We started the last morning in Hoi An by packing our bags and enjoying another fresh breakfast before checking out. Then fittings at cloth market, we were getting closer but still more adjustments needed to be done. We continued our tradition of biking, and I wondered what material the asses of bicyclists are made of, ’cause my delicate bony behind was starting to protest. While browsing we finally found a suitcase which looked it would last until we hit ground in Sweden as well as easy to spot on the conveyor belts.

Another round of fittings and this time it looked promising, just some final touches left. We were now planning for the last fitting 15 minutes before the taxi to the airport would leave (from our hotel), plenty of time for any potential hiccups. We had planned to have gyoza at the Japanese restaurant from yesterday but found that the owner had just started his preparations, which would take at least two hours which we didn’t have (fair to say, we had missed that they didn’t open until 17). Well well, we found a food stall just by the riverside which had put up some tables on the street as well. Mona ordered some grilled thin pork slices that one wrapped in rice-paper after tucking in a bit of salad and sauce – similar to fajitas. They were really nice, and I say that as a vegetarian. Mona had to re-order the dish. I had white rose and noodle soup myself in addition to some of Mona’s food.

After that lovely late lunch we went back to the cloth market and finally everything looked good enough, so we happily settled our bills before biking back to the hotel – to fill up the new suitcase completely with stuff bought in Hoi An, this city is dangerous. We got to the airport easily, security went smooth and suddenly we were in Dalat. There was an airport shuttle for 2 USD which worked like a charm (our hotel offered a pickup for 30 USD which we declined, not the ideal start as it felt they tried to rip us off). After a bit of walking and access to internet we could also find our hotel (which we didn’t have any address written down to and no one heard about the name we pronounced) and checked in. After a quick noodle soup at a place nearby Mona stumbled tired into our room, or actually someone else’s room. I promised not to mention when this happened the first time, but I can tell you that this was the second time this trip, and at least this time it wasn’t two middle-aged guys in boxers she walked in upon.

We woke up to early alarms, by 0800 we would be picked up by Love for life (not a local brach of some delusional pro-life organization) for a bicycle tour and we needed to have breakfast as well as pack all our stuff since we would need to change rooms sometime later during the day. It’s a hard life being on vacation. We were a group of seven people including the guide and we quickly made our way to the less trafficked roads. I had tried putting on Sunblock but could already feel it wasn’t evenly spread out. Well well, pandas can be good looking too I hear.

We were enjoying the countryside, stopped at temples and sights and the tour guide Han told of legends as well as explained their farming principles and pointed out different vegetables and herbs that we’re grown. His saying “No worry, No hurry” was very nice and there was one guy who took more photos than I did but I would conclude that both his girlfriend as well as Mona was rather patient with us stopping for photos every now and then. I think the quota photos of farmers or fishermen, especially old, are met for this vacation. It reminded me of Swedish politics where the age for retirement is discussed – and I do have to say people who worked hard their entire life look photogenic, so it could be of some comfort for those on the last years of their life that tourists may appreciate their labor.

As we got back to the city for lunch we started to recognize the area and to our pleasant surprise the venue chosen for lunch was Cafe 43. After lunch we headed back to start of the tour for another surprise – footpaths and massage with liniments. We however passed on the offer for a free boat ride since we had fittings to attend to. We were close to the finish line at A Dong Silk now, adjusting tiny bubbles on the rather slim vests took was not entirely done. As we went to the cloth market it was very visible that there was a difference in quality of craftsmanship and focus. My jacket had little in common with what I ordered but they got a list of things to change and we would be back tomorrow. Mona had quite a few adjustments herself but easier to fix. As we returned to A Dong Silk they made a few fast iterations while we were there and finally I had nothing to possibly complain about – it was perhaps 5 or 6 fittings in the end for the most difficult items. I realized as we were settling our debts that they had missed to charge for one vest but my conscience convinced me I’m a nice guy so I told them which they were very happy about. Before we left I took a photo of my assistant Thao and the tailor who had been more than patient with me.

We got back to the hotel, and realized we would need to buy another suitcase before we left to fit everything we have bought. After quickly arranging our accommodation in Dalat we headed out for the last dinner and chose a Japanese restaurant, Samurai Kitchen, near the Japanese bridge.

They didn’t have sushi and was out of gyoza, but they did have Shochu. I ordered two Shochu on the rocks in Japanese (the most used phrase from Ulf and my previous travels to Japan). This was understood by a lady at table next to us who was greaty impressed/humored. Mona was not as impressed by the Shochu however. The food was good, and the place very charming with only four tables. As we were done the staff offered to show us how to make origami birds which we thought would be fun. A little alcohol and chattering with the staff later we managed to create two birds before heading home.

This morning we understood the breakfast concept, it’s a menu with prices, but everything you eat for breakfast is free. Why the hotel bother setting out prices for breakfast dishes if it’s included in the price for all rooms I’m not entirely sure. We had over the course of a week now survived dubiously fried eggs, fresh vegetables, food from street stalls and even ice cream without a single problem so we decided to make things a bit more interesting by renting bicycles. We’re still taking bets at 1-800-Retardos by the way.

Today was a day of fittings, first 90 minutes at A Dong Silk, then we went to the cloth market to check out Mona’s dress. Since it was pretty nice and only needed minor adjustments she started ordering more dresses, and I somehow made the mistake myself of asking the price for linen and suddenly I was taking measurements for another suit. The plan was a white linen to, for the lack of better words, go colonial – we’ll see what the much cheaper tailor can whip up. Another hour and a half later we biked down to the beach. It was a nice road and traffic wasn’t bad at all, we after some hesitation ignored a not-so-officially-looking guy telling us to park our bikes with him and settled in the dunes.

The water was cold enough for me to not dip more than my left foot, and most of the clientele seemed to enjoy the sun above the sea. A tasty lunch just by the beach didn’t cost more than an additional 10% compared to Hoi An city center which was a nice surprise. A bit of reading later and we headed off for more fittings at A Dong Silk. It was really wonderful weather so we took yet another stroll down the river and it was really nice to see the yellow painted houses glow as the sun set. For dinner we decided to skip Cafe 43 and try out a recommendation from Thid, Hoi An Sai An, just by the riverfront. It supposedly was run partly by a Swedish guy who had some Swedish dishes. There was however no sign of swedish influences or staff, and although we paid premium the food was on par with street stalls, so likely the guy sold off somewhat recently. We decided to have drinks and desserts at Cargo Club instead. Their Mojitos was so-so but their chocolate pastries were on the other hand superb.