If this blog had a title it would be Greetings From Paradise. Im glad it doesnt have that title because you'd all hate me and delete the blog URL from your favourites list and it might also mean that I had to think up a catchy title for every blog and frankly, who has the energy for that!?

So, I have been blessed, (yes, 'blessed' in the clouds-parting and angels smiling and the weather god saying - 'there you go kid') with possibly the best beach weather ever. Ive had to come in at noon because it felt like my insides were boiling. Hey if its hot enough to explode your bottle of sunscreen maybe my brain'll go the same way- I cant risk it.. I need it for basic arithmatic.

The picture above is not of my beach, its not even a Vietnamese beach, tut tut STA and your shoddy selection of images. HOWEVER I do have some pics of the beach here and I may well spend this afternoon battling with computer retardedness (its, not mine) or else Nick (Peach) will never believe that Im here. Cynic you..

So, yesterday I had a wonderful day. Really good from start to finish. The fact that the guy who turned up to take us on our snorkelling trip was 'famous tony' (already tried the 'got a boyfriend? want one?' tac with me, 'where will you go next, im not busy, I can come with you' - er - no you cant!!! because the mini bus filled up to the point he had to get off. My whoop was inaudible but definately there.

We stopped in 3 places to snorkel and it was nice to be back under the ocean again, I remembered how much I like it and Im raring now to get going on my Advanced Padi preferrably specialising in the 'name that fish!! type of nature dives - underwater notepad and pencil - cooool - hand them over here!! The water was lovely and warm, I didnt skewer myself of one of those big black spiky things (and there were LOADS), I managed to only shout at one person for standing on coral (you know your a diver when...) and there were a decent number of fish around.

There were 3 other English girls on the boat and we had a really rather fantabulous time gossiping with our legs over the edge. And heres the best bit - Im getting aclimatised to the sun. Now dont get too excited, I didnt say tanned, but that whole day on the boat all I burned was my ass and when you point it in the air snorkling all day thats to be expected.. I mean yeah, Im a bit sunburned generally but not in a scary way and its just nice not to have to panic-worry about being in the sun. Hurrah!

The food was really nice on the boat which was a very pleasant surprise but then the best surprise was that when the minibus stopped unexpectedly on the way back (here we go..) it was to visit Bai Sao beach which was STUNNING. Seriously stunning. One of those 1/2 a mile of shallow bright blue shallows to wade around in, perfectly clean, perfectly clear. Fab.

Yesterday I realised, this is why im out here, this is why im doing this. So often I have no idea why im almost getting run over in saigon, unanimously hated in China etc so it was nice to have some affirmation. It felt like the first time i went to Thailand.

In the evening I went to the night market where the food was delicious and predicably cheap. Then met the English girls for a drink in Rainbow Bar. The bartender there thinks im mental because I go in there every night to drink the same thing; local rum and banana shake. Its damn good though. Bizarrely at 9pm they turned the power off (theres a shortage) and closed, as did everywhere else on the island - definately not a party town!

Now Ive saved this bit til the end for the good babies who read all the way down (if you skipped to the end, well the weather god knows these things...)

I walk back from Rainbow bar to where im staying along the beach. And its very very dark. And I think what are those big blocks of darkness ahead up there?? Veer slightly towards them. Veer violently away when I see that it is a herd of very big cows. Sitting on the beach, as if, why not, cows can hang out on the beach too. Now theyre not likely to be stray cos a herd of cows is 2 months wages in Vietnam so its almost like someone has illegally acquired them and told them to hide out there until the morning. 'Ow but Mr Nguyen (everyone in Vietnam is called Nguyen), little joey hasnt got his goggles and Harold doesnt like the sand, it makes him itchy. 'Tough fellas, you just need to stay here til morning - don't eat any tourists'.

Cows on the beach, at night, I ask you.. Scared the bejesus into me