Between Nha Trang & Hoi An

This journal features sights we saw on our long travel day between Nha Trang & Quang Ngai City, where we had an overnight stop to break up the long journey to Hoi An another 100 kms away. We also stopped here so we would have sufficient time to visit the Mai Lai Massacre site & memorial just north of the city the next morning.

Some additional notes about the Cham towers in this journal: The Chams, who ruled Vietnam for 10 centuries, are an ancient civilization that had its influences mainly in Southeast Asia, particularly ... (more)

The Po Nagar towers
are considered the best-preserved Cham Towers in Central Vietnam. They are...

The north tower is 23m high
and is dedicated to Po Nagar. Each tower is a shrine to a different deity.

At one time, these pillars
enclosed a meditation hall.

There are many elements of Hinduism
sculpted into the towers.

The burnt orange color of the brick
and the terracotta monuments are very distinctive.

Note the many small white carvings.
They are likely Garudas, a mythical bird?

Xom Bong Bridge
crossing the Cai River. There are fishing villages east of the Cham...

Net fishing

Rice threshing machine
There was a large family crew working near the highway so we stopped &...

The straw does not go to waste.
They even winnowed the rice here. They tossed the rice & chaff in a large...

We stopped at a basket making factory
The hilltribe ethnic minorities of Vietnam make and use the world's most...

Later on we stopped at a mat weaving
factory.

The straw before they dye it

Cassava chips drying
in a parking lot along the highway. We even saw some drying on the highway...

A rest stop, literally
These are often used by long-distance truckers or travelers. They have a nap,...

Rice wine, the local hooch, 60% alcohol
The French need a table wine at meals, the hilltribes of Vietnam prefer...

Outdoor urinals at one rest stop

Dai Lanh Beach area
at least I think it's Dai Lanh Beach. There are several pretty...

I love those wispy pine trees.
I think this is where we bought pearls from the vendors hanging around the...

Tiger prawn ponds

Git along little dogies.....
Vietnamese style. Note the cacti along the road. Looks like blue...

The men's & the ladies'
Neither very attractive. I decided I didn't have to go, after all...

A war memorial
We also saw some large VC war cemeteries and saw more the farther we...

Our hotel in Quang Ngai City
This was just an overnight stop on our way to Hoi An. The distance from Nha...

Wonderful view from my balcony
Quang Ngai City is the capital of the province by the same name. This...

A junk hauling coarse gravel

Morning street views
just outside the hotel.

Pooch & pals
watching the world go by. Note that the girls are squatting, a very popular...

Tea & noodle soup (poh) break
at a typical Vietnamese sidewalk cafe. Note that the tables & chairs are...

article published 05/28/2006

Comments

Add a comment

Bookmark with del.icio.us | Digg this article