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Our first day in Nha Trang was spent just relaxing. We took a walk up the sea-front and had lunch in a beachfront brewery, it was nice to take a break from the hectic times in Saigon! We checked out the beach and then went to examine the pool, located on the 15th floor, the rooftop pool was a massive added bonus offering incredible views across the bay.
View from the pool
The tranquility soon ended when Robbie suggested we do shots of the snake wine they bought in Saigon. For those of you have been traveling in Asia, you'll know exactly what I mean. Those who were foolish enough to try it, as we were, will know what I mean when I say it is the worst god awful smell and subsequently taste I have ever encountered!
Those of you who haven't a clue what I'm talking about, it is modeled below by my lovely assistants! I'm not sure where they come from or why they are in every shop around - I've not once seen a local buy any. The long and short of it is that it's a Cobra pickled in some sort of alcohol. We all tried a shot and all felt very rough!
Robbie & Kat plus Snake Wine
We had a go on some dodgems, a ferris wheel and went for dinner. Afterwards, we bought some beers and head back to the room - somewhere in the middle of the 'Roxanne Drinking Game' Robbie ended up on a towel with a belt over his head whilst Kat shaved him a new Mohawk, Megan and I were totally lost! After more madness we went to the Sailing Club. Again, a beach front establishment - it was very swish though. We had a blinding night and yet again got very little sleep!
Despite this, the following afternoon, we hired out 2 mopeds at 2GBP each and head to Bai Hoa Falls. I drove one moped with Kat on board and Robbie had the other with Megan. It was absolutely amazing! We rode North of the city along some beautiful winding coastal roads, we saw some amazing scenery - which Kat and I stopped for every 500 meters to take a photo of...Robbie got maaad!
Filled up at the petrol station and ready to go!
Mountains overlooking Nah Trang
A fishing village we passed through.
Although we never actually made it to the Falls on account of it getting very dark and the Aussie's blood alcohol level diving dangerously low, it was fantastic. On the journey home Robbie blew his back tyre which as weird as it seems was pretty cool. We pulled up in a small "town" (a shack) where the locals came out in force to harass/greet us! We were sat for about an hour on this street which was such an experience. At one point we were surrounded by 19 kids! Tyre fixed, we stopped off again, this time for food at a restaurant complete with its very own lighthouse.
The guys managed to convince me to branch out with my eating, I tried shrimp the night before so I went for the crab - it was rank, looked cool though!
Sebastien - my dinner!
When we got back to Nha Trang, Kat and I went to visit 'Mr & Mrs Bottle-o'. We've sadly managed to become regulars in just 3 days! Unsatisfied with dinner, Robbie, Kat and I went to a little street bar and got some fresh fish cooked up and had beers with 'Shan' the manager. It was literally a construction site that had had some tarps put up to cover some crates of beer! Pretty hammered we went for a midnight swim in the sea, it was beautiful just lying on my back watching the stars as the waves lapped the beach.
Our final day in Nha Trang (Saturday 6th), we'd booked onto an island tour. Woke up late again, mad rush and we checked out and hopped on the bus. Bus took us to a pier, 9 o'clock in the morning Kat plonked a bottle of beer and some Vodka in-front of me! We got a short boat trip over to Monkey Island where angry little monkeys spent their time swiping at tourists and stealling food!
Spot the tourists!
Sydney the monkey with his wagon wheel courtesy of Megan!
The next island was uterly beautiful, white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. The girls went to play with elephants but I wanted to have a walk around so me and Robbie walked along the coast, it was stunning scenery and it was so peaceful. The girls said the elephants were a bust and were pretty down about it. Boat to the next island and half way there our boat grounded on a sandbank, much retarded (and burning) time later a new boat took us for a 10 minute stop on another island which just had some ostrich's.
The second island.
We boated and bused home to have the last supper with the Aussies. It was actually pretty sad to leave them. It's the first (hopefully of many) social group I have made like that where you spend such an intense amount of time together. You feel like you've known them for years and then you just go your separate ways - it's pretty sad. To be fair though, they are headed to London for two years so we are definitely going to meet up when i get back! I think my liver is rejoicing, I've never seen people drink as heavily as they do - beer at breakfast is not ok!
I'm now in Hoi An with Megan, continuing our journey north to Hanoi. Long post today, so many great memories though!
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