Nomadic Nesters ~ Our new digs in Hoi An

GreenGlobalTrek Viet Nam 94 Comments

We intersperse our nomadic lifestyle with occasional bursts of relative geographic “permanence”. When we do settle in (for a bit), we appreciate the relative calm that comes with being still and the process of nesting, creating a space that is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing to us.

From totally rebuilding a falling apart house in Granada, Nicaragua to converting a storage shed in Sri Lanka into a beautiful jungle side cottage, we are well versed in the process of transforming a house into a home.

A home extends to the immediate walkable neighborhood and then further extends to what’s within easy motorcycle range.

This week we move into the house that will become our home for the foreseeable future in Hoi An, Viet Nam and have signed a one year lease. Years back we had an interior design business, and the process of home design is something that we really enjoy doing together. The house is furnished but in the most basic way. It is going to be fun finding what we need to make the house comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, on a budget.

Living in a country where bamboo has been expertly used for thousands of years, we want bamboo to be the theme of this home.

The golden bamboo gate at the entrance sets the tone…
Looking down from the balcony onto our postage stamp size garden. Big enough for a small table, and 3 chairs. Ben has taken a liking to this spot, for his morning coffee and emails.
We moved all the furniture around in the living room, putting the couch and two chairs at different angles, added a straw mat from the market, ordered coloured cushions, bought some ceramics which caught our eye and voila, transformation.
The house has an open plan downstairs, with an easy flow from the living room to the kitchen.
In Vietnamese homes, the kitchen counter tops are rather low by Western standards. What to do so that we don’t kill our backs while preparing meals? Our solution: design a tall bamboo island, as a place to do food prep.
Cost: $22. ( Time that it took to be made, from order to pick up ~ 48 hours.)
The area which links the kitchen to the living room, would typically be used as an internal garage, where a Vietnamese family would park their motorbikes. For us, it is destined to be an area for yoga, stretching and our rebounder.
Ben sewing the straw mats together, which we bought at the market. Individually they are small, but sewn together they make a softer space for exercising.
Testing out the rebounder.
At the top of the stairs is a small nook with double doors to a balcony. This corner will be Peta’s art space. One doesn’t need a lot of space in order to be creative.
We have neighbors on either side of us, but in front, we have an open vista across to the rice paddies and a fabulous afternoon breeze.
A bedroom with a view.
Our bedroom balcony: a perfect spot for breakfast.
We managed to convince the landlord to paint one wall almost completely black, to create a wall size chalkboard, for Ben’s office on the second floor. (This was a bit of a cultural stretch.)
The chalkboard is an all purpose life improvement tool for us. We had one in our kitchen in Sri lanka and used it extensively for reminders, action items. This one will do double duty for Ben’s work.
One of the nice assets of this house, is the rooftop patio with views in a few directions, over the rice paddies, towards the mountains. Currently too hot to use during the day, but a good spot for sunset.
Watching a storm coming our way.

Our neighborhood (by foot)

Now let’s take a walk through our neighbourhood, which we are slowly discovering, one stroll at a time…

A few steps away from our house, we come to the bright lime green rice fields. 92% of all arable land in Viet Nam is dedicated to rice production. The rice industry in Viet Nam employs over ten million people, making it a dominant part of the economy.
Small pathways weave through the rice paddies, connecting neighbours to the main roads.
On the day we move in, there is some curiosity amongst our immediate neighbours, who clearly are not used to having foreigners in their midst. (While there are many foreigners in Hoi An, the overwhelming majority of them are transient, tourists coming for just a few days. Foreign residents still make up a tiny portion of the population.)

Our neighbourhood is home to a community of farmers. Almost all the houses on our street have chickens, or ducks and there is even a cow that lives behind us. There is also a fair amount of new construction (everywhere in Hoi An), alongside haystacks. An interesting juxtaposition.

The neighbourhood is also adapting to Hoi An as a tourism destination. This pool, a totally unexpected find, is at a boutique hotel, within an easy walking distance to us. We had the use of a gorgeous pool in Sri Lanka at the nearby yoga studio, and here will have a pool nearby too. Very welcome when the temperatures soar, as they typically do in July and August.

Another find along our walks, is this plant based cafe in a converted traditional Vietnamese home. We know we will be walking here on a regular basis.

As we get to the main road, we realize that we are within walking distance to quite a number of small shops and restaurants.

A wholesale ceramic warehouse which is stocked from floor to ceiling with plates, vases, cups of all sizes and shapes. We get some good finds here.
Surprise! Around the corner from the haystack and the cows and the chickens, in amongst the restaurants and shops, a brand new gym has just opened.
And for the biggest surprise of all: A really good sushi restaurant. To understand the significance of this, six years ago there was not even one sushi restaurant in Hoi An and now there are five. And the best one of all, is walking distance to our house. Now that’s good karma!

Our neighborhood (by scooter)

It takes a motorcycle to broaden our sense of neighborhood, though. There is so much else within minutes of our home… let’s take a ride.

The road that leads to our house, is the entrance to our immediate community, the village of An My.
Water buffaloes, “a farmers best friend” in Viet Nam, are a daily sight.
Sunset drives through the rice fields

Nesting…

Creating a home in Viet Nam is an interesting process. It’s not as though we can just go to Target or Home Depot to get stuff. No, we have to search at the markets and small shops and try to find what we need ~ much like doing a complex scavenger hunt. We become experts at piling goods onto our bikes, Asian style.

Vietnamese beds are often too hard for us Westerners. We are on a mission to find a good solution to this problem. Not obvious. We zero in on a theoretical option: buying a large piece of foam to put on the top of the bed. But where to find said foam? After a few attempts which prove futile, the answer comes our way. As we are sitting having smoothie bowls for breakfast one day, Peta comments on the comfy seats. Foam seats, she points out. Eureka. She asks the owner, who speaks very little English, where we can buy the stuff that we are sitting on. He calls his aunt who speaks English, and she texts an address for us. Off we go… expecting to find a bed shop, or a furniture store…

We arrive at a tiny shop that looks as though it is a motorcycle repair shop. But on closer inspection we see that there are foam motorcycle seats hanging from the walls. Ah ha! Progress. We try to explain what we are looking for (an extra large piece of good quality foam) and eventually Mr. Vu, the amiable motorcycle seat repair guy, gets it. A big smile comes across his face as he realizes what we are after and nods his head, YES, he can do it!

Motorcycle seat repair shop where we finally order foam for the beds.
Buying large straw mats (for various spots in the house) at the large market in the historic centre of Hoi An. (Bargaining is all part of the expected transaction.)
Now this is a fun shop! Rattan and bamboo products galore, at wholesale prices. Our selection is piling up quickly.
We pick up the tall bamboo shelf for Peta’s paints that we ordered. Everything gets piled onto the bike and she somehow manages to squeeze in between driver and load, holding onto the piece of furniture behind her, and we head home with our final bamboo haul.

One of the things that we have really relished about this whole experience has been our interactions with all the vendors. Across the board, almost without exception they are all professional, helpful beyond belief, hardworking, and very efficient. And on top of that, they have a great sense of humour that transcends our lack of language.

One critical discovery is how very primordial the relationship between the vendor and the return customer. By showing loyalty to a vendor, no matter what the product is, all sorts of things start to happen. For one, the price can go down when you return. For another, the vendor immediately recognizes you (we have some that remember us from six years ago!) and will greet you warmly and go out of their way to make things easy for you. For example, when we went to buy organic looseleaf tea in the central market, we asked the vendor who spoke good English, if she knew where we could buy a really large sewing needle for Ben to stitch the mats together. She said,

“I show you. Follow me.” Jumps onto her motorbike, we follow her for a few minutes. She jumps off, runs into the covered market for household goods, returns in a few minutes holding up an oversize needle just like we need. All about going out of her way to be helpful to us as her customers.

On another occasion, we stop at a nursery to buy some bamboo, and some plants, heavy bags of soil, for the rooftop. Some are quite large, especially the bamboo. This would normally need a small pick up truck to deliver. Hmm, what to do? Peta says “no way are we doing THAT on the motorbike”. The nursery owner observes our predicament, and says, “I bring. Where?” She jumps onto her bike and follows us to our house a few minutes away, sees it and says “I see. I know. I come.” And a few minutes later she drops off the first load, and a few minutes later, the next. She has plenty experience doing this on her bike, and to her it is completely normal and definitely no big deal. But she understands we are neophytes on two wheels compared with any Vietnamese person.

It took us about ten days to transform a basic nondescript Vietnamese house, into our home. This is one of those things that we have learnt works for us. No dilly dallying, the sooner we whip things into shape, the better. Home sweet home. We are very happy with the nest we have created here in Hoi An.

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94 thoughts on “Nomadic Nesters ~ Our new digs in Hoi An”

  2. RetirementallyChallenged.com

    I am booking my flight today! What a beautiful area… and setting up your home looks like (challenging) fun. What you’ve done so far is gorgeous! Thank you for the tour. Oh, and I really, really want one of those round, woven crossbody bags!!!!

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Janis, the guest room is awaiting you. We actually have two extra bedrooms and two bathrooms, one of the benefits of this house is it is quite spacious. Glad you like what we have done.

      I am totally happy to send you one of those bags. They are about $10, plus whatever shipping costs. Just pick the one you like in the photo and circle it (ie the plain or the coloured) and send me your address (petakaplan@hotmail.com). Alternatively you can choose it yourself when you get here haha.

      Peta

      Reply
  3. The Widow Badass

    Your new digs looks bright and airy and most comfortable! If I can find a rental even half as charming when I move next year, I will be thrilled.Thanks so much for the tour! And saying that being creative doesn’t need much space – I am already acknowledging I may not have “studio” space at my next place and panicking just a wee tiny bit on the inside.

    Deb

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Deb, we are loving how airy and spacious this place is. And the fact that we don’t have to wonder what wildlife (snakes, frogs, mice, squirrels, etc) will stroll across the floor at any moment, as was the case in our jungle home in Sri Lanka!

      Of course it’s nice to have lots of space to spread out, but honestly, there is something satisfying about using a small space. It also requires one to stay tidy and be organised, which could be a good thing for me, otherwise I just keep spreading….

      Peta

      Reply
  4. Lisa Dorenfest

    OMG I want to be you …or at the very least I want to come visit you! So excited to see your new nest and surrounds. The happiness jumps off the page.

    PS. I am pleased to report that Medellin is the first place I have been since Vietnam where I find myself saying ‘ya know, I could live here’.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Lisa, the guest room awaits you!! We would LOVE to have you visit us here in Hoi AN!! That would be so much fun. We actually have two guest rooms, and even two bathrooms! so there is plenty of space.

      We loved Medellin as well. Very liveable city. Except perhaps for that super windy road to come in on. Or maybe it was just that our driver was on some kind of really strong drugs and inclined to take the bends like a maniac.

      Peta

      Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Peggy, on each trip to pick up stuff, we got bolder and bolder. Or maybe it was purely out of necessity. And of course here in Viet Nam, no one bats an eyelid at the idea of carrying so much stuff at once. It is quite the norm. And they always know the best way to squish in here or there…. haha.

      So very fun to meet you both in person!

      Peta

      Reply
      1. Sharon Bonin-Pratt (Shari)

        Now I get to see the pictures of the article I was only able to read a few months ago – so wonderful! How beautiful your new home is, both the house and the community. The house is elegant and serene but speaks of tradition as well as showing an innovative use of materials and opportunities. You’ve become locals, traveling on your scooter, loaded with purchases.

        Reply
        1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

          After living in Sri Lanka, on the edge of the jungle, and wonderful and unique as that was, for this new chapter, we wanted something a bit more hermetic, i.e. not so exposed to the elements and critters. We were lucky to find this spacious and comfortable house to rent in such a great location.

          Peta

          Reply
  8. petspeopleandlife

    Wow. I am impressed with your ingenuity.

    Viet Nam is interesting and your new home looks quite nice and clean or seems to be. I think you two got a very good rental and soon you will be immersed in the local culture.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Well thank you.

      Because we have lived here a few times before, although not for as long a period as we hope to be living here now, we feel perfectly comfortable here and one of the things we like most is to be immersed in the local culture whatever that might be, wherever we are.

      Thanks for stopping by to read us!

      Peta

      Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Lex, the guest room awaits you!! Not to be competitive with Lisa, but after all you did go half way across the world to spend a week on the ocean in a boat. So in all fairness, it makes complete sense that you would come to Hoi An next!!

      My older sister will be visiting early September for 10 days, but after that, and until mid November, you are good to go! We have TWO extra bedrooms and an extra bathroom and lots of space. Plus, the location is fantastic as one can easily walk or ride a bicycle to so many different places.

      Have you been to Viet Nam before?

      Peta

      Reply
  10. Eileen

    I love living your process of creating a home in new cultures with you. Now that I have some free fun time, I am always excited when I get a notice of a new post of yours.

    I missed so many when caring for my husband, that in between I am getting to go backwards with you also. I save some of those for when I need a lift. As always, a great treat to explore the world with you.

    Reply
  11. Chantal

    Wow! This look like so much work and so much fun. Not sure I could survive the motorcycle ride!!! Looove your new place, it looks very cool….any adoption yet of 4 legged family member?

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Hahaha Chantal you really know us well. Hoping to hold off on any animals if possible, just because it is such a commitment and there will still be periods when we are away. (Yes, yes, probably famous last wordsโ€ฆ) In the meantime your brother just loves watching the huge water buffalos walk past our house on the little road way.

      Very pleased with our new place. Took a fair amount of work, yes, but as you say it was fun as well and great watching it evolve into something cool.

      Great to read you!!
      Bisous xoxo
      P

      Reply
  12. Tessa

    So happy you guys are all settled ๐Ÿ™‚ it looks gorgeous and Iโ€™m sure you will be very happy! Big โค๏ธ

    Reply
  13. gallivance.net

    Peta, your new place is quite swish and looks like a wonderful place to settle in. And BTW, your title “Nomadic Nesters” is perfect for your lifestyle, which is something that we can relate to. For years our phrase was: “We travel hard and then settle hard.” Like you, we learned to not obsess about the small stuff, and focus on making each place our own. Just the other day, a friend asked us what was our favorite house that we had lived in, and honestly, I couldn’t really come up with a definitive answer. One thing that moving around has taught us is that every house has assets that can, with a bit of work, become special.

    You guys have some wonderful views. There’s something about the lush green of rice patties that instill a sense of calm that’s hard to describe. Lots of folks pay a premium for water views, which are nice, but for me, give me a lush, green view any day.

    Best of luck in the new place. And woohoo, you signed a one-year lease so you’ll have 12 months of “relative geographic permanence” … not a bad thing at all. ~James

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      James, I like that “we travel hard and settle hard”. Our phrase is “work hard and play hard”. Same, same but different.

      Funny you mention that discussion about what is your favourite house, as we had the exact same discussion with each other and like you, we also had a hard time choosing one definitive answer. We have had four homes (Chicago, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka and now Viet Nam) and each have had their unique attributes and of course some shortcomings. Totally agree, that almost every house can be reveal it’s charms with enough TLC.

      Hear you on the vistas. For me, I love to have a view of anything in nature. Trees yes, mountains great, water… any or all. Ben on the other hand would be happy with a view of a French bakery and cafe. And years ago, he loved his view in Kansas City over an industrial train yard.

      Thanks for your thoughtful and fun comments.

      Peta

      Reply
  14. Jolandi Steven

    What a gorgeous house, and beautiful home you have created (although I’m sure it is an evolving process) for this particular bout of permanence in your life. Your neighbourhood seems very welcoming, with an amazing number of ‘luxuries’ right on your doorstep. Wishing you happy days in this new space.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Jolandi, welcome to our Green Global Trek! Yes it is always an evolving process, but we both like to get things organised and comfy pretty quickly. So we go to it with gusto!

      The neighbourhood is a great combination of farmers as well as a few upscale amenities. Perfect combo for us.

      Thanks for the good wishes.

      Peta

      Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks Patti… If you are impatient, you can check out our archives, we have logged over 70 blog posts about our experiences in Viet Nam, over the past six years.

      Peta

      Reply
  16. Sharon Rosenzweig

    It all looks very Peta and Ben. Open, airy, lightly furnished, quirky essentials. Love the blackboard and the rebounder and the little easel. So much peace. Good work!

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Hi Sharon, so nice to read you, as always. Ahh, you noticed the little quirky things of course. And my easel ๐Ÿ™‚ Our guest room awaits you guys. Come and visit!!!

      Thank you
      xoxo
      P

      Reply
  17. Alison and Don

    This was such fun to read. I totally relate to being able to create a home anywhere. I love your creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance. And so impressed with your motorcycle skills with those loads! What a sweet home you’ve created. Now you can relax and enjoy having a comfortable and appealing haven.
    Alison

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      So glad you enjoyed reading this post, we actually weren’t sure if it would be that interesting to others… but decided we wanted it on record for ourselves nonetheless. So it’s good to know it was a fun read.

      Thank you for the nice compliments. I have to humbly admit that all three of those, do apply and consistently across countries. It is what makes the process fun. What is particularly fun is that our home “makeovers” evolve organically. We start by selecting a place that has the right feel and energy and ideally a view. And then we tackle one room at a time, always our bedroom very first.

      “Now you can relax” ~ Yup, ready to chill. My work starts up soon and Ben is already chest high in work projects, but he is eager to start his ceramic work and I’m eager to start painting.

      Peta

      Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks. Re the motorbike riding…

      Frankly, if you told me a few years ago that I would be lugging furniture and fans and all manner of household items in bags on a motorbike I would have been dubious. But now, it actually feels completely normal. This of course is largely due to the fact that EVERYONE carries EVERYTHING on their motorbikes. Sometimes the loads are HUGE, and sometimes very amusing. But for sure, when it’s time to drive home, and we wonder if it will all fit and balance and I can still get on… but every time, the Vietnamese vendors will look at us and say “but of course you can drive with this. Sit here, balance this here, and go home.” Haha and we listen and comply.

      Peta

      Reply
  20. chapter3travels

    What a beautiful home in a great locale!I am sure the sense of accomplishment is so much greater when you have to navigate unfamiliar markets and languages to get what you need.

    Amazon is convenient of course, but there’s something to be said for doing things the hard way! Your motorcycle ride, however, had me pretty stressed out! Yikes!! Riding around while holding onto furniture?? That is something else! Haha. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Anyway, congrats on finding and creating such an awesome space. Hope you enjoy it and I look forward to learning more about your experiences there.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      The sense of accomplishment is definitely there, but more than that, is the fun of the hunt and as well the interaction with the vendors in our community. They are invariably professional, helpful, and almost always have a great sense of humour. By going on our Scavenger Hunt to furnish our home, we get a wonderfully rich infusion of local culture which is the very point of being here.

      Amazon does not deliver here, although there is one other company that is an Asian variant that does. We did place one order and that is how we got our strange sized rebounder, weirdest towels ever, and tiniest coffee press for Ben who is still befuddled at the mechanics of it. All this to say, it just makes more sense to get out there and find it ourselves!

      Ah yes, the furniture holding while on motorbike as Ben weaves in and out of other motorbikes like a true Parisian. Definitely not easy for us Westerners, take some getting used to. I did almost get into some trouble when we came home with a 2 metre high bamboo hat stand and we both forgot about the goal posts that are at the entrance to our street. Woops! That was a surprise. All safe. Keep on going. It’s the norm here.

      Peta

      Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      No worries. I will post some photos in my instagram story in the next few days, so you can see them there!

      Do let us know if you cannot see the photos on our other prior posts or is it just this one?

      Thanks
      Peta

      Reply
  22. Julie

    Looks great! Can you describe where you are in Hoi An? How far from the center? Towards AnBang? We rode bikes all over on those dirt paths through the rice fields and villages. Makes me want to go back this year! We are trying to decide what direction to head…

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Hi Julie

      When you leave the historic city and head towards An Bang beach then you veer right and drive way across the rice paddies. This gets you close to where we are. A block from Ba Le market (walking distance from us) which itself is on Cua Dai road that connects the historic town to Cua Dai beach.

      Honestly it is the GREATEST location. Ten minutes by mbike from the center, and ten minutes to An Bang beach. Walking distance to Cua Dai rode and Ba Le market.

      Our house will be up for a sublet (or a home exchange), whichever comes first near the end of the year and over xmas and new year.

      Interested?

      Peta

      Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Jolie an adventure it most certainly is!

      English is very limited, although in touristic places such as the UNESCO world heritage historic center, there are obviously more locals who do speak English. But that is not a hindrance in our experience. Non verbal communication equals 90% of all communication, so in fact, language of course is helpful but there are ways to get by.

      We often get a piece of paper and a pen and draw a design for people, or find photos online to show them what we mean. But a significant development between today and just three years ago, is that almost anyone whips out a wifi connected cell phone at the ready, because the entire town of Hoi An is free wifi enabled and so those that have no English whatsoever, use phone translaters for words. It works out fine!

      Peta

      Reply
  24. lievelee

    Love your solution for the hard mattresses. I will be back in Vietnam in a few weeks time and that is the one thing I am not looking forward to. Having been back in the UK for almost a year now, I have become used again to sleeping on softer surfaces. But I shall keep your solution in mind…

    Your new home looks absolutely amazing. A great find. I would live anywhere in Hoi An no matter how small, it is my favourite place in Vietnam by far.

    Lieve

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Lievelee, Hoi An, no doubt in OUR minds, is the best place in Viet Nam. Especially when you get out of the historic center. A very liveable place. And for us, after living in Sri Lanka for 3 years, it is definitely Shangri La. SO easy in comparison.

      One gets used to the firmer mattresses. And I can tell you that the motorcycle cushioning works just great. Sleeping well here.

      Peta

      Reply
  26. Jacqueline

    Your ingeniosity is absolutely remarkable….No matter the challenge big or small you confront it and find the solution..I am in awe of you both. ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ’“

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Madame Bell, what a pleasure to read you here. I think you have to pick one language. Either “Ingenieusite” or “ingenuity”, am afraid “ingeniosity”, though it sounds like it should work, doesn’t quite make it to the scrabble board! But, whether in French or in English, we appreciate the compliment.

      Our ability to tackle challenges is no doubt a reflection of your role modelling of a positive approach to life. So thank you for the tool.

      Bisous
      Ton Fils (and favourite daughter in law)

      Reply
  27. Sue Slaght

    I have devoured every word. Watching you create a home now in for the second time since I started following your blog is mesmerizing. Your new home looks open, spacious and perfect for your needs. I especially enjoyed reading how the local vendors are so helpful, especially is you are a returning customer. I have no doubt you will be very welcomed in your new neighborhood. How could they resist the genuine and positive people you both are?

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks Sue for following our green global trek for this third chapter (after Nicaragua = first, Sri Lanka = second.)

      So glad that this time we did not need to install plumbing and electricity and a kitchen and a bathroom. Although I do miss our bathroom in Sri Lanka. Every house, of course, has its own charms, quirks or benefits. Our “job” is to find these and help them shine through.

      Thank you humbly for the kind compliments. The vendors are helpful because they really get the concept of long term customer retention through customer satisfaction. It is a contrast, after Sri Lanka, to be in a culture that thrives on business acumen and hard work. Sri Lanka, which has many other qualities, is on a different track.

      Peta & Ben

      Reply
  28. Laurel

    Oh, you two! You make me happy. I love your optimism, your creativity, and the joy you share in creating life together.

    I had fun reading this post and accompanying you in your decorating adventures, LOL. I even liked reading your to-do list on the chalkboard. Transporting all that stuff on the motorbike looks wild!

    Your new home is lovely. I can’t quite imagine parking a motorbike indoorsโ€”your idea to make it a yoga space is much more appealing.

    Blessings on your new home!

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Laurel you made us both smile ear to ear. Thank you for all these lovely compliments.

      That to do list kept growing and growing. After that initial photo was taken, it just got fuller and fuller. But finally we are having the satisfaction of wiping of things from the to do list and are slowly returning to a clean board. (No doubt not for long haha).

      Parking one’s motorbike indoors eliminates the need for a special garage, and in the rainy season, starting a bike that has been drenched can be challenging. But still, for us Westerners it is such a funny concept.

      Thank you!

      Peta & Ben

      Reply
  29. Erica/Erika

    Hi Peta,

    I love your words โ€œnestingโ€ and โ€œtransforming a house into a home.โ€ Great idea on sewing the straw mats together. I am a fan of the rebounder, too. Not as consistent as I should be. I was not aware how many people were employed by the rice industry. The photo showing the piling of goods on the bike made me smile. The foam motorcycle seats, an aha moment:)

    A very interesting, informative post. I love all the photos. I also really like learning about the culture, especially when you described your interactions with the vendors.

    Thank you for sharing your nest with us:) Erica

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Ben definitely gets credit for stitching the straw mats together. Now we have a very inexpensive yet attractive straw carpet, which is much softer than a marble floor. The rebounder we ordered from an online Asian company and somehow we landed up with a rather larger rebounder than we are used to. We “try” to use it daily, even if just for a few minutes. The benefits are enormous, as you know.

      Erica glad you enjoyed this post about our process of nesting and found it informative. We were not sure how much interest there would be on a post like this, which is about the realities of life and less about travel and exploration. So thanks for the thumbs up.

      Peta

      Reply
  30. Joanne Sisco

    I’m not surprised that you and Ben would create a special place to call home regardless of wherever you are!! Like Deb, I’m impressed that you can visualize an area for creative work regardless of how small.

    Your new home is lovely!!

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Well, seeing as Ben nabbed the big space for his office on the landing upstairs, I took the smaller space, but the better view (with balcony overlooking the rice fields). A fair trade.

      It definitely feels good to have a home base again and be able to unpack and put clothes in a closet and have a kitchen that we know we will still have next month and therefore is worth investing inโ€ฆ

      Peta

      Reply
  31. Kim Sisto Robinson

    That kitchen! WOW.

    The bedroom with a view! Are you kidding me right now?!

    The video is FAB.

    You are both living an authentic, magical, amazing, interesting, intellectual, creative life! And I’m a better person because I can be a ‘very’ small part of it!

    Will you be adopting a water buffalo or kitty cat?!!

    Fondly,

    Kim from Minnesota. x

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Love your enthusiasm Kim! Thank you so much for the kind compliments….

      Ben is VERY fond of water buffaloes, so you got THAT right, but I told him “no need to adopt one. We can see them every day without having to own them.” Same can be said for the chickens and the ducks.

      Kitty cats usually find ME. I’m trying to stay pet free because I know it’s hard if and when we travel to visit family, to find someone to care for a pet. But yes, I am already feeding one neighborhood cat that visits our garden and is very happy with his daily treats.

      There is a CAT CAFE in Hoi An which is really a quite amazing place. Cats are rescued and taken care of and hopefully adopted by people in the community. So you can drink your juice and have five kittys rubbing up against you. Last time we were there I think the count was 70! They do an amazing job.

      Peta

      Reply
        1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

          Haha. I will. My sister is coming to visit us here soon and she is a SERIOUS cat lover, as am I. But she gets the prize, in a whole family of huge cat lovers. When I last visited her, she was feeding about 24 stray cats every single day, besides her own 6 adopted cats. So I definitely want to take her there and will for sure do a video for you! Stay tuned….

          Meow

          Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Dave, one interesting aspect of Feng Shui that we learned when visiting Penang, where Feng Shui masters had built a famous industrialist’s home was threefold. One, the need to be on a height, and two, the ability to see clearly into the distance and finally, having nearby flowing water. So I guess we scored well on all three.

      There is a small water canal right in front of our house next to the little pathway, that serves to distribute the water throughout the nearby rice fields. Twice a day it fills up and drains out completely before it starts again, later.

      Peta

      Reply
  33. carolinehelbig

    I just love how creative and adaptable you guys are. Looks like you found another fabulous place to call home. Before reading your post I did a brief skim of the photos and was immediately struck by the pool, which reminded me of Sri Yoga Shala…so glad you have this close by. Mike and I may have to plan a trip to Viet Nam (wink wink). The photos of you guys carrying your purchases on the bikes are awesome.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks Caroline! SO fun that you visited us and our neighbourhood in Sri Lanka, so you really have firsthand understanding of what we had there. And YES for sure you guys need to come and visit in Hoi An. Your guest bedroom awaits you (and we even have TWO bathrooms here, albeit rather normal ones).

      No monkeys, but lots of water buffaloes.

      Looking forward to your visit!!

      Peta

      Reply
        1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

          Ooh, Brittany and Normandy are two beautiful parts of France. Trouville in Normandy is really a beautiful spot for lunch because of the use of slate on all the buildings and the quaint harbour. Enjoy, enjoy.

          Peta

          Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thank you and welcome to our green global trek. We saw that you have travelled extensively in Latin America, which is where our green global trek started. We were your neighbours, and lived in Nicaragua for six years. We had a wonderful trip to Panama for our bamboo business.

      Peta

      Reply
  36. Andrea

    The house looks great! You and Ben seem like you really have a system down for getting a beautiful home together. You’re going to have to teach me that skill one day ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      More than happy to pass on the skills. It’s not really a system unfortunately, it’s a long list that keeps growing on the chalkboard and a fun scavenger hunt which keeps going till you ready to drop in the heat. But now, the bulk is done and we doin some serious chillin.

      See you in Hoi An soon. You know you coming to visit! Morocco, Sri Lanka and now Viet Nam. Three’s a charm.

      Besos
      P

      Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Jo that’s a good combination… “a decent imagination and a large dose of practicality”.

      We try to jump at least a few minutes every day due to the benefits on the lymphatic system and overall well being. Glad someone notice that cute pic ๐Ÿ™‚

      Peta

      Reply
  38. Liesbet @ Roaming About

    Your new home looks fantastic, Peta and Ben. A nice area to work with and you’ve made it homey in a short amount of time. Real experts! So much fun to decorate an apartment and explore your neighborhood for the first time. I love surprises! The sushi one is fabulous, for sure. I’d been looking forward to reading this blog (as it sat in its own tab for a while) and it didn’t disappoint. And, from Instagram, I know Peta’s art studio has turned out nicely as well.

    Enjoy your new temporary home. I can’t wait to see what you did to the rooftop terrace area. Will you ever get a fourth chair for outside? ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks Liesbet. Yup we have been pretty busy whipping things into shape so that we can make the most of the place, the neighbourhood and our time here.

      We have had some good surprises and finds nearby. We also found a new route to the beach, through the rice fields which gets us to the beach in five minutes, so that’s been a nice development. My little area/nook for painting is also working out nicely.

      The rooftop is more of a work in progress ~ we have put some large pots of bamboo, two chairs and some yoga mats for now. Its way too hot during the day to go up there, but it is a good spot in the morning or at dusk.
      With regard to our tiny little garden we actually took one of the chairs away, as it felt too crowded. Now we just have the two and it seems just right.

      Peta

      Reply
  39. Jeff Bell

    It is nice that you have that green space near your home. Asia can be very crowded but it looks like you found a quiet spot.

    When we first moved here, we talked daily about getting a mattress pad or new mattress, but by the time we got around to getting one, we prefered our steel slab of a matress. My wife doesn’t even notice when I fidget becuase it doesn’t move ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Jeff, one of the main attractions of the Hoi An (and there are many) are the rice paddies which provide an expanse of green and a respite from the noise and crowds. Our neighborhood is pretty quiet too, other than the karaoke at night and the farm animals that wake us in the morning. From roosters, ducks to cows and water buffaloes, athough the latter are rather quiet so far.

      Haha that’s funny. I am sure one gets used to these hard mattresses eventually. Sleeping is actually okay, but sitting on them, that’s another story. Very happy with our “improved” bed. Hope we didn’t cause you any “mattress envy” ๐Ÿ™‚

      Peta

      Reply
  40. Dr Sock

    What a great way to introduce us to your new home. First the house itself, then the neighbourhood that is within walking distance, and then the areas accessible on your motorbike. As readers, we also had the chance to vicariously experience shopping for items for your new home. Fun! I think your location with its view over the rice paddies is great. It has a really rural feel, and yet you can walk to shops and cafes nearby.

    Jude

    Reply
    1. Green Global Trek

      Ben is very happy with your comments as you totally appreciate his structure to this post! You totally get it.
      Location to us, is as important as the house itself. We like to have some nature around but also be within easy distance to restaurants and street life. And in this case we have the beach as well within five minutes by motor scooter.

      Thanks for your astute observations.

      Peta

      Reply
  41. Mabel Kwong

    Looks like lovely new digs in Vietnam, Peta and Ben. Looks like a lot of hard work has gone into it by hand, and maybe thatโ€™s why it looks so cozy. Ben looks like heโ€™s having fun with that small trampoline. Also really like that action board. When you got a lot of things to do, it helps to write it out, see it and get things done.

    Didnโ€™t know that Vietnamese beds can be hard. The search for foam seemed to unusually take you to the motorcycle seat shop but lovely to hear the shopkeeper could accommodate. For the locals it seems no job is too small for them. Happy housewarming ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Very happy with our new digs Mabel. We love taking a bare bones place and making it into a home with our own personal touches for comfort and to our own sense of aesthetics. Ah yes, the rebounder is a wonderful way to keep your lymphatic system healthy.

      Most Asian beds are harder than what Westerners are used to. One gets used to the firmness eventually, but personally we both prefer a little cushioning to our beds ~ Ah yes the Vietnamese people are hard working, creative and industrious.

      Peta

      Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Darlene by now, we are the poster children for adaptability ๐Ÿ™‚

      We are really enjoying this return to our Viet Nam life, after numerous times being here, each of which always felt too short. Even though, the first time we did stay for three months, we still wanted more. So it’s great to be able to have another layer of experience here.

      Peta

      Reply
  44. J.D. Riso

    Another fabulous home. My favorite room is Ben’s office. I LOVE the minimalism. So good for keeping the mind clear. Your neighborhood looks very tranquil. I always preferred living in non-expat areas when I lived overseas. I figured the whole point of living in a foreign country is to be with the locals as much as possible. Thanks for always sharing the day to dayness of your journey.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Completely different to Sri Lanka, and that’s the fun of it.. Having a dedicated space as an office for Ben is quite a treat. Definitely doing our best to only purchase things we either really need or absolutely love. The bamboo furniture here is inexpensive, sustainable and attractive, so that has been a huge plus for us.

      Peta

      Reply

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