Nha Trang was a very developed coastal city, made up of 300,000+ people. The city beach was a great place to wind down after a few draining days at the tailor shops. I managed to squeeze in a day boat trip on Wednesday that visits four of the islands that are scattered throughout the bordering waters of Nha Trang Bay. For the first time ever, I did some snorkeling and got to see some great coral. Unfortunately, Nha Trang had seen a lot of rain recently, so the sealife wasn't quite as populous as it would have been otherwise. Other than a few fish, the only sealife I had interaction with were dozens of tiny, golfball-sized jellyfish. I'd say I was stung 8 or 10 times, but fortunately they were just little fellas and didn't leave any noticeable damage on my body. Seeing the coral below was well worth the sacrifice, however.
I'm beginning to wonder what life will be like when I return to the US. I'm so used to being mobbed on the streets by sunglass vendors, watch vendors, food vendors, artwork vendors, and taxi/motorbike drivers that walking the city streets of Des Moines will feel like I'm sneaking through the quiet sanctuary of a public library. The color of my skin screams tourist, I guess. However, with all of the sun I've been catching, maybe it won't spell tourist for long. I'm beginning to blend in!
I had one minor casualty yesterday (Thurs). Sometime and somewhere midday I managed to lose/misplace two of my camera memory cards. Luckily, for the most part, I had backed up the photos on CDs/DVDs....however, I'm sure there were a few pictures that will go missing. Not the best feeling in the world, but it could've been worse!
I nearly escaped a more major problem last evening on the bus ride. Our night bus for Saigon left around 7pm and made several toilet stops along the route. I woke up around midnight to the bus stopping at one such stop. Seeing others outside, I figured I may as well use the facilities while they were available. After the short walk to the toilets, I was just getting into things (sorry for the details) when I heard the bus engine sound begin to slowly fade as it started to pull away. I cut things off mid-stride (again, sorry, details) and dashed for the bus as if my life depended on it. In a way, it kind of did. Either my contacts were extremely dry from sleeping or I was just running extremely fast....because just prior to making it to the bus, my left lens flew out from my eye. No worries as I have more in my bag, but the fact that the bus nearly left with out me was enough to create one of those panic moments. My bags, phone, money, everything was on that bus. Eventually, I saw its brake lights and approached the halting vehicle. I didn't know whether to slap the driver or kiss him. In either case, I made the bus and continued on to Saigon. Just like a good Disney film, my trip had a happy ending.
So here I am in Saigon.... I will be here for a couple days then head onto the Mekong Delta for a visit as well. Many things to cram into a short stay, so I best be off. Enjoy the photos, and we'll talk soon.
1) Caving in the Marble Mountains, Danang (9/10)
2) A pagoda on the Marble Mountains, Danang (9/10)
3) Surfing on China Beach in Danang (9/11)
4) Halted traffic in Hoi An due to street dancers and drummers (9/12)
5) Kids posed as dancing dragons in Hoi An (9/13)
6) Masked dancer in Hoi An (9/13)
7) Hoi An by day (9/14)
8-9) Hoi An by night (beaches 5 or 6km from the city) (9/14)
10) Our crazy island tour guide in Nha Trang (9/17)
11) Snorkeling in Nha Trang Bay (9/17)
12) The luck of the Irish: two Irish friends from my Halong Bay tour that I bumped into in Nha Trang
13) Lazy taxi driver. They deserve a rest after all the haggling they do!
14) Proper English??
15) No water to flush? No problem, throw a giant ice cube in the john!
3 comments:
Enjoying the pics. Life looks much simpler there. ?? for you. Do the johns have ice dispensers?? Wondering how far you had to run to catch the bus! You probably were about to panic!! Enjoy the trip..
Your trip is starting to sound like the movie Forest Gump....hanging out in Vietnam, and then "RUN COLE RUN!"
Priceless. I'll bet the bus driver and passengers were watching out the window, dying laughing at you trying to catch up to it.
I'm just impressed at the "pinching off mid-stream". Ouch. Jellyfish bites are nothing compared to that man-pain.
wow---sure glad you had track in H.S. scary to think if you had not made the bus. love the pics--you are having the experience of a life-time---thanks for sharing. we are all well here-weather has been typical fall weather--been beautiful. getting a haircut this pm--I really like yours, mine won't get quite that short, have you had more cuts since the initial one???? stay safe love mom
Post a Comment