We were sitting at our table having breakfast at the resort quite early this morning when a loud racket coming from the street outside disturbed our peaceful Sunday morning. There was loud, persistent drumming and the clashing of cymbals. We took Layla over to the window to see what was going on outside.
Across the road there was a troop of colourful musicians banging on large drums. They were playing outside a brand new Apple store. A crowd was gathering on the street. Cars driving past were slowing down to see what was going on and people were pulling up on their motor scooters.
I went outside for a closer look and Nick brought Layla out too. She was quite mesmerised. It soon emerged that today was the Apple store’s official opening day. The Hoi An Lion Dance troop had been engaged to help the store with its launch.
Soon the drummers were joined first by one, and then two dancing dragons with lions’ heads. In Melbourne the dancing dragon is called Dai Loong. I don’t know if it has the same name here in Vietnam. The dance went on for about half an hour, accompanied by the drumming. At times it was quite chaotic in the street as cars, motor scooters, bikes and foot traffic tried to squeeze their way past the entertainers and the crowd which had spilled out onto the road.
Eventually one of the dancing dragons finished its performance with a firework spitting sparks from its mouth. The Master of Ceremonies, wearing a comical inflatable costume, applauded everyone for coming out to watch. Two banners were unfurled – I don’t know what the message printed on them said – and the dragons disappeared into the Apple store.
It was one of the most eventful Sunday breakfasts I can remember in rather a long time.
On The Road With Garry 