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Other entries in Hội An (1)

never stop bargaining

forgot to mention, I also took a cooking class - check back a day to see pics. I learned how to make fresh spring roll wrappers (soak 1c rice 7 hrs, puree with water, ladle onto cheesecloth stretched over steaming water, steam one minute, peel away carefully), how to make traditional banh xeo (rice flour pancake) and how to carve vegetables. but not how to make pho - the traditional beef noodle soup :(   too bad too - been eating a ton of it - pretty much every morning for breakfast.

the mural happened! see below for pics. had a GREAT time for 2 days painting at the scuba shop in the swealtering heat. lost track of time, of life, everything....haven't painted since the mural in sao paulo. yeah - if I could do this around the globe, I'd be a happy girl!

I think lodo and gildas (guys who run the dive shop) were psyched with it too. I left a few of the fish with speach bubbles for them to fill in later. the wall is behind the hammock so perfect place to dream about the fish and wonder what they're thinking.

and in trade, they sent carole and I to the island for snorkeling and lazing around. had an incredible fish lunch, swam in the bay, tossed a frisbee, dug holes in the sand. but just when I was headed to a hammock to finally rest, it was time to go. I swear, I never just laze on the beach.

oh yeah, and so typical  for me - I set the alarm wrong the night before, we got up late, and I forgot my camera. so no pics, but take my word - cham island is worth a visit with lodo, gildas and their crew! just look for the scuba shop in hoi an with the mural :)

>>  a few other things going on:

world cup mania! - K, imagine all the passion of the super bowl, but on a global scale. 32 countries involved, so everyone cares. every night you can hear at least 5 tvs. you can't go 10m without seeing a poster for it. and to think for so many years I was CLUEless about this in the states...

rugby - saw 10 minutes on TV last night and can already tell I love it. american football is impossible to catch anymore and I need a new sport so...just give me a team to cheer for.

bargaining - the other night, carol and I were walking to our guest house around 23:00. remembered I needed more feminine protection (sorry, I know, too much information, but bear with me). we walk into the only pharmacy between us and our guest house (surprised it's even still open). I asked the price, she quotes something ridiculous (as in, more than we would pay in the US). I was speachless, then I realize - she expects me to bargain. wow - I'm bargaining for tampons. and she *knows* I need 'em - who else is buying this late except someone desperate? clearly I have no upper hand here. but I'm not about to walk out. all I can give is a really lame attempt and in the end, pay like $2 (same purchase was .50 in cambodia).

what a schmoe am I.

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