Today was a free day. We had a very late breakfast, the breakfasts here are just incredible, well except for the GF bread. Then scattered. We all scheduled different kinds of massages courtesy of the hotel. I went for reflexology. After Holly read aloud the list of possible options (breast massage to perk things up, abdomen massage to loosen things up), I didn’t know what might happen during a full massage and didn’t want to take a chance. It was very cool – little houses on a pond. First a foot bath with gardenias and mint and lemongrass aroma therapy oil. I went to a massage table and I lay down, ok, I’ll really relax. The masseuse then played the singing bowls and then the massage. So cool. Completely relaxing.
I staggered back out after and rode the bike to the work out place – great gym. I got on the treadmill and finished Dirty Dancing on my iPad, my treat from the night before. So had a work out and broke a sweat for the first time in a month. Then I swam in the longest lap pool I’ve ever seen. Mostly I just wheezed and tried to get to the end. But I did it! I couldn’t resist that gorgeous pool.
Then read, wrote, took quiet time for the rest of the afternoon. So nice.
We took a shuttle back into town to see a show at the Hoi An Lune Center. This was an acrobatic show using primarily bamboo for all athletics and many of the instruments. It was a pretty frenetic show, the people were so strong and the music was cool, many different instruments. Supposedly the show was based on the culture in the highlands of Vietnam. We had no idea if that was the case of if what they were speaking/singing throughout the show was even a language. But it was definitely diverting!
We then walked down the river – lantern river with the night market – to our dinner spot. Our guide from Hue had set this up for us, arguing for a particular table on the highest balcony right up front so we could see all the colors and activity on the river and the banks. It was great. And maybe the best Vietnamese food we’ve had yet.
This video is before it gets really dark and the lights shine even more, but at the start you can see all the chairs set up for people who sit to watch the lantern boats go by.
The last one is from our balcony at the restaurant. Amazing.
A really fun day!
Reb's Walks! 