Our bus from Hue to Hoi An was a short 3 hours. Painless. Painful on the other hand was walking back and forth trying to figure out where we were, and where the hotels were. We’ve grown accustomed to the system of getting on a bus, and getting off at the bus driver’s restaurant, mini-stop, or hotel of choice. You know, the place where he gets a little kickback from the owners for bringing them business… We usually make it a point to walk across the street to buy our water and snacks, or in this latest case- Andrew stayed outside with our bags, while I checked out a room, before telling the girl that maybe we’d be back. It was dark, and the hotel seemed far from the city center. I suggested that we walk closer towards the center. Hoi An is my favorite city in Vietnam. I had a really great time with friends I had made traveling through last time, and was excited to show Andrew around.
I didn’t even mind lugging my backpack towards the center and felt so grateful Andrew didn’t mind either. I told him so, and told him that I thought he was a really great travel partner. That is, until I asked where we were going, and realized he had no particular hotel in mind. Homeboy spent an hour looking online and through Lonely Planet for places to stay the night before. Our throw down (not really) on the street went a little something like this:
me: Why would you spend an hour looking at places and not even pick one out?
A: I don’t know, I thought you would know where to go… You’ve been here before…
me: FOUR YEARS AGO!
A: Well, it seemed like you just wanted to walk around…
me: With my backpack? Seriously? No! I never want to “just walk around” with fifty extra pounds on my back! Never. No. Seriously?!? No, I never want to do that.
A: … So do you still think I’m a great travel partner?
me: No.
And so we walked. I checked out another hotel, but wasn’t satisfied and told Andrew we could find a better one. Namely, one with a swimming pool, like the one I stayed at last time. And then… magically… we rounded the bend, and the next hotel was the very same one I stayed at four years ago! I hiked up to the fourth floor to check out a room, told the girl we’d take it, and flopped down on the bed.
A: Aren’t you so glad I’m such a great travel partner, I mean, it’s a good thing I found this place.
me: I said you weren’t. Remember? And you didn’t even find this place.
A: No. You think I am. You said it in a moment of sincerity. I know you meant it.
me: I’m getting another room.
Obviously I didn’t. Although, at $12.00 a room, it wouldn’t have been the worst thing. We went for a swim and then walked through town. The amount of tailor shops has nearly tripled (or so it felt) but the relaxed town had not lost its charm.
After a busy and loud Hanoi, it was so nice to stroll through the town, restaurant hop, journal, and people watch. It felt good to be back, despite having a not so great travel partner. I tease, but after I attempted to “fact-check” our conversation with him, he would like me to mention that he disputes the above account (even though I’m totally right) and he didn’t appreciate the voice I used when I read his lines of the dialogue. (Casey, you would have appreciated it!)
