Nha Trang

We arrived in Nha Trang and soon realised it was way more built up than Mui Ne, and definitely designed for tourists (no doubt due to the glorious long white sandy beach). It didn't take us long to hear that, notorious big names, and MASSIVE LADS, Joe Baylis and Mike Rowell were in town. We found them lounging on a very swanky beach, sipping smoothies, and rubbing sun cream into each others' backs. Spent a good few hours catching up before we were scolded by Abi and Rachel, and did our best to curtail the Durchat (Rach coined that). After a nice day on the beach Joe and Mike showed us around town. They'd been in Nha Trang nearly a week already, and had plenty of lashtastic stories, as well as expert local knowledge. After a good curry, we hit a few bars, had some beers, some buckets, enjoyed a good game of jenga, before heading to a club on the beach where we mostly started at western men and their prostitutes. I also recall Mike trying to teach Joe some sort of pistol dance, and failing miserably.

The next few days went much the same way. We had very easy days lying on the beach sipping coconut milk straight from the coconut, and watching the locals fly amazing kites. The second night we ate at a very interesting Vietnamese restaurant. A plastic-chair-place (that means that actual proper Vietnamese people eat there) where the menu included three different types of deer, hedgehog, mountain cat, wild boar, and a massive selection of fish. While we were eating we heard one couple refusing to pay as they "didn't want to eat food that had to be hammered" - it appeared they'd been served snails with a hammer. Nevertheless we had a very very nice dinner. Apart from Mike that is, who had the mountain cat. Served literally boiling hot on a gas stove he stirred the stew very suspiciously. He gave it a very good go, but couldn't help being put off by the fur floating around and the tiny (but lots of) bones in the meat. Joe had more success with wild boar, which we all decided tasted very much like herby sausages. We played it much more safe and got massive tiger prawns, and calamari - can't go wrong. After dindins we found a very nice night market, and had a wander about.

We spent our last day on the beach before we all boarded a BANTER bus up to Hoi An overnight. Were very impressed by the beds, although the position of mine on the bus meant I was deprived legroom, and couldn't stretch my legs for the entire 11 hour journey. Arguably, though, the boys had much more to complain about, as these "beds" are def not built for the Western Man. Was a pretty good, if very very bumpy, ride. Rather thrilling too as the driver very much enjoyed overtaking on sharp bends on the mountain side - lots of sharp intakes of breath.

Almost done. Tomorrow: Hoi An.
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