. Spent today in a hot spring, with mud baths, thermal pools and a great massage. My super-intelligent, extremely well-travelled father always said that he needed a nubile japanese girl to walk up and down his spine when he had back pains. A great saying, but little did I know that it is actually possible. Not only does she walk up and down you, but she massages you with her feet, her knees and whatever other body parts come to hand. All this with Vivaldi's four seasons playing in the background... Beats turkey & crackers anyday.

Oh yeah, merry Christmas to one and all!

My Christmas present list

Erick: Some new deo. Come on man, 10 years Axe Alaska is enough!
Mikael: A steady girlfriend. You know it is time to settle down... And I can't stand all your wild drinking stories from around the world anymore.
John Clynes: Aluminum hub caps for his super duper go-faster pram.
John Cummins: His very own Hedge Fund and 100 million US starting capital (and 10% of the profits to me)
Popovich: A DJ course
Johann: A freestyle snowboard and softboots, lose the raceboard.
Shura: 100 free bungy jumps in New Zealand.