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Published: October 11th 2012
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Coastal jeep travel
No warrants of fitness here... It was tempting to blob out by the pool again, but hey - we can blob anytime. We want action. So we hired two jeeps with drivers to take us to the fabled Mui Ne sand dunes, fairy springs and the fishing village.
So off we beetled - no roof (clutching hats to heads to avoid sunburn), rumpty old vehicles and out into the boondocks. It was fun whistling along the coast road looking into shops and homes, avoiding chickens, children and the ever-present Hondas.
The fishing village was a spectacular photo stop above the village and a chug chug through the heady fragrances of fermenting fish sauce and drying shrimps. Gotta have a tough stomach here!
The sand dunes were indeed spectacular, very desert-y, very large and extremely hot. We were invited (for a fee) to take small four wheel motor bikes for a trek, but it all seemed a bit much in the heat and the thought of getting away from shade.
The fairy springs were a bit hairy too - a trek around the back of some houses, another up-close enounter with a fish sauce manufacturer, and then an invitation to walk up a
Lunch at Mui Ne
Shrimp fried rice in a pineapple was Rick's choice, and behind that are crunchy spring rolls, with a side of mixed mint and green leaves, including, we think, marigold. river bed to a waterfall. Nah, fresh water wandering in the tropics is not a good idea, you have no idea what those warm soupy waters might contain. Fine in the war movies, but not for me or the others.
So we came back to the resort, put on the old togs, and blobbed around the pool.
We did attempt to avoid the tropical torpor, but, in the end sucumbed.
Last night we had dinner out at Forrests Restaurant - John had croc in stock - and said it was pretty tasteless but was flavoured by the stock, but was chewy. The rest of us had normal food - duck in ginger for me, Heather made fresh spring rolls at the table, Davie can't go past prawns, and he had them with cheese sauce (!!!!) and pronounced them fantastic.
A hilarious band provided entertainment which was only topped by massive leaks in the roof,draining into strategically place pot plants, during a quick rain storm. (When it rains it seems to simply pour for about ten minutes, then it is all over.)
Tropical torpor gets everyone here, it would seem, shops are closed during the day
As close as he gets to the pool
Davie is not keen on swimming, but will put feet in the water. only to open up at night with lots of lights and noise. Heaps of street vendors selling sweet corn and fruit (fruit to die for, mangosteens, pomelos,dragon fruit - you name it, it is here).
Most of us have purchased breezy tops and shorts - our summer gear is simply too hot. Pip and Ali have gone pearl mad, so they are happy too.
Tonight is last night at the resort, which while very pleasant seems to have been an unnecessary waste of time when we could have been doing really interesting stuff - but of course we are all well rested and ready for anything now.
Saigon for a brief visit tomorrow, after the dreaded mini bus ride back. Sigh.
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