DAY TWELVE

This morning, we planned a trip to Diamond Bay Beach Resort to attend an Annual orphans day out, where the resort holds every year to help disadvantaged and orphaned children. The day apparently consists of games, meals and rides, and the organisers required volunteers to help with running activities, serving food etc. Seemed like a nice thing to do on a Sunday. When we got there, the person that talked us into helping out clearly wasn't there, and it was also evident that we were the only non-Vietnamese people... Thought to myself that there maybe a slight language barrier here! Looking around, I'm guessing the charity are very well organised and managed, as these were probably the most unlikely orphans I'd ever seen.. All had nice clothes on, were really happy, were extremely well behaved and that the event was organised like clockwork. We tried speaking to the organisers, but it was most definitely a lost in translation moment! The decision was taken after 30 minutes stood around like a bunch of pickled herrings that we would frequent the beach bar instead. It was there I experienced the greatest milkshake in the world, served by a fella called Ken ( although I am not so sure that was his real name!). Pure mango, passion fruit and pineapple milkshake was undeniably the tastiest damn shake I have had...for a paltry 80 pence. Finally, after twelve days drinking pseudo-orange pap, Jasmin had her orange juice fix- it was made of ..wait for it..real oranges. Why such a fuss over real oranges? Well, let me tell you- every juice we had consumed so far was pretty much one percent juice extract, the rest of the drink-god only knows! I don't think the rules on colours, preservatives and additives have been enforced in Vietnam yet! So needless to say, we were content!
Next stop was to the Long Son pagoda, which we couldn't find yesterday. After a thorough and well understood ( maybe a slight lie)briefing from the hotel reception staff, we set off in pursuit of this elusive temple/Buddha statue. 20 minutes later, and driving in circles, I am thinking that this place isn't real, and made up to cause tourists to constantly fill their engines to profit their fuelling stations. Just a theory, no real evidence to support this statement. Due to taxi driver pulling out in front of me, I had to come to emergency stop. I thought ' where did he come from?'. Jasmin shouts with glee ' there's the f@&£ing temple'! . Looking to where the kamikaze taxi driver appeared from, there was the temple gates. So do I thank the taxi driver for nearly dismembering us, but allowing us to realise our location, or give him a serve....gave him a serve!
We parked up the bikes, and proceeded to climb 2000 stairs to where the gigantic Buddha was, passing the giant sleeping Buddha and the countless beggars on the way up. It was extremely impressive, so we had had a refreshment break and took it all in. The Buddha, 360 degree views, the spiritual gatehouse.......oh, and the 30 odd chickens fighting for ice cream wrappers at our feet....ahhhhh the serenity!
Next stop was the Nam Ban hot springs, which is a man made valley of waterfalls, ponds, lagoons and pools, each with a varied level of temperature. Some pools are naturally heated from hot springs so they say, but the engines enclosed by fake rocks make me think a little differently to that choice information. The place was absolutely full of Vietnamese loving life. Whilst everyone enjoyed themselves, brucie stood in the pool with his arm up again. Damn water slide is still ruining my fun! I could of spent a lot of time there -good watery fun!
The evenings meal was a place called Cuon Cuon pork and rolls, rated the 2nd best restaurant for Vietnamese food in Nha Trang. The idea is that the food is prepped for the customers in advance, then you as the customer either assemble or cook it yourself. First up were fresh prawn spring rolls. You are given a cookery class first, showing you how to assemble and present the spring rolls. Some might say that the chef is being lazy, but both of us thought this was brilliant....and the spring rolls were incredibly tasty and fresh. Mains were caramelised pork and BBQ chicken, both with incredible marinades and sauces. Not as good as Yens, but not far off. With beers, food, water etc, the bill was about £1.25...bargain!