Back in Nguyễn Quyết Tiến's hometown...An Kỳ

What a lovely day! This. Morning, eight of us caught a bus to go and visit Tiến's hometown...Graham and Lee, Jenny, Tiến, Lien, Katie, Jordan and me. 

In a bit over an hour we disembarked in a nearby town. Lee bought some cakes and I bought an orchid for hostess gifts, and Tiến organised a couple of cars to take us the rest of the way.

Only Katie and I had been here before so it was delightful to see the reactions from the others as they experienced the tranquility of Tiến's village. This year, his father was home as well, and as we've come to expect, the warm welcome extended by the family had all of us immediately feeling at home. Of course, his gorgeous little nieces are irresistible!

 

We settled in for a cool drink and had a look around... it's so serene and beautiful here!

 

We all trouped down to the village centre to buy some beer for lunch, taking photos along the way and saying hello to the neighbours.

When we got back, preparations were well under way for lunch....

Check out the enormous fish cooking in the traditional kitchen...  

 The littlies were fed first...

Then it was our turn!

The lunch they served us was an absolute feast, and every bit of it came from their own garden...even the chicken and the fish!

After lunch we relaxed in the courtyard while our hostesses cleaned up. 

They gently waved away our offers to help, so while we were waiting Katie began braiding Jordan's hair...then Lien's, then mine, Jenny's, then both Tiến's sisters and his Mum!

 

        

  

 What about Graham???

After the mid-day nap time, the farmers were back at work..

 

Photo bomb...

Once again we went for a walk, this time to look around the village...

 

 

 

To the delight and amusement of the owner, we stopped for a cold beer at the same little shop where Graham had stocked up for lunch. Very refreshing on a hot afternoon.

 

There was a discussion which ended up in a full blown argument between the shop owner and another lady who pulled up. Apparently it was about money that had been lent and not repaid. In the end our shop owner won the argument and when the other lady drove away with her tail between her legs we all cheered and clapped ... to the huge amusement of the locals.

 

 

Can't resist taking photos of these stunning old walls.

  All too soon it was time to say goodbyes.  Such a beautiful family.

All of us had a fabulous day...

And as we walked down the lane to meet the cars that would take us back to the bus, there they were, waving us goodbye...