Nha Trang

A very commercial, kind of tacky, beach resort. We arrived at 6am and I can't say I took to the place immediately. We did find our cheapest room yet, and it was possible the best with a sofa and a little balcony! About 2.50 each. We had a beach day because we were both shattered after an awful bus journey where I can only assume we were travelling on a dirt track, comparible to the moons surface, for the entire 13 hours, complete with a break down and lots of drilling! Amazingly Josh bumped into one of his friends sisters at a service station. That was a highlight. Friday the 13th stayed true to its word and was littered with unfortunate events! Food was a plus, we had a posh lunch-roaster vegetable, humous and pesto baguettes, in a lovely sea view restaurant, we tried bbq cockles (cock-les, he he) and I had PASTA for tea :) We also found a mart and bought cookies and watched a programme about a man that caught a disease from bark that made him look like a tree. Now I won't go into any vegetation. I dont want to be a tree.

The 14th was a very good day, a pleasant contrast. We went on a snorkling trip to some of the local islands and saw some amazing coral and fishes. We were on the same boat as Joshs friends sister so again we had company. Josh was very impressed with the food as there was loads and loads! I was impressed with the cake. We had dinner with sarah and her friends in a mexican? (Again, we're really embracing the culture) Sarah and Josh spotted they're old DT teacher, who didnt seem best pleased to have been spotted arm in arm with his loveerrrr. I think maybe Yateley has migrated.

We left early the next morning for Dalat and arrived in the afternoon. We resisted the temptation to stay in the hotel that the bus conveniently dropped us outside of and found a lovely guest house called peace hotel, with a sweet little lady who thinks she speaks english but doesn't. She sold us a mo ped for 3 pounds for two days (without us really realising) so we took it for a spin, aiming for the scenic lang biang. After buying our tickets the lady kindly informed us we were to be out by 5pm, it was 4.20. No problem we thought, we'll walk it. Half an hour later and no sign of the top, with endless jeeps full of tourists driving past and laughing, we decided to head home and leave it for tomorrow, sure that we must have been only a few minutes away. We had an early night and bought our 25p baguettes ready for lunch, happy knowing how proud Beth would be. We set off again up the (practically vertical) mountain. An hour and half later, having been jeered at by many a tourist and guide in their jeeps, we reached the peak. The views were spectacular and even sweeter knowing we had climbed what no one else dared! (my feet werent quite so chuffed with my heroisms) We decided to take a few shortcuts on the way down, braving mud slides, deadly spiders and bottomless drops. Thankfully we still had our helmets, giving us the protection we needed against the forces. We made it down in under an hour, that will show all those people who paid a tenner for the easy life. I again braved the Vietnamese roads, with only a few near misses. We headed for the waterfalls, looking forward to our picnic. We didn't realise we'd have to risk our lives again, with a self controlled rollercoaster! Josh nearly took us off the track several times and yet again we marvelled at the Vietnamese definition of safety. The waterfall was big, and there was lots of water falling, so we weren't dissapointed, as I believe this is what one is to expect from waterfalls. After lunch we had an adventure on some random road, saw some more beautiful views and made it home just before the rain. Lastly, we visited a wierd and wonderful house, like an alice in wonderland world. It was so cool! Thats what the pics of! That brings us to now! Tomorrow we're going to ho chi mihn, then on to cambodia, so this may be the last post from Vietnamese soil!

Love to all, sorry for the long blog!