2007-05-20 Sunny Vietnam

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May 20th 2007

Published: August 6th 2007

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Lew and Holly

Snorkling at Munh Island

Off the coast of Nha Trang. We loved the 80's era snorkles

YAY!!! The sun has finally come out for us!!! We have had an amazing few days in Nha Trang - snorkling, boat trip/island hopping, sun/shade baking and temple gazing.

The train ride was another sleeper but quite different to the trains in Thailand. It was a private room with 2 bunk beds. Lew and I had the bottom 2 and another couple with an 11 month old baby had the top 2. It was air conditioned which meant the window didn't open. It meant we couldn't see the scenery as well as we could have with the window open but it didn't matter too much as we were on the train from 11pm until about 5:30am - not much scenery to see.

We walked from the station into town and found ourselves an air conditioned room with TV, fridge, private bathroom with hot water, and balcony, for only US$9 a night. The place also had a lift which meant we didn't have to climb the 105 stairs every single time. As soon as we set up our stuff, we booked a boat trip for that day and headed out at 8:30am. The company was the Number 4 Boat Trip

Death from above

The after effects of the after lunch port...

which was awesome!! It was US$6 each (plus the hidden costs like 5,000 dong island tax to snorkel, 10,000 dong to get off the boat at the next island, 10,000 dong if you wanted to sit on the sun beds on that island, 20,000 dong to get into the aquarium on the last island). But the lunch was awesome and there was a floating bar that served us free (but horrible) red wine while we floated around on rings. The aquarium was pretty depressing with outrageously huge fish in tiny tanks. There were also turtles and sharks which just made the place so sad. We also sang and danced around on the boat while the "Number 4 Boy Band" sang and played on makeshift drums, an electric guitar and a tambourine. Very fun day, notwithstanding the sting I got around my wrist while snorkling. We didn't see what it was in the water but when the staff saw the welts they said it was "No problem" and gave me ice to put on it.

The next day we spent lazing on the beach all day! We were going to head to the mud baths but with a little bit

Cham Towers, Nha Trang

Impressive building built by the Champa people a long time ago (7th - 12th centuries)

of sunburn, we thought we'd wait a day for it to cool off a bit before soaking in hot springs. After a day of shade baking, however, we were even more sunburnt! so we have skipped the mud baths altogether. While sun/shade baking were were harrassed by quite a few touts trying to sell us everything from sunglasses (which we were both wearing), books (we were both reading), manicures, pedicures, cigarettes and fruit. We did buy some fruit for lunch - a whole pineapple, a mango, 6 bananas and a bunch of rumbutans for only 40,000 dong. We didn't want so much but the lady kept saying it was "Happy Hour". So that was lunch. Suited us as it meant we didn't have to leave our 20,000 dong sun beds. The touts didn't bother us too much though - probably only as much as we would have been bothered if we had been walking the streets all day.

Today we visited the Long Son Pagoda just outside town. We were taken around by friendly enough people who then wanted us to buy postcards and paintings to help them through school. We gave in and boat very overpriced postcards and

Transportation of Dangerous goods

Yes the bike on the right has nothing securing his load!!!

a reasonably priced silk painting. We then got a motorbike taxi each to take us to the Cham Towers (or the remnants of...) They were pretty impressive though - probably the oldest buildings we've seen - built between the 7th and 12th centuries.

The only downer to Nha Trang (besides the sun burn) has been that I got a cold - probably from the air conditioning on the train). I'm sniffling my way all over town. Keeping my chin up though - tonight we head to Hoi An.

Catch up soon.

-Holly and Lew

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