Arrived in Nha Trang around 4.30am...everyone a little tired and some very hungover. Hotel was only 5 mins away so quickly dumped my bag and went for a run. Even at 5.30am the place was so busy, people cooking at the side of the road and doing what they do. Got to the beach just in time to watch the sun come up over the mountains and ran along the sand till we found an aerobics class so joined in on that for a while. Not sure if I had to pay so didn't stick around too long. I couldn't believe how busy the beach was with people exercising, all ages doing all sorts of weird stuff and playing games I have never seen before. I haven't seen any fat locals at all yet. But I did see a couple of kids earlier laughing and pointing, when I looked it was a fat guy and the kids were calling him Buddha....don't think they see many guts apart from tourists.
After a bit of breakfast and a nap we all went to nearby beach for the day...obviously we all got burnt and there was as much booze and food as we wanted. There was a beach dog but didn't get close enough to let this one bite me!
The next morning some of the girls went for a mud bath, which was a brilliant day. After mud, showers and a bath we all had a massage...probably one of the weirdest things I've ever had. This freakishly strong woman made me take all my clothes off except some weird little shorts and then pulled, poked and prodded me. I couldn't relax because I was petrified she was going to kill my back and neck which are surprisingly ok at the moment. She went easy on my back but then hopped up, sat on me, walked on me, slapped me quite a few times and even punched my feet....then asked me for a tip...obviously I gave her one. Bit of time for a dip in the pool then best food yet of crispy noodles.
Rest of the day we visited a tower and a temple (forgotten the names already) then one last visit to the beach before dinner and our second overnight train. The beach was crowded with local families flying kites, lots of happy children...it was a really nice atmosphere. Dinner tonight was seafood, it looked pretty fresh as you could pick your victim while it swam around out front minding it's own business (so cheap too)! Also found a shop to do me a bag of fresh pineapple, it felt a bit like Christmas...I'm easily pleased.
Forget what I said about sleeper trains being ok, the second one was grim! Every room came with it's own cockroach and one even a mouse-luckily not mine. I used my first squat toilet, it smelt like a farm but I didn't pee on my feet which I consider quite an achievement. Vietnam is growing on me, next Hoi An.