Hoi An

30-Aug-2000 thru 31-Aug-2000

Hoi An is a French provincial city - in the middle of Vietnam. And home to the tailoring industry.



The Perfume river




Noodle cart




The Japanese bridge




Chinese lanterns
The lantern festival is held once a month when no electricity is allowed in Hoi An



A coracle
This small basket shaped boat is quite popular with the locals in Vietnam



The power of the Lonely Planet
Sign says: Recommended by Lonely Planet
No 14 on Map
Special Hoi An food



The tailors child




Colourful mask




Ice delivery




Hoi An from the river





Boat landing

My Son

31-Aug-2000

My Son was the religious capitol of the Champa Empire - before the Cham turned Muslim and ceded My Son to the Vietnamese
At The end of the 4th century, King Bnadonayarman built the first wooden temple in My Son for the worship of Shiva. The only way to get to this ruin was by river, so we took a boat.

A sign here gave the history of the place (bad english theirs):
At the end of the 4th century, King Bhadravarman has built a first wooden temple in My Son for the worship of the God-King Siva-Bhadresvara.
Up to now, the quantity and style of the temples built in My Son before the 7th century was not been known yet because they were wholly burnt.
In the early 7th century, King Sambhuvarman had the temple worshiping God Bhadresvara. New temples were built or old ones restored by each successive Champa royal dynasty to worship their gods.
With more than 70 works being built from the end of the 4th century to 13th century, My Son was the most important Hinduism holy land of Champa kingdom, Here we can find almost [any?] style in Cham art



First glimpse of the ruins


Lingam on square yoni
This yoni (vagina) is square because the Cham believed the earth was square - later Yoni's were round


Phallic inscription on a lingam
Since a lingam is a penis; this is sort of redundant don't ya think?


The original lord of the dance: Shiva
We know this is Shiva because there was a sign here that said:
Siva múa/Dancing Siva


Krishna's foot


Vishnu


SGK on Ganesha's body
If only Shiva had found a head this pretty to put on Ganesha's shoulders...


Colourful lizard




Riverine children





Boat ride back to Hoi An

Travels With SG:Ho Chi Minh-Saigon, Vietnam!!!

Hello all!

We had a lovely 55 minute flight from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Bangkok, and another 1 1/2 hour flight to Ho Chi Minh!!! So far the city, is a city, but with far less hassles than the touts in Indonesia!

Tomorrow we are going on a tour of Cao Dai Temple (of the Caodaism followers-a type of Buddhism???) and them on the the Cu Chi Tunnels to see a documentary film and get to check out the tunnels that helped the Vietcong "win the war"...
Should be interesting!

Needless to say, there are plenty of email cafes in Saigon, so will be checking regularly!

Later...
We had a great time on our tour today...
10 of us in a a/c van from 8:30am-6pm...
we toured that temple that I told you about yesterday-Caodaism-that is a mixture of Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Catholic etc-like the "greatest-hits" of Religions-it was created in Vietnam in the 1920's-the temple was really a kick-very colorful and gaudy, but really photographic!!!

...we also saw how the local women make rice paper (what they make spring/egg rolls out of) and then the Chi Chu Tunnels-amazing....
Truly amazing tunnels and booby traps that the VC travelled and lived in during the war-no wonder why we lost so many!!! They had the hospital, kitchen (with pipes to let the smoke out meters away from the tunnels as to not be detected)...
They had traps in the tunnels if an American or S. Vietnamese came down...
Most of the holes that went in to the were only as big as M's thigh!!!

I just got fitted for 2 outfits and a pair of shoes...
One outfit is traditional Vietnamese and the other looks like a pair of PJ's-both silk!!! And very cheap...
We're thinking about having Anthony a pair made, but too difficult...
I'd rather get him something from a shop (cheaper too) They took all my measurements, and measurements that I did not know that I had!!!

Tomorrow on to the museums!!!

luv,
SG

ps-please pass on our love to Chris and Melissa-and ask them "when the are they going to get email?"

Cham Towers

26-Aug-2000

The Kingdom of Champa was a Hindu Kingdom contemporary with Angkor, located in central Vietnam. These ruins are on the roadside of the only north-south highway.
A gravestone like sign here read (in poor English):
The historical prestige of the artistic architectural and sculptural work of the Poklongarai towers
The Poklongarai towers were built at about the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century. Here is the place of worship King Poklongarai 1151-1205. The King had done a lot of good deeds for the Cham people especially in the construction of the local irrigation system.
The Poklongarai group includes three towers. The Gate Tower 5.10m long. The Fire Tower 8.18m long. The Main Tower 8m long. This ruin has been classified as an historical monument by the ministry of culture.





Through the trees




Entrance




Classic Hindu architecture




Sanscrit inscription

Dalat and the Chicken Village

25-Aug-2000

Dalat is a town in the southern highlands of Vietnam
W took a tour there around some of the Montagnard communities - one (The Lat) fought with the ARVN and US, NZ, Oz, Korean, Thai and Pakistani's against the the NVA, Chinese, Vietcong, Pathet Lao, Khmer Rouge and Russians, whilst the other (The Chicken Village) fought for the other (winning) side. Note the irony as you look at the photos - the Lat are much better off.



Christian church of the Lat people - note Hindu influence








Lat children



Weaving



Carving



French convent
We stopped here for a short break. It was very pleasant up in the highlands.



Waterfalls



Chicken village
Our guide said that this monument was built for these people by the government as a thanks for the help in the Vietnam war











Children of the chicken village



Bell at pagoda






The "Crazy House"
A hotel built by the daughter of Ho Chi Minh's successor



A room at The "Crazy House"