1 pic a day - not! :): Vietnam 2009

Showing posts with label Vietnam 2009 - 2. Show all posts

16/09/2009

day 841

From Lonely Planet Vietnam 2007:

"...Built for a wealthy Chinese merchant in the late 19th century is Diep Dong Nguyen House. The front room on the ground floor was once a dispensary for thuoc bac (Chinese medicine); the medicines were stored in the glass-enclosed cases lining the walls. The owner's private collection of antiques - which include photographs, porcelain and furniture - is on display upstairs. Two of the chairs were once lent by the family to Emperor Bao Dai..."

We had a pleasant chat (in Mandarin) with the current owner whose grandfather was the last person in the family producing Chinese medicines.

15/09/2009

day 840

..and this is that Chinese All-Community Assembly Hall, Hoi An.

Not really sure what the function of assembly hall nowadays is (apart being admired by travellers), but there are at least five of them in Hoi An: Chinese All-Community Hall, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation, Assembly Hall of the Cantonese Chinese Congregation, and Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinse Congregation.

14/09/2009

day 839

From Lonely Planet Vietnam 2007:

"... a highlight of any trips to Vietnam, Hoi An is a town oozing charm and history, having largely escaped the destruction of successive wars... Known as Faifo to Western traders, from the 17th to 19th centuries it was one of South-east Asia's major international ports. Vietnamese ships and sailors based here sailed all-around Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia... Perhaps more thank any other places in Vietnam, Hoi An retains a sense of history that envelops you as you explore it..."

One of those old warehouses facing the Thu Bon river along Bach Dang road.

13/09/2009

day 838

.. and here is our favourite fried stuffs seller in Hoi An, whose English is pretty impressive. She was able to explain clearly what her fried stuffs made of.

In the evening she would move to the junction of Tran Phu and Le Loi; while in the afternoon she would be in front of Chinese All-Community Assembly Hall in the junction of Tran Phu and Hoang Van Thu.

11/09/2009

day 836

A tiny tree and a sea-shell, from Ba Nang beach, Hoi An, special to remember the September 11th.

May we human being learn from our own mistakes..

10/09/2009

day 835

The old lady selling painted clay whistles in Hoi An. Thought she was selling candies the first time saw her, because the whistles were so bright and shiny looking :)

She always sits next to the Chinese All-Community Assembly Hall, where we loved to sit on its front stairs in the afternoon; watching people, having cold tea and delicious (and knowledgeably unhealthy) fried stuffs.

09/09/2009

day 834

.. and this is the view of the morning market from the balcony of the house I was staying in Hoi An.

Thinking about it, the market is actually similar to the markets we have back home in Jakarta - or at least Pasar Minggu three decades ago. However, being able to actually slowly woken up by its pleasant noise, and to watch the activities from the convenience of room's balcony, are indeed a luxury for me.

08/09/2009

day 833

Quoting Lonely Planet Vietnam 2007:
"..brimming with character, this splendid 180-year-old traditional wooden home is a cross between a B&B and a museum - offering an intriguing insight into Old Town family life. There is an ornate ancestor altar in the front room, a well in the countyard..."

And that house on the right hand corner is that Minh A Ancient Lodging House, a pretty place I was staying at in Hoi An. The wee balcony upstairs with the beautiful bougenville, that is where my room was. Fantastic, fabulous place to be! I love it most in the morning where I was half-asleep half-awake, lulled by the soft sunshine on my cheek and the noise from the market..

The whole front part of the second floor is divided into two bed rooms and living room by wooden panels and curtain. There is a square wooden grill about 1m x 1.5m on the centre of the floor, giving us a view to the first floor. Also, there is a beautiful altar dedicated to general Wan Gong. Really wanted to take a picture of it but Mr. Ko said I shouldn't, so I didn't.