Hoi An

About a 40 minute ride by car out of Danang is the town of Hoi An. It is recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as Hoi An is an ancient town that is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century.
The main part of the city is closed off to traffic during the day and early evening allowing tourists to admire the beautiful old buildings that line the narrow streets and laneways. Many of the houses and shops  are painted in a mustard colour and shutters on the windows in bright red and blue. The old town is dotted with beautiful silk lanterns that are lit up at night and many of the shops sell them as souvenirs.
We spent about five hours wandering around Hoi An and would certainly go back for the charm of the town and also the wonderful Vietnamese food.

Laneway in the oldtown

One of the many Bougainvillea covered shops

Lanterns out the front of a shop

One of the many tailor shops in Hoi An

Children in the street

One of the many lantern shops

Temple 

Flower seller at the market

Lively street in Hoi An

Bright shutters were on most buildings

Plaque reminding people  that no cars or motorbikes are allowed

The lanterns at dusk

Entrance to a temple

Shops along the waterfront

A wedding couple

One of the many locations they chose for the wedding photos

Detail on a lantern

Decorations on the bridge across the river

A long weekend in Danang

Danang is one of the major port cities in Vietnam and the biggest city on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. Danang is also a up and coming beach holiday destination and is favoured by the wealthy Vietnamese as a holiday spot. Flying time is roughly three hours from Singapore. Danang seems to have put infrastructure in place for future developments unlike places such as Phuket in Thailand. We were staying at the year old InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort which is about 35 minutes from the airport and away from the main holiday strip. The hotel had its own beach and is set in the side of the Mythical Monkey Mountain. The Hotel also draws inspiration from the French who occupied Danang previously and local architecture.
The resort would have to be one of the most beautiful resorts we have stayed in in terms of setting and attention to detail in the buildings and surrounds.

Monkey sculptures featured throughout the resort

Pods for outdoor dining

Foyer entrance

Traditional sculptures

Opposite the entry foyer

Traditional basket boat

Traditional basket boat

View of the resort from the beach

The Cable car to take you from your accommodation to the restaurants 

Quite a step ride

View from reception

Interesting spot to relax

Temple in the grounds

The Long Bar

Okayama Castle - Okayama, Japan

Located across the river from the Korakuen gardens is the Okayama Castle. The Castle has a black exterior, earning it the nickname Crow Castle or sometimes Gold Crow Castle due to the gold gilding on the roof. The Castle has been home to fifteen Lords of Okayama from 1573 to 1869. The castle was burnt to the ground in the Second World War due to an air raid and the castle was rebuilt in 1966 to original plans.
The black exterior and gilding on the roof made it a striking site when approached from a distance.

Okayama Castle

Okayama Castle

Okayama Castle

Okayama Castle

Okayama Castle

Okayama Castle view from the Korakuen gardens

Korakuen Garden - Okayama, Japan

Korakuen gardens is considered one of the three great gardens in Japan and is located in Okayama. Korakuen was built by in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa who was the Lord of Okayama. The current garden layout was constructed in 1863. The garden suffered severe damage during the floods of 1934 and during World War II bombing in 1945, but has been restored based on period paintings and diagrams.
The gardens are designed to give the visitor a new experience at every turn. The gardens consists of vast lawns areas, tea plantations, several teahouses, rice fields and ponds. At the time our our visit the Karume azaleas were just finishing flowering but still were quite colourful.

Sawa-no-ike Pond

Enyo-tei House

Karume azaleas in bloom

Ornament on the lawn area

Hedge of Karume azaleas

Sawa-no-ike Pond

Yuishinzan Hill

View from Yuishinzan Hill 

Japanese Iris beginning to bloom

Tea plantation

Koi in the pond

Yuishinzan Hill with Okayama Castle in the background

Waterwheel  just near the pond