Feeling accomplished ! Look what I did.
Fantastic day at Hope Center in Hue. Great place doing fantastic work with disabled people.
Look at the fine detail in my Buddha ! I must be a natural.
My works of art in the kiln.
I even masterd the potters wheel. Adding the place and date was the easy part. Can you tell what it is ?
And on the opposite side to the place and date inscription, hearts.
My finished masterpieces. The “cracked” effect in the glazing give them the ancient look.
From Hue to Hoi An – Thanh Toan Bridge, Hai Van Pass (as seen on BBC Top Gear), Lang Co beach and Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountain).
Thanh Toan Bridge in the village of Thuy Thanh outside Hue.
Decorative artwork on the entrance to Thanh Toan Bridge.
The Thanh Toan Bridge is also referred to as Japanese Bridge.
Shrine on the bridge. Fresh fruit, flowers and an incense burner on a small altar, with an offertory box in front.
Benches, as part of the structure, down both sides of the bridge make it a convenient place for locals to meet.
…………. or rest.
Mosaic dragon roof ridge decoration.
A small boat on an inland waterway near Thuy Thanh bridge.
From the markers on this water level indicator at the side of the waterway it is clear that this area has suffered significant flooding in the past.
Woman selling fresh produce to customers at the covered market in Thuy Thanh.
Woman bagging up fresh produce in the market.
Fresh duck cleaned and gutted while you watch.
Caution: Men At Work !
Eirik and Jane taking an interest in the fresh produce for sale.
Market trader surrounded by fresh fruit.
Fresh duck being gutted.
A woman slicing a vegetable surrounded by fresh produce.
Freshly caught squid and shrimps in Thuy Thanh market.
Fresh fish.
Looks like this young man would drive a hard bargain.
Caged chickens waiting to be sold by a street vendor.
Lang Co beach with hills in the background.
Spray blown from the waves at Lang Co beach.
Time for a paddle.
As you can see we did not necessarily come prepared for this.
What the heck, “Girls just wanna have fun” at Lang Co beach.
This is a map of emergency exits (duong cuu nan) on the Hai Van Pass. Because of the steep descent on some of the Hai Van Pass, these emergency exits (run off lanes) have been added in the event that a vehicle suffers mechanical problems (brake failure).
View from Hai Van Pass across Da Nang Bay to Da Nang city.
Visitors at an old American watchtower from the Vietnam War on the Hai Van Pass.
An old American watchtower behind street vendors at the border of Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang Province’s.
Disused American look out position on top of a pillbox.
Remains of an old an American watchtower on Hai Van Pass.
A tree at a tourist spot on the Hai Van Pass.
View from Hai Van Pass across Da Nang Bay to Da Nang city.
A small shrine at the side of the Hai Van Pass.
An old American watchtower at the border of Thua Thien and Da Nang Province’s.
A flowering shrub with berries.
Border marker for Thua Thien Hue Province on the Hai Van Pass.
Border marker for Da Nang Province on the Hai Van Pass.
Location map at the entrance to the Buddhist sanctuaries at Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountain).
Xa Loi Pagoda at Marble Mountain.
Xa Loi Pagoda.
Lotus flowers in the gardens at Marble Mountain.
Dragon head incense burner at the foot of stairs with serpent stair railings leading to a pagoda containing a Buddha statue behind an altar.
The changing seasons as shown through the colour of the leaves on this tree.
A small pagoda amongst trees at Marble Mountain.
Linh Ung Pagoda containing the statue of Goddess of Compassion and Mercy (Guan Yin).
Xa Loi Pagoda.
Buddha behind an altar in Van Thong Cave at Marble Mountain.
Inscription on a wall near Van Thong Cave at Marble Mountain.
Weathered inscription on a wall at Marble Mountain. Sadly it has been targeted by visitors wishing to leave their own inscriptions.
Modern commercial and residential properties at the base of Marble Mountain.
Stone pillared entrance to a path leading to a small arched gateway.
Small stone statue of the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy (Guan Yin), with incense burner in front, in a void above the arched gateway.
Statue of Guan Yin in a cave temple at Marble Mountain.
Ceiling of the cave temple.
Buddha statue in Huyen Khong Cave.
Mandarin guard at the entrance to Huyen Khong Cave at Marble Mountain.
Several different mandarin guards are at the entrance to Huyen Khong Cave.
Mandarin guard.
Mandarin guard.
Buddha positioned high up in Huyen Khong Cave overlooking an altar.
Natural light shining into Huyen Khong Cave.
Interior of Huyen Khong Cave.
Interior of Huyen Khong Cave.
Another view of the arched gateway with a small stone statue of the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy (Guan Yin) above.
The arched gateway with the Guan Yin.
Carved statue in Tam Thai Pagoda.
Carved statue in Tam Thai Pagoda.
Buddha statue in front of Tam Thai Pagoda at Marble Mountain.
Stone pillar with inscription on the front and a carving on the side at the top of some steps at Marble Mountain.
Hoi An – A Great Place.
View across Thu Bon River towards the illuminated Cau An Hoi Bridge.
A illuminated boat on the Thu Bon River.
Red lantern.
Night view of reflections of Hoi An Ancient Town on the Thu Bon River.
Me and some of the group on a boat adorned with colourful lanterns on the Thu Bon River.
Nearly arrived at our destination.
Enjoying an evening meal out with the group.
Enjoying an evening meal out with the group.
View from Chua Cau Bridge (Pagoda Bridge) across a water channel leading to Thu Bon River. The bridge is also referred to as Japanese Bridge.
The Chau Cau Bridge was built in 1593 and linked the Japanese and Chinese sectors of Hoi An.
Shrine inside the covered bridge of Chau Cau.
Banh Xeo – Vietnamese savory fried pancake with filling of your choice, which you wrap in rice paper and dip in a sauce.
Banh Xeo.
Boat on the Thu Bon River.
Old tourist and fishing boats moored on the Thu Bon River.
Bas-relief on the wall at Cantonese (Quang Trieu) Assembly Hall in Hoi An Ancient Town.
Colorful dragon fountain in front of Cantonese Assembly Hall.
Archway in the Cantonese Assembly Hall.
Archway in the Cantonese Assembly Hall.
Carved sailing boat in the Cantonese Assembly Hall.
Ornately decorated light suspended from a beam in the ceiling of the Cantonese Assembly Hall.
Close up on an incense coil in the Cantonese Assembly Hall.
Small lanterns hanging from trees in the grounds of the assembly hall.
Wall frieze at the Cantonese Assembly Hall.
Flowers in the grounds of the assembly hall.
Detail of the dragon head forming part of a sculpture.
Lanterns hanging from trees in the grounds of the assembly hall.
A arty wall fountain.
Slightly unusual choice in decorations hanging from the wooden beams above.
Street life in Hoi An Ancient Town.
Open courtyard with wall mural and well at Old House of Tan Ky.
Motorbike and trailer used by a delivery rider.
Traditional small narrow sail boat.
Water feature in an open courtyard in Hoi An.
Watching musicians on the stage at Hoi An Traditional Art Performance Theatre.
Authentic Vietnamese music.
Dancers performing with lanterns.
Dancers performing with bowls on their heads.
A restrained peregrine falcon.
Carved statue.
Outer wall and entrance to Phuc Kien (Fujian) Assembly Hall in Hoi An Ancient Town.
Wall decoration in the assembly hall.
Trung Hao (Ngu Bang) or Chinese Assembly Hall.
View looking out to the street from inside the Trung Hao Assembly Hall.
The stunning Tam Quan chua Ba Mu Chinese Temple in Hoi An, and it’s reflection in the pond.
Tam Quan chua Ba Mu Chinese Temple at night.
Colourful lanterns hanging outside of a shop.
Ms Vy’s Market Restaurant.
Staff preparing the food at Ms Vy’s Market Restaurant.
Boats on Thu Bon River.
Hoi An Ancient Town nightlife.
Facade of a restaurant adorned with lanterns in Hoi An Ancient Town.
