Hoi An - Day 8

Today we are visiting a World Cultural Heritage site, My Son, to see the ancient ruins of the Champa Kingdom which covers the period from the 4th to the 13th Centuries, and is widely regarded as the beginning of civilization in much of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.  Most scholars believe it started with an influx from India, bringing with them the Hindu religion and Sanskrit language.  At these ruins nearly all of the structures are brick, with no apparent use of anything like cement or glue to hold them together, and yet, several of the structures have been dated to more than a thousand years old.  There is continuing archeological work and restoration here though slowly because funding is limited.  One theory is that the bricks were put in place using a paste made of cane sugar (grown in this area) and ashes, and then fired by building a huge fire inside the structure to function as a sort of kiln, firing the bricks together from the inside out.  This is followed by extensive, highly ornate carving of the bricks on the exterior to create a temple to one of the 3 Hindu gods.  Very interesting place. 

As we were driving out to the ruins we were following a river so full that it was beginning to spill over its banks from the heavy rains the past two days, and by the time we return parts of our roadway are covered with about 6 inches of water.  We also stopped to see fishermen using makeshift fishing nets trying to take advantage of the high waters to capture some fish not normally found this far up the river.  When we arrived back in Hoi An we  were driving to the restaurant where we would have lunch, but the bus was forced to back out because the intersection ahead had nearly 6 feet of water covering it!  We were very fortunate to see My Son rain free.  We had the rest of the afternoon free so we picked up our laundry and repacked our suitcases before heading out for dinner.  Evening proved a little more exciting than usual as the lights in our room went off about 9 pm and were off all night.  Good thing we brought flashlights.