Sunshine - Nha Trang

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After spending three glorious days in Mui Ne, we headed on up the coast on a four hour bus ride which actually turned into six, but we didn't mind. However the bus trip this time was a new expereience we drove for about 20 mins and then stopped for lunch (40 mins) and then drove for 20 minutes more and then stopped for a local who had missed the bus (another 40 minutes) it was funny seeing this lady arrive with her shopping on the back of a honda and then just getting on without a wince or apology or anything.

So we arrived in Nha Trang later than expected and we walked about for 20 minutes or so before hitting the main drag and locating a hotel. We immediately got a good vibe from this place very chilled out and relaxed, and amazingly they were not having any rain so sun! sun! sun! Sorry I know it has been raining a lot back home.

Next day we hired a tandem which was mine and Nat's first time on a tandem. Kim and Ad I know what you mean about being starred at, some people were shouting stuff at us not sure if they were taking the mick or just saying hello but whatever they were saying they said they did so with a smile. One thing about Vietnam everyone is always smiling. We did a city tour on the tandem, saw Po Nagar Towers, an old Cham ruin built sometime in the 10th century, we also went to a hot spring were we had a mud bath and hot spring water shower and bath though the bath water seemed like it was hitting boiling point we just dipped a toe but the locals got straight in - finally we visited a buddhist pagoda where there were two amazing white Buddhas.

Next day we booked a boat tour of the islands coupled with some snorkeling. We met a couple of girls from Scotland (Lesley and Pamela) and an elderly couple from Belfast (Patrick and Rosemary) though now living in the Blue Mountains just outside Sydney, they have given us their number and said that we could stay with them when we are in the area, they were so sweet. After belting out a couple of verses of The Fields of Athenry and Molly Malone - Mike, D I know but it is all I could think of and everyone seemed to know the words, it was time for some bevs.

This is when things started to go a little funky as from around the back of the boat appeard our guide for the day in a rubber ring withsome makeshift shelfing which held some strange looking liquids, suppose to be red wine. This was according to the brochure the "floating bar" 😊 We had a great laugh all day the best bit was getting to know some new people.

Later that evening we were searching for a travelling route to our next destination Hoi An which is approximately 600Km away. Also we had heard from the girls about this company called Easy Rider which specialise in sight seeing tours on motorbike, we also wanted to see a little of the Central Highland. It worked out really well as they had a four day and three night tour from Nha Trang to Hoi An via the central highlands. Dad I just have to mention the St. Christopher medal because someone has been helping us out First an upgrade to Business Class, then the two buses we have taken so far have been sleeper buses even though we only paid for sitting. We booked the tour and went off to locate the sailing club for dinner.

Steo and Nat

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Photos

Nha Trang Skyline
This is the view from the Po Nagar Towers.

Po Nagar Towers
Ruins that date back to the tenth century.

White Buddha
Just one of the stops on our tandem city tour

The Barman
... but where is the bar

Lunch aboard ship
We all sat down to a local lunch very tasty

Easy Riders
Easy riders two newest recruits