My Favourite Day So Far

Today I rented a scooter and rode all around Hoi An. Its south of Danang. We went to China Beach and then rode along a road in the mountains. I have never ridden a scooter before but it is my new favourite thing in the world. I want to buy one when I move home. So far in Vietnam, I have seen about 50 cars and 2 million scooters. Everyone has a scooter. And becuase it cost $2.50 to fill the tank today, I can see why.

A word on honking. In North America, we use the horn as a defensive tool. If someone cuts us off, we usually lay on the horn and call someone an asshole. Or we use it just before someone plows into the front fender or something. However in Asia, it is use as a communication tool, as in "I'm coming to get you, so look out." This is the way it is in Seoul also. It makes for a noisy city, but a pleasant drive, expecially when on a scooter and wanting everyone else on the road to know you are there.

On the way back from the beach, I stopped at the tailor where I ordered a new wardrobe yesterday. I spent $350 and got a wool coat, 2 pairs of shorts, a pair of trousers, 3 dresses, 4 shirts and a pair of custom made leather boots. Yeah, I haven't been that excited in a long long time. So today when I went to the tailor, I had a fitting and made sure everything was just so. And it is. I pick it up tomorrow and then send it all home. I want to wear it all now, but a wool coat and 35 degree weather don't really go together.