Active days! Yoga and Shopping.

May 23rd

Yesterday I was out early with Andrew to go to his yoga class having been invited to join them by the teacher. She teaches Iyengar Yoga  and  she and I were surprised by how much I could do, it is probably 40 years since I took a yoga class! I really enjoyed it and felt the benefit, so I am already looking for a class at home. We walked over to the class down a maze of streets and lanes, I would never be able to find it again without a guide!! Afterwards I went to Lancy Spa for a manicure then back here for lunch and Lacemaking etc.

Today has been busier.  I walked up to Xuan Dieu, via Dang Thai Mai, passing the little shops and workshops again. On the way I stopped to look at the local Chua (Temple), a haven of tranquility in the midst of these busy streets. I had never seen durian fruit growing before, the fruit grows out of the tree trunk. Durian smells disgusting but tastes nice, I'm told!

       

            

I love these streets with the juxtaposition of traditional versus modern development 

After a further walk I got some cash and walked on to a well known patisserie where I had a late breakfast of almond croissant and coffee. It began to spit with rain as I came out, which was fine for me as I got in a taxi for the 20 or so minute drive to the fabric market. I was on a mission for certain things, but of course I ended up buying more than I planned for! I stopped when I really couldn't carry any more!

     I think I got some really good prices today, I did some negotiating, and used Google Translate to find what I was looking for, eg: fine cotton for lining and plain silk for a camisole.

I then got in another taxi to go the 15  in drive in busy streets to the KOTO restaurant on Vân Dieu. This is a training establishment  KOTO  stands for Know One Teach One, and I like to support them......and the food is good.  One of the waitresses was delightful and she practised her English conversation with me. I had a green mango salsa with prawns followed by a coconut panna cotta. All very good. 

Then I made a quick visit to Craft-Link which is another not for profit shops supporting artisans around the country. Didn't spend much thogutm by then I was getting tired and hot, so I got back into another taxi for  home. The roads were busy  and we were diverted from our route via the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum much to the driver's annoyance
The temp today has been up to 32C and 60% humidity, it was a bit cooler yesterday.