#wangsadventures

had an amazing last day in Danang! we spent the night at Brilliant Hotel in town and woke early as we had signed up for an "Eco Tour" and were getting picked up at 7:30am. breakfast buffet at the hotel was very impressive for a four star city hotel.

driver picked us and our luggage up and drove us to the outskirts to Hoi An, where we were introduced to our guide for the day -- Tai, a local guy the same age as us. He was extremely friendly and helpful and genuine and spoke very good English and we were able to learn a fair bit about Vietnamese countryside living from him. his English is so good because he was an Eng major in uni. he grew up in poverty in the countryside but likes the countryside living because it is simple and stress-free compared with living in the city. he also told us he's a young father with a baby of 7 months!

Our tour consisted of several activities: - first we cycled through vegetable farmlands, shrimp farms, alongside cattle and water buffalo - rode on a 9 year old water buffalo that belonged to a local farmer (these majestic but gentle animals live up to 30 years of age!) - went on the river in a basket boat, a traditional Vietnamese circular fishing boat, and on it tried paddling, crab fishing, casting a fishing net (had to climb onto a small fishing boat for that -- and I did terrible! Gabriel was better at casting but between us and four attempts we caught zero fish 😂) - spent just under an hour fishing on a fish farm -- and I caught a big fish!!!! - had a lovely huge Vietnamese lunch while fishing: banana flower beef and shrimp salad with crunchy flat rice cakes, stewed pork, braised fresh water fish, stir fried morning glory, lettuce and dried shrimp soup, and a leaf-wrapped sticky rice and green bean paste dessert. everything was extremely tasty and portions were huge! - at our request, we were able to do a 25 min cycling route back to our pick up point by our driver. the routes we cycled through today were so lovely to ride on! barely any cars, only motorbikes and bikes, and all the roads were very flat :)

had an awesome morning and for the first time this holiday, my mind did NOT wander to my work! 😊 finally a proper holiday :) sad to be at the airport now waiting for our flight home but at least I finally feel like I've had a break!