A Day in the Life-Joanna: INDOCHINA/ Drive to Da Nang/ China Beach

Today we drove down the scenic Highway 1 to Danang to visit the lovely seaside village of Lang Co. The Rang Cua Range which overlooks the beach forms the perfect backdrop. Lunch is at the Lang Co Beach Resort overlooking the sea. As we walked back to the coach, we were able to tour one of the very modern and luxurious cabins (on stilts in the sea).

We were en route to the gorgeous Furama Resort Da Nang, located on the China Sea, where we will stay for 3 nights!

One of the highlights of Vietnam was a visit to a local preschool. In actuality, the structure serves as a school/ daycare center for young children of parents who spend long days working in the many rice paddies of the area. The school was in complete bedlam during our visit, which is understandable given the fact that 30 strange Americans showed up to disrupt their day. The children were friendly and playful and seemed to love to have their photos taken with the tourists.

Orchids at the preschool in Da Nang

Little child smiling at me to take her photo


	An imaginative use of plastic bottles as terrariums at the school

Gateway to the school

School children with their teacher

After visiting the school, we took a stroll through the village to the mayor's home where our guide talked to us about the culture of the local people, their strong belief in Buddha, and their simple way of life.

One of hundreds of rice paddies

The "parlor" in the mayor's home

The kitchen in the mayor's home

Outdoor space in the home

Pots and pans for cooking

Outdoor dining

Mayor's daughter and his mother

Garden at mayor's home

We eventually found our way to an open market in the village where seafood, chicken, and fresh Asian vegetables were displayed openly on table tops. Frogs were being skinned as we watched with pity for the poor frogs. I later learned that the shopkeeper had cut the spinal cord of the frog before it was skinned, therefore it didn't experience pain.