Beach Bums

So another sleeper bus took us to the white sand beaches of Nha Trang. The bus journey was long and bumpy, and I helped to keep Blakey entertained when after hours of trying to sleep in the noisy racket , my newly-discovered- broken iPod providing no comfort from the human snufflings around me, I finally managed to drift off. Once in a fairly deep slumber the bus decided to stop at a roadside cafe, putting all the lights on and the other passengers suddenly surrounding me with the kind of noise that echoes around inside your skull followed by, worst of all, people bringing their snacks back to eat on the bus. I was engulfed in eating noises which those who know me best understand I am almost phobic of, so intense is my dislike and so physically tense is my reaction to when confronted with!! When Blakey then dumped our water bottle on my feet, right on the spot where I had finally reached a level (a low one, but still) of comfort for my squished legs and poor bent knees, I was driven to sit up rather moodily and dumped it on his feet with "the grumpiset expression he'd ever seen", causing him to vibrate softly for the next 5 minutes whilst he tried to stifle his laugh. In the daylight I admit I am a little embarrassed, but at that moment of time in that particular place I was experiencing a mini breakdown!

So we were very glad to arrive early the next morning in the beautifully sunny, sandy and spankingly clean Nha Trang. After a quick kip in possibly the swankiest hotel so far we headed in search of refreshments. We stopped first at a cafe full of locals where the terrace was shaded from the bright sun with beautiful flowering plants draped across mesh above our heads. We ordered our usual lemon juice to quench our thirst and a coffee to kick our brains into gear and were treated to a complimentary iced tea, so we sat there for almost an hour enjoying the relaxed ambience.

After we headed for the shore where the beach was almost deserted save for some grass parasols and sunloungers for rent. Finding two isolated seats we soon stripped off and made ourselves comfortable, if still a little hungry.

Not to worry! I understand that the Vietnamese are considered industrious at the best of times, so in low season they are like blood hounds on the scent of Westerners,. hungry for a dollar or two. Blakey's breakfast soon became fresh lobster, barbequed right in front of us where he was also treated to his first taste of sea snail all in the home made sauce provided by the lady. My less exotic potato snacks and oreos were just as satisfying if a little less adventurous!

After attracting hordes of beachside merchants we finally managed to make them leave us alone as Blakey proved his wallet was empty. I will not understand the logic of them trying to sell us the same things time and again- when we explain that we already bought what they are selling elsewhere (or even from them the previous day!) they offer it cheaper, and no amount of "you don't understand, I don't want or need another" will satisfy. But a lack of money in exchange will so they eventually dispersed.



After their departure we spent an idyllic afternoon in peace and sunshine, me reading my book and Blakey following crabs, camcorder nin hand, in that enthusiastic and animated way that only Blakey can. As the afternoon grew late, satisfied with our relaxing day, we headed back for cool bath and the shock of realising the impression our clothing had left on us- we tanned quickly today, not so flattering when you have been wearing rather large bottoms!

A slow evening of getting ourselves ready infront of a film and we headed out for a walk and some food. Being friendly suckers we find ourselves palming people off with empty promises of "later" and "maybe", so after passing a restaurant where the owner had charmed Blakey into this promise, but unable to resist the call of Mexican food from a restaurant further up the road (quite happily too- it was delicious) we took an alternate and pretty indirect route back to our beds in order to save embarrassment.

It was such a good day we decided to repeat much of it today, though the beach did not prove quite as peaceful as salespeople were a little more aggressive and insistant with thoroughly useless goods and we have practised saying "No" with authority and definity in our voices a great deal, which still resulted in having to look the other way whilst people sat at the side of our sunloungers refusing to stop looking at us for at least 5 minutes (doesn't sound long, but in those instances almost an eternity!) before giving up and moving on. We stuck it out and wrote another round of postcards, trying to maintian the serenity of the setting ion preparation for another sleeper bus and our eminent arrival in the second major Vietnamese town, Ho Chi Minh City. Fingers crossed for more success than Hanoi!