Vietnam Hoi An

“My second day in Hoi An, walking down the street with huge piece of gauze taped to my leg, I stopped to ask a woman for directions. She asked if she could take a look at my leg. In no time she sent her brother to the pharmacy, cleaned and dressed my wound, and refused to accept payment for the supplies. Her name is Lily and she became a true friend during my time in Hoi An. If you find yourself in the area, pay her a visit at her spa Calla Lily, where I received the best massage of my life. The massage begins with a lemongrass foot soak and a cup of fresh tamarind juice. I can’t explain what happened during my massage, but afterwards I felt like a different person. The anxiety and tension I held onto since before I even arrived in Vietnam was gone. I think that’s the moment I let go and fell for Hoi An.”

“On a bike – one day – a day when blue poured out of the sky into irrigation ponds. When kingfishers sat patiently on lines and herons stalked silent and sure footed through reeds. I realised not a soul in the world knew where I was. What a feeling of freedom. I dropped my bike by a tree. Sat and savoured the moment.”