Then, there is rice cake which tastes like chwee kueh - my hometown's famous delicacy. I googled for translation and it means steamed rice cake. So, I guess they are the same!
This morning, we are headed to My Son (pronounced as 'mi sung') Sanctuary. I wondered out while waiting for our transport. The ride was an hour late, because the bus was apparently picking up other passengers. Me no like latecomers. Initially, the package offered (by the hotel) was USD10 (travel by bus and return by boat with lunch) per person. My friend found a travel agent that offered USD6 for the same services without lunch. So, we asked the receptionist what is the difference. She called up the service provider and gave us USD8 instead. So, here we are with the USD8 service.
It was an hour ride to My Son Sanctuary. Right before reaching the place, the bus stopped us at a toilet facility (that has a restaurant and souvenir shop) where we needed to pay VND2,000 per person. In less than 2 minutes, we reached My Son Sanctuary, and when the tour guide went down to buy the ticket, we saw a toilet facility there without payment needed. Just because that restaurant and the souvenir shop needed customers...
The bus could only drive up to the parking lot, and we walked for about 50metres before reaching the entrance. This is our tour guide who is quite a funny man. Humor is definitely essential in being a tour guide.
This place was chosen to build My Son Sanctuary for the reasons of its location - in a valley that represents female and mountains that represents male. So, both female and male represents unity and fertility. Plus, the location is near the river. The tour guide explained to us the history of My Son Sanctuary. First, he started by saying this is not my son, not your son, not anyone son. This is Mi Sung (the right pronounciation).
My Son is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa. The temples are dedicated to the worship of the god Shiva. To identify the difference between a temple and a tower, is that a temple has no windows because it is a sacred and holy place and what is inside cannot be shown to the outside. Towers, of course has windows.
My Son Sanctuary was bombed by the Americans during Vietnam war because many Viet Kong were hiding there.
Some of the temples were reconstructed. Note the difference. The bricks with the moss were reconstructed. While the red ones were the original ones. How the bricks were glued together and can withstand the passing of time baffles everyone. It was said that honey and water was used.
A temple being reconstructed uses up VND5billion. The walk back to the parking lot felt like forever. I think I walked 1km.
Midway back in the bus ride, we stopped by the river to take the boat. Lunch was provided on the boat. No drinks, though you can purchase them.
Along the way, we saw boats with 'eyes'. Remember, boats are members of a family. The ride back took about 45 minutes.
Right before reaching our stop, the boat stopped at a wood carving village.
Wood carving was being done behind the shop. There were thin strips of marble pasted inside the carvings.
Back on the boat we go, and the boat dropped us near Hoi An Ancient Town.
We walked back, and I saw this petrol refill for motorbike. Looks empty though. But then again, what do I know about petrol.
We walked back to our hotel, and had our daily coffee. We told the receptionist to order for us. This time, we ordered coffee from opposite the hotel. Not the one where we got cheated. This time, it is appropriately priced at VND20,000.
We were going to have dinner with the receptionist that evening. It was our treat for her because she was going to bring us to the best 'pho' in town. While waiting for dinner, we chatted for a bit, and for the first time in my travels, I actually SLEPT in the afternoon! See how relaxing this trip is!
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