Relaxation......

Trip Start Feb 21, 2008
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12
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Trip End Mar 18, 2008


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Flag of Vietnam  ,
Monday, March 3, 2008

The internet appears to be working, so I'll do a little update. We spent our last day in Hoi An running around getting alterations to our outfits. In and out to the sweatshop (you would want to have seen it, we didn't want to take pictures in case they got offended but there were people sleeping there and everything!). We met our nice German friends from the DMZ tour (not the ones from the boat karaoke) who took great pleasure in telling us that they got a hotel for $10 after we told them ours cost $30. Some man took them from the bus and brough them to his hotel and offered them a room for $20 but they wanted to see the cheaper ones so he showed them one in the basement (at this stage I am trying not to wrinkle my nose up and look disgusted) and they got it for $10. they were boasting delightedly. I don't think they were short of a bob or two either they were kitted out top to toe in North Face Hiking gear (it's roasting BTW). I like having the hotel arranged beforehand and they collect you from the bus and carry your bags and stuff....each to their own

I bought an extra bag the flaming hot pot
the flaming hot pot
 . It was the two new pairs of shoes that did it.

Anyway we went off on the night bus to Nha Trang which seemed like a good idea at the time...It was like a dorm with wheels! There were three rows of bunks and there wasn't a lot of choice when we got on so me and Cait hopped into two upstairs ones in the middle. For about a second before we realised that there didn't seem to be anything much stopping you falling out which meant that I wouldn't sleep a wink, ruining the whole point of the sleeper bus. So we got the last 2 downstairs ones. There was a reason no-one was in them of course. They were at the back over the wheels slanted up at a 45 degree angle so we were basically sitting up. On the wheels. And the engine. The driver was flying along into every pothole (there were a lot). Solenn and I had got beer to ease the pain of the journey but I was afraid to drink it because of the toilet situation, the one on the bus was broken so the driver stopped at rest stations every few hours. Lets just say I went to the first one and didn't drink a drop after that from the fear I would have to go again. We arrived at 6.30 am and there was nobody there from the hotel to pick us up so we got a taxi and sure god love them the staff were still asleep on the floor in the reception when we got there (this is normal).

So we have spent the last two days in Nha Trang which is a beach resort the same as every other beach resort in the world. Spent all day yesterday and this morning on the beach but I am petrified of getting sunburned (esp after the bum burning incident in Ios 2004) so I am not getting much of a tan the flames get bigger as does the mystery
the flames get bigger as does the mystery
 . But I am so happy to be hanging around in shorts and bikinis. The beach is a bit mental, people are trying to sell you stuff all day, which can be very annoying. But I have it figured out. I just bought something small off most of them and then they become your friend and come over for chats and don't annoy you. So now I have loads of friends at the beach and I know all theior life stories. They get very offended by people telling them to go away and being rude, it actually costs nothing to be nice. You can also buy lobster and crab on the beach, you pick it out from iced water and the people steam it for you. I took a picture but I have no idea how you would eat it. with chopsticks? anyway today a rat ran past me on the beach and I was half asleep because I was sunbathing and I thought "aaah look at the squirrel/kitty/cute furry animal" and then I saw its tail - a rat! It was huge! Ew. I won't be eating anything on that beach.

Went to a vientamese seafood restaurant last night, where we ordered a seafood hotpot. They brought out what looked like a giant bowl of soup on a burner with NO seafood in it. we were confused. about five minutes later a plate of flowers and leaves arrived. we were more confused. eventually a waiter came over and explained in vietnamese and sign lnaguage that they will bring the fish and we throw in the flowers and stuff and then we cook it at the table! It was great, except for the flames from the pot were flickering worryingly towards caroline and cait's faces...

It's been pretty uneventful here and we are all relaxed out. Except for one of the cleaning ladies has taken a shine to me and keeps rubbing my arms and kissing my hands. I think she wants me to marry her son or something she keeps asking me "nice vietnam boy for you?" Or else she is some kind of pimp and she thinks I look desperate. The language barrier is an issue so I just smile and nod.

We were supposed to be going to another beach in Mui Ne tomorrow but instead we are going on an adventure into the highlands with wildlife and jungles and stuff (Solenn wants to go to Mui Ne so we are meeting her in Saigon). We are staying overnight in some cabin or someone's house (not sure about the details really) so I am very excited about that. And we will get to see elephants!
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