Island Tour - Koh Samui

It was incredibly hard to drag ourselves away from our gorgeous resort, but we did feel we ought to get out and about and explore the island a bit.

First stop, the rather striking natural wonder, the "Grandfather and Grandmother" rocks (Hin Ta and Hin Yai) at Lamai...

Yes, that would be the "Grandfather" rock!

And that's the "Grandmother" rock... use your imagination!

Next, Kunaram Temple to see the mummified monk, Loung Pordaeng. When he died, he was sitting in a meditation position. Almost forty years on, he is still in that same position and his body doesn't show any signs of major decay. A slightly macabre sight....

Onto the The Big Buddha Statue (Wat Phra Yai), which at 15 metres tall, is indeed BIG....

The colourful temple of Wat Plai Laem is just up the road from The Big Buddha....

Hang Sung Sot

Hang Sung Sot (or Cave of Awe) in Halong Bay is best known for its phallus-shaped rock, a fertility symbol.... can you spot it?

 Ahem!

Spotted outside the cave... looks like hanging feet!

Hoi An, I Think I Love You...

Perhaps I am just a dumb tourist, but of all the places we visited in Vietnam.... Hoi An was my favourite by far! It's relaxed feel, charming old buildings, restaurants and endless shops filled with gorgeous silks just won my heart.

It seemed like the restful holiday bit of the tour, sandwiched between the bustling cities of Hanoi and Saigon. Possibly, this was because we stayed in the fabulous Hoi An Riverside Resort, on the banks of the Song Do River.....

Song Do River

Restaurant and bar

Accommodation

Resort pool

Exotic fruit breakfast

Private beach, a short shuttle trip away

The resort was just a quick taxi ride from Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site...

Hoi An is particularly pretty in the evening....

I developed a bit of an obsession with lanterns....

The Old Quarter is home to the Japanese Bridge (16th to 17th Century)....

And just loads of shops selling lovely things...

Hoi An is a town full of expert tailors... I had two evening dresses made to measure in under 24 hours, delivered to my hotel, B had an exceptionally sharp suit and shirt made, and I could have easily bought a dozen other outfits but restrained myself to two shirts and two pairs of trousers!

Next up... A Cookery Class in Hoi An