A month in Hoi An

[Pushka]

We stayed at VIN Pearl for our 30th wedding anniversary pearl. Get it? It was, interesting. The morning buffet was shambolic. Kids. And badly behaved adults putting things they'd touched back on to the buffet. This was where I picked up the used bread roll and put it back on their plate. They treated us to really nice cake for the celebration. On check out the staff spent ages arguing with another guest because there was only one teaspoon in the room on checkout. They were adamant there was only 1 to start with and they shared. At that time it was owned by Russians.

 

[GarrettM]

This pic was taken moments before Mr6 had one of his unpredictable mood changes and decided he was not going in come hell or high water. Usually this is because something has differed from his very set and inflexible pre-conceived notions of what it should be.
Sometimes it takes a few minutes to calm him down and get him back on track. Annoyingly on this occasion one of the many Grab drivers who hang around spots like this decided he'd try to persistently worm his way into my attention. I'm trying to gently manhandle and finesses a disregulated kid, and old mate is coming within arm's reach trying to offer me cheap rides, and saying things to my son. He wasn't aggressive, but his over the top friendly act really got on my nerves. I came close to flat out telling him to #@#@ off but managed to hold my tongue. His name was Huy (Wee) and he would try his spiel again on both subsequent visits to the park.

The park itself, was almost entirely devoid of people. It is the middle of winter here so we expected fewer crowds. But it was essentially empty. I think it took 20 minutes before we saw another patron. Only staff.

There's a water park, a river safari, amusement rides, an island of "folk culture", and an indoor arcadegames centre. Again, almost like a Vietnamese idea of what an amusement park should be.



And if you've ever wanted to know what it'd belkke to go from Hoi An to Amsterdam in moments you're in luck.

 

[Pushka]

View attachment 491262This pic was taken moments before Mr6 had one of his unpredictable mood changes and decided he was not going in come hell or high water. Usually this is because something has differed from his very set and inflexible pre-conceived notions of what it should be.
Sometimes it takes a few minutes to calm him down and get him back on track. Annoyingly on this occasion one of the many Grab drivers who hang around spots like this decided he'd try to persistently worm his way into my attention. I'm trying to gently manhandle and finesses a disregulated kid, and old mate is coming within arm's reach trying to offer me cheap rides, and saying things to my son. He wasn't aggressive, but his over the top friendly act really got on my nerves. I came close to flat out telling him to #@#@ off but managed to hold my tongue. His name was Huy (Wee) and he would try his spiel again on both subsequent visits to the park.

The park itself, was almost entirely devoid of people. It is the middle of winter here so we expected fewer crowds. But it was essentially empty. I think it took 20 minutes before we saw another patron. Only staff.

There's a water park, a river safari, amusement rides, an island of "folk culture", and an indoor arcadegames centre. Again, almost like a Vietnamese idea of what an amusement park should be.

View attachment 491261

And if you've ever wanted to know what it'd belkke to go from Hoi An to Amsterdam in moments you're in luck.

View attachment 491260View attachment 491258View attachment 491259
View attachment 491257

That must feel very weird.

Be wary of the friendly drivers. Some just aren't. And hope the lad settled down. He's done really well so far.

 

[GarrettM]

The kids and I did two trips to the park in the afternoon. Mum was with us for the first, but after we got access to our rooms she stayed at the hotel to do some work. I'll share more hotel pics later, but will combine pics from both visits to make my job easier. Hopefully.

I'm not sure what the point of fake Europe is, but you can't have fake Europe without European cars from days of yore.


Some sort of old Renault I think. That's French so it fits I guess. No doubt the sign behind it might say more, but only smart people think to check those things.

We all know what this is, I hope.

Unlike the Renault this one had a functioning door. And I simply had to check something. If you've been in an old Beetle you'll know. They had that smell. I can't describe it and I'm not sure what it comes from, but every single Beetle I ever sat in had that same odour. And this one did too. Remarkable.

 

[GarrettM]

The kids were hoping for some of the rides/amusements but so many were out of action. Again perhaps the time of year. Later in the arvo they splashed a bit in the little wave pool. The giant pool though, which has water slides and a huge play structure, was drained and getting maintenance.

A theme park of not quites really. Thekids ended up doing the rainbow slide a few times, the carousel, bumper cars, a mini- rollercoaster and some air hockey at the indoor games. Certainly not a waste of time, but not what might have been. I only have a few pics from the afternoon. Too busy watching them have fun or having it with them.

 

[GarrettM]

Of course Ms10 wanted to beat the closure of the hotel pool at 7pm, and I had promised I would hop in with them. So we hopped on the tuktuk again, ignoring old mate Huy and his offers, and had another dip.

The lights outside the hotel foyer were nice.


The pool area was much the same.

 

[RB001]

Some sort of old Renault

Closer inspection through the back window reveals this to be a Renault Floride (aka Caravelle in some markets) - they only made 'em from 1958-1968.

 

[GarrettM]

And some more of the hotel. We had asked for adjoining rooms but ended up across the hall, in more or less matching twins. Dad's hopes of some rare alone time with mum thusly dashed, the kids decided we'd separate on gender grounds. To be fair I'd have said the same anyway.

The view from the boy room.


And the lady room.


The rooms themselves were standard. Comfortable without being incredible. Again absolutelynothing to complain about except my roommate who hogs the TV.