Haha! From my last blog post, all the places I've been too have had dodgy power issues (one day on one day off - on days mostly off) due to the lack of rain in the rainy season. But now - im in little Mui Ne, the smallest place so far - and the power is fine! :D Gooooood times.

So - I made it to Nha Trang no problem - arrived at Spence and Nick's hotel before Josh - we got split up along the way again and we moved into a Hotel that had more consistant power (apparently) which ended up to be right opposite the classic backpackers 'Why Not?' Bar! Nha Trang was pretty wicked - we had a lush beach - an awesome bar - loads of people to meet, and lots of sandwitch people on the street - Bloody Ideal. OH and an Indian restaurant. Can't go wrong with Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan, Rice, Poppadoms and a beer for 100,000D ($5).

To be honest - days in Nha Trang were so hot that we'd sleep in untill 12/1 enjoying the Air Con - untill the power would cut out - leaving us without StarMovies and HBO - so the afternoons were when we actually did stuff - and even then - Happy Hour at Why Not bar started at 4pm and finished at 11pm - so we had to make the most of that! We did bike around tho - went to see a waterfall... which had lots of fall but not much water (the reason for our power cuts the whole time). We also went to see the Pagoda on a hill which gave us a neat view of the City... and provided some funny photos :P We also met an Emma Watson lookalike, and managed to convince the bar owner that she was actually the actress! - we got free drinks for like an hour untill he found out that he'd been made a fool of :D Nha Trang's Sailer's Club Bar also offered us a wicked beach party with a projector and big screen so we could watch the World Cup. The only bad thing about Nha Trang was actually due to me being a foooool - somehow I managed to do a full on wheelie on by bike, which kicked up and rolled onto its side, dragging me with it - my leg wrapped around the exhaust which had been working hard for about 2 hours so incredibly HOT. Got a pretty bad burn behind my knee - which is a bloody irritating place!!! :(

Anyway - Nha Trang became the real break up of the Four Horsemen. Josh and Nick were running out of time to get out of the country, and with both of their bikes running okay - they thought it best to put themselves and their bikes on a bus to Saigon - so they could sell them when they get there. We said our goodbyes and me and Spencer set out for Dalat the next day...

The ride was phenominal. Sure, it started out average as we exited the city, but Dalat is a Highland city, situated in the mountainous Central Highlands of Vietnam, and as we got closer the landscape made it difficult for me to keep my eyes on the road. Highway turned to yet another mountain pass, and for long stretches all I could see was the winding road ahead of me, mountains one side, and the curvature of the earth on the other... and occasionally Spencer on his scooter. The mountains were covered in dense forrest, and often we would drive past waterfalls that flowed under the road. We stopped for a water break at one point, and it was incredible to be on a road where the only sounds were the odd bird and crickets! The temerature was also a bonus. Towards the end of the ride - with about 50km to go - my bike had its second major failure. I was heading down the mountain at around 50kmh and by accelerator began to lose power... as soon as i'd noticed that, the bike just completely locked up - the back wheel froze in gear and there was nothing I could do - the tail began swerving back and forth... it's a miracle I remained on the bike. It wouldn't start... no life what so ever. I managed to get it into neutral and Spencer had to tow me the rest of the way :( - Towbie the bike was now being towed himself.

We got to Dalat after struggling up and down hills, over 100 too many potholes, frozen solid! The altitude brought with it a welcome cold temperature, but on the bikes it was freezing! Hands were numb! However, Dalat grew on me instantly. The culinary capital of Vietnam - it soon earned it's title. We met up with a load of other Kiwi's and a few english people. I made good friends in a couple of awesome Kiwis - played drinking games every night - and bombed around on scooters by day! We even found a waterfall that had a luge to take you down the mountain to see it! We saw many a waterfall - these ones had water :) Exploring Dalat was epic fun. The climate made it so much easier - so we either walked around the town or bike off to somewhere random. The best day was spent visiting the Crazy House - architecture inspired by Gaudithis place was wicked - it was prettymuch a climbing frame... that was also a hotel! The tiniest of stairways would turn into a narrow bridge over to the next building/room, all themed differently. Even the rooms themselves we wacky - with mirroes on the ceiling and bedsmade up in a 'crazy' kind of neatness. :P After that we checked out the Golf Course - PGA standard - it was too expensive for us :D Instead we went to check out the local market where all of Dalat's fresh food/vegetables are available. We ended up getting 6 Avocados, 5 tomatos, an onion, a couple of chillis, two limes and random herbs... went back to the hotel and made the best Guacamole ever! The hotel staff were amazed and impressed when we gave them some to try. haha! We pigged out on Guac and lots and lots and lots of bread!

So it was sad to say goodbye to Dalat and the wicked people we met there, but today - me and Spence left for Mui Ne - a little beach town just 200km away from Saigon. The ride here was just over 200km - it was a fun ride with some highway and again some awesome mountain roads offering insane views. We also got rained on while riding for the first time! A terrential downpore saw the first propper use of my rain jacket on th whole trip! As we dropped, we could feel the temperature rise very quickly. But this was soon ignored when we reached signs of beach paradise! So now im in Mui Ne - home of the infamous Red and White sand dunes and an awesome beach. I'm staying at Thai Hoa Resort.. it has a lush pool, right on the beach, with palm trees... the works - and its the cheapest accomodation I've had so far! :D SWEEEEET!! definately up to some sand dune surfing tomorro!

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