Infusion: Grapefruit Mezcal

Last night I stopped by Argonaut to pick up some mezcal for the next infusion. This is with grapefruit. The sweet tangy-ness should play nicely with the smokey mezcal. It should be ready in 2 weeks.

Infusion: Limoncello #2

So, it is my rule that I don't do more than 1 infusion at a time. This is so that we are not drinking every day since it becomes very easy with such tasty treats. After my last extremely successful batch of homemade limoncello, Lexey suggested that this is something we should just keep on hand. Yes, it is that good. I just made another batch, but this is just one to keep around. This is an exception to the rule and so I can start another one. I already know what I am going to do. Now I need the alcohol.

Recipe:

• 10 lemons
• 2 cups sugar
• 750 ml vodka (60-80 proof)

Instructions:

1. Wash and juice the lemons. Set the juice aside (use for lemonade, dressings, water, etc...).
2. Stuff the sugar and the lemons into a 2 L mason jar.
3. Fill the jar with vodka.
4. Shake every day for 7 days.
5. Strain and drink!

Homemade Limoncello:

Timelapse: Non Nuoc back to Hoi An on motorbikes

Stacia and I arrived at Non Nuoc Beach Resort and suddenly realized that we did not have our passports. They let us check in with just photo copies of our passports and we headed back to Hoi An to pick them up. While back in Hoi An, I got new flip-flops tailored, yes tailored flip-flops.

The drive back to Hoi An and around town a bit at 20x real speed:

Motorbiking from Hoi An to Non Nuoc

Stacia and I rented motorbikes in Hoi An. They were $5/day and $30 to drop them off in Hue instead of back in Hoi An. Sounded like a great deal to us, so off we went. After checking out of the Phuoc An Hotel we took some back roads to Non Nuoc Beach (China Beach) at the southern end of Da Nang. When we got there we realized we had left our passports at the hotel in Hoi An and had to turn around and go back. Good thing it was only about 30 minutes away.

The 30 minute drive in 5 minutes:

Stacia's drive from school to home in Ho Chi Minh City

Sped up to 5x speed:

PhotoFriday: At Rest

Last week in Hoi An, Vietnam this woman was "at rest" napping in her cart:

Hoi An to Non Nuoc (China Beach)

Stacia and I rented motorbikes in Hoi An with the drop-off point in Huế, several hours to the north. The first day we drove to Non Nuoc and then we realized we had left our passports at the Phuoc An Hotel in Hoi An. Good thing it was on 30 minutes away. We drove back and had lunch with more 3000 dong beers and I had custom flip-flops tailored.

More photos here.

That morning we hit up a little restaurant for one of Hoi An's specialties, white rose dumplings:


Hitting the road up to Non Nuoc (China Beach), where the Americans first landed at the start of the war:


Hoi An has beautiful colors, many yellows. It is kinda like living in a Dr. Suess book:


Non Nuoc Beach (China Beach) with Marble Mountains in the background:

Hội An (會 安) - day 2 (diving)

The second day in Hội An (會 安) Stacia and I went out on a dive boat with Cham Island Diving out to hòn Tai Island in the Cham Islands. Stacia went snorkeling and I did 2 dives. The first one was pretty good. Visibility was low (only about 7 meters), and there was not much fish life, but some plant life. The second dive was very cloudy. Afterwards we had a great seafood lunch on a beach of Cham Island and took naps in hammocks. Not a bad time.

More photos here.

Heading down:


The sun came out a few times:


Blue starfish everywhere:

Hoi An - day 1

This morning, Stacia and I got up early and got on our flit to Da Nang. From there we took a taxi with a girl Stacia teaches with to Hoi An. Beautiful town. Tomorrow I am going diving.

More photos here.

Lady taking a nap in a wheel barrow:


Kid of a tailor playing with a baby bird abandoned by its mom:


Restaurant boat on the river:

Infusion: Limettacello

Since there are no proper lemons in Vietnam (or at least hard to come by), I substituted limes in my next infusion. In honor of Stacia heading to Italy to teach for the next few years I announce: Limettacello. It should be ready to drink by the time we get back from our trip to Da Nang and the surrounding area.