I've been in Hoi An for four days and three nights now, and I'm loving every moment. The architecture here is very old-world French, and there are over 400 tailors available to make ANYTHING you can imagine. The streets are lined with colourful Vietnamese lanterns, and the silk fabrics are to die for. I'm pretty sure I could easily spend a week or two here just walking around gawking at the amazing lanterns, silk fabrics, and beautiful people.
The last two days here have been very busy for me! The first day, I went around to several different tailors picking out fabrics and designs to have some clothing made. First I went to Yaly and picked out a navy blue cashmire/wool blend suit fabric for pants, a blazer, and a skirt. Yaly is supposedly the best tailor in town, and they have some AMAZING couture dresses and coats... I decided I must become a rock-star, or famous actress at some point in my life so I can justify having a crazy couture dress made to rock on the red carpet! Seriously, some of them had peacock feathers sewn into the design!! Amazing stuff!! I tried to take some photos, but, its one of those things that is much better to see in person.
From there I went to the fabric market, where you can buy fabric and tailoring for much cheaper than you can in the stores. There I chose fabric, and designed the most gangsta get-up of all time. A pair of white pants with a small black pinstripe going through them, a matching vest lined in bright pink silk, and a charcoal grey dress shirt to match. After I finished at the market I went to a shop called Peace (soooo asian) where I drew sketches for a red peacoat that is lined with black silk that has really amazing embroidery all over it.
Later that evening, while the tailors were busy sewing up all my goods, I went for a walk and saw a super pretty silk dress in the window of a shop. I wasn't really looking for a dress, but I started talking to the lady in the store and I ended up trying on the dress that was already made on the manequin. It fit me almost perfectly (which always happens when you're NOT looking) so I bartered her down from $50 to $25 and bought the dress. She even altered it for me so now it absolutley perfect!!
Yesterday was my crazy busy day of running around from tailor to tailor for fittings, and refittings to make sure everything was just so. Normally this woudn't be so bad, but because I ended up buying from four different tailors, it was super crazy cycling from one to the next, and getting lost about a dozen times in between! I can't help it, they all look the same to me!! (Why couldn't God have just given me a sense of direction... I mean, I'm greatful for the blonde hair and blue eyes and all... but FML travelling when you're geographically challenged is tricky!) Throw in some 40 degree heat to the mix, and the Vietnamese language barrier whenever I asked for directions, and you'll start to get a pretty good idea of the chaos.
Eventually after about 10 fittings of my suit, and 2 of each the other items, I was good to go! Now, to try and get it all home in one piece....
Not only do they have shopping galore here, but apparently the beach here is really gorgeous too! I haven't made it there yet though... I had the best intentions to head that way today, but unfortunately it's the first rainy day I've seen since Laos. This is particularly disappointing because today is National Day in Vietnam. It is also the day of the full moon- which means there is supposed to be some celebrations happening downtown later on, however I'm not sure if it will happen if it is too rainy, and cloudy. I really hope it clears up, but it doesn't look too promising at this point. :-(
Apparently what was supposed to happen tonight is they shut off the electricity downtown, and the streets are lined with silk lanterns that are lit with candles. There is usually traditional music being played on Vietnamese intruments and they make dozens of miniature paper boats that they put candles in and send floating down the river.... A few nights ago while I was having dinner, I saw a riverboat releasing a few floating boat candles, and it was SOOO GORGEOUS! Almost surreal to see, I've only ever seen stuff like that in movies before. Now I can check one more thing off the life-list.
Anyway, I think I'm gonna head out now cause there seems to be a break in the weather, and I think it's best I make a mad dash for my hotel before it starts up again... Until next time- PEACE!
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