The last full day

It had to come, as I knew it would: the last full day.  But what a view to wake up to.

 

It's about 5 am,

all is quiet 

 

and calm.

The day hasn't started yet and there is promise still in the air.

Colours starts to appear

and finally the sea is the promised emerald green.

I have my stitching to do whilst I wait,

until the sun finally shows it face; it's going to be another hot sunny day.

The nets are cast

and the shopping is delivered.

 

Time to go in for breakfast I think, the others are awake.

As we eat the boat steadily cruises on, wending its way through the limestone karst.

So many to see and 

 

many busy boats,

mostly fishermen,

until we eventually reach harbour again.  Aaaah, that was a lovely trip.  

But before we go back to the hotel, there is more to see and do.  It's around 42C so we are glad of the air conditioning in our magic bus to keep us cool.  On our way back to Hanoi we stop at a

humanitarian textile workshop.  

Here disabled people are trained in textiles, mostly embroidery, but sewing as well.  They produce the most amazing work.

Working from stock images and sometimes commission, their work is sold in the shop and the proceeds divided between the foundation and themselves.

Some are so large two or more work on the piece.

Each embroiderer had a tray of silks to work with.

 

We ate lunch in their supported cafe.  Phó for me please!

We reached Hanoi an hour or so later and went straight into a city tour.  First stop, 'Hanoi Hilton', aka Hoa Lo prison, rather grim under French rule and only marginally better under Vietnamese control. This is where the Vietcong kept the American pilates shot down in the war.

 

I couldn't resist snapping their floor tiles,

 

doors ways and

 

windows.

 

This door was very fine

 

and the use of an old Twinnnings time for ticket stubs showed a lighter touch.

From there we went to the Temple of Literature, where Confucius is worshipped.

 

 

Another beautiful set of doors, lacquered this time,

 

window grills,

 

columns and

 

door panels give the temple grandeur and splendour.

 

The line of the roof is also very fine, can you spot the dragon?

 

Here is Confucius, what would he say to all the piles of food products left in his name??

 

Another fine set of door panels,

 

and the roof tiles are quite beautiful too.

 

 A serpent or dragon - either way, it isn't particularity frightening, really rather splendid in fact.

 

I was there on that sunny day,

 

but was Magic too??

 

Perhaps she slipped through this doorway when I wasn't looking?

 

A hot, hot day, so I was thankful to reach (yet another) cool hotel room,

 

and even more so, a dip in the delightful rooftop spar pool.  So refreshing after the heat of today.

 

Off with the robe, hat and saddles,

happy toes once again - Aaaaah!