Today we went on a day tour around Huế city. After breakfast, we boarded a double dragon boat to go along the Perfume River (Hương River) to Thiên Mụ Pagoda. Then we took the bus to the Citadel or the Ancient City. We had lunch at Thiện Tâm restaurant. The food was so yummy but they were all vegeterian. We also observed an artist who painted very beautiful paintings.
We continued the tour with the visit to King Tự Đức tomb. Most of it was in ruin but it was still beautiful and peaceful. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped by an insense and conical hat workshop.
It wasn't rainy but it was hot again. We were very tired by the end of the tour and really enjoy time in the swimming pool.
It continued to rain yesterday and rained non-stop. We actually experience the rainy season in Vietnam, the weather is not too hot but wet all the time.
Trà Quế is a farming area with lots of vegetable farms. We visited Mr Tuấn's farm. If it didn't rain, we would have got dirty with some farming work but we just made at tour around the field and came indoor for another cooking class and another big meal.
Thanh Hà is a pottery area. We visited a couple of factories and tried out making some clay pots. We saw Vietnamese houses and how people live and work.
It rained all day today but we still went out to many interesting places. Hội An is a tiny ancient town near Đà Nẵng.
We had a tour around town, cooking class and lantern making class. We also shopped a lot - shoes, dresses, statues, lanterns, etc. It was a full on day.
On Thursday, September 22nd, we had the boat trip to Yến Island. We viewed the bird nests, swam, snorkling as well as having lunch on the island. It was a wonderful experience although it was hot during the day and we had rain on the way back to the mainland.
Friday, September 23rd was the last day we visited Phước Tiến PS. The school organised an assembly for us. The local television station was there and Mr Fox and Hugh were interviewed. Liên, Lily, Elijah and Miguel joined in a dance item and we all sang Inanay with grade Four 2 on the stage.
We were glad that we can talk to everyone back home through Skype at assembly. We miss everyone but we have so much fun here. It is a bit sad to leave Phước Tiến.
On September 20th, we visited Phước Tiến PS.
We were welcomed in a whole school assembly. Mr Fox gave a speech and gave Phước Tiến an Aboriginal glass plate which has the meaning of 'a gathering'. We received a lacqueware painting of Nha Trang scenery. We also participated in a Vietnamese highlander's dance as well as visited many grades.
During recess, we gave out tattoos. We were surrounded by Phước Tiến students.
We went back to the hotel to cool down in the swimming pool. It was a fantastic day.
