This does sound unreal already! It sounds a bit dreaming as well! It sounds romantic? It sounds funny? Maybe all of these!
A couple days ago I woke un to an unusual sunny winter day (again). And all of sudden, there was a distant voice calling me to go down to Hoi An. As you might have known, I have strong intuition and most of the times, if I can, I will always listen to it.
I immediately charged my camera battery and packed up then took a solo ride to Hoi An at 1PM! Where I felt like there was someone who I'm inlove with and was waiting for me! π
I guess for how wild and adventurous I am, a lot of times my friends understand when I suddenly disappear from the city like that. Or even a trip to Ha Noi or Saigon, or across the country, I'd buy the ticket and go right away if I feel like it!
Hi all! What an eventful week here with my Hive friends and all the communities!
I love how busy we are to prepare for the holidays and also to join in lots of cool activities on Hive as well!
The energy is up! π
So today, right now, let me take you with me on my trip to Hoi An and let the feelings flow along the way!
Hα»i An - formerly known as Fai-Fo or Faifoo, is a city with a population of approximately 120,000 in Vietnam's QuαΊ£ng Nam Province and is noted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Along with the Cu Lao Cham archipelago, it is part of the Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An Biosphere Reserve, designated in 2009.
Old Town Hα»i An, the city's historic district, is recognized as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century, its buildings and street plan reflecting a blend of indigenous and foreign influences. Prominent in the city's old town, is its covered "Japanese Bridge", dating to the 16th-17th century.
Hoi An is 25km from my home in Da Nang (about 15 miles). It usually takes me 40 minutes to get to the town. During the lockdown, visiting Hoi An was a big dream to achieve. Today it's so easy to get there, no more check points, not much traffic, sunny cool day!
Local food vendors bring you a very Hoi An-vibe
The late afternoon sunlight going through the doors and windows of the old houses is always something that I never get tired of watching!
For some reason, this time I spent 1 hour just looking through these small alley ways...
I feel something in there! Don't you? π
The mossy walls leading us to somewhere, we don't know... but Hoi An always makes me feel so safe to discover out! π€
"NΓ³n lΓ‘" - The hat - One of the symbols of Vietnamese - always activates my homesickness. It brings me homy and peaceful feelings as well π
This is one of my most favorite shots here! This coffee shop is facing the river and receiving all the last ray of sunshine of the day!
Beauty of 400+ years old houses...
I would definately live in houses like these! And fall asleep easily in my cozy bed! π
The town is empty during Covid season. Can't imagine on normaly days, you'd never get to take a photo without any human like this. This makes the town so peaceful and a bit melancholy...
You might say this looks like a scene in Chinese movie?
It's not just Chinese, Hoi An architechture is a mix of Chinese and Japanese influences and also French later on!
One of my most favorite moments to shoot is the random working moment of local Vietnamese women. You can tell they are do anything cleverly!π
Doggy sun-bathing! Happy hours here yay! I don't know if anyone ever notices this but Hoi An dogs seem to be more chill to me! π
Walking around from midnoon for 4 hours only using 100% manual settings to take one by one photo with fixed lens sound pretty silly but I promise you thinking of those 4 hours and looking at these lovely photos make my day glorious and unforgetable! π
Have you watched this movie? It was filmed in Saigon and you'd see some amazing old Saigon scenes in it! π
One thing I love about wandering arount to take photos is... you suddenly find out a special place involved with your favorite movie!
Hoi An is also "The world of cycling"
Within the ancient town, there is a specific time when no motorbikes allowed, only bicycles. And cycling around the ancient town and out to the rice fields in a cool evening with someone can be considered as a lovely date! π
Wandering for 4 hours with my favorite songs playing in my earphones, going through lots of feelings...
Later on I found out what is that feeling that I mentioned above: Feeling of being inlove with someone unreal π
That's actually the old town and the slow flow of life and things there just remind me of the old good days, remind me of people who have come into my life and have left.
I think I'm actually still IN LOVE WITH THE MEMORIES!
Some sweetness overflowing in my heart at that moment! π
People said "out of sight out of mind", but I know the "real authentic connection" lasts longer than we ever know. We might not even know how much of connection we have with someone... until time goes by and things still feel like just... yesterday π
Living on the code of Appreciation is still my point!
I ended the trip by meeting two new friends who are professional photographers wandering around to take photos too. We had a coffee together and exchanged Facebook.
Anyday can turn adventurous and interesting. Anyday can be the day to try something new, to see new people, to start new conversation or conquering new hobby! Just go out there and make a lot of memories!
And falling inlove with memories is a sweet feeling as well to urge me to create more!
Hope you enjoy the photos and my litte story. Thanks for the visit!
If you have a place like that in your heart, let me know too!
Cheers! πππ
Little Beatle β«