MUI NE

CATCH UP VIETNAM BLOG

From Na trang I took another hair raising bus trip further south to Mui Ne which is such a beautiful place. The coastline is a silvery, greyish blue colour, the mountains in the background look like a slate grey and the sun shimmers over the water. I felt a lot more tranquille.

I trudged along the road in the blazing sunshine for half an hour with my rucksack trying to find somewhere to stay. Because of the new year holidays again most places were full. Eventually I got the last room in Lucy's resort.It was a little bit of paradise.


With a swimming pool and a nice palm tree garden with hammocks and swings to lounge around in. I booked in for five days and decided that I would not bother rushing around any more.I met a German called Katerina and she was married to Paul, a Canadian. They lived in Ho Chi Minh and they arranged a hotel for me to go to when I got there.

I hired a scooter and went exploring again.The fishing village was beautiful with the blue colourful boats in harbour.

There were also some famous sand dunes,

which are very difficult to climb.The photo is deseptive, they were very very steep and it was so easy to loose your sense of direction because it all looks the same. And of course all that climbing meant that i needed massages. The girl on the beach only charged about three pounds for a one and a half hour massage. I had one every day.

I met up with some Canadians and an Italian girl and hung out with them a lot.They were good fun.


then moved onto Ho Chi Minh.

HOI AN AND NA TRANG (CATCH UP BLOGS)

STILL PLAYING CATCHUP WITH MY VIETMAN BLOGS SO DO NOT GET CONFUSED WITH THE AUSTRALIAN ONES. I HAVE ANOTHER COUPLE TO DO ON VIETNAM.

From Hue I got the bust to Hoi An where I stayed for a couple of nights. It is beautiful But again I was ripped off when I went for a boat trip! which made me very angry.


Everything was so busy because it is the run up to Tete, their new year. But I have to say it is a beautiful place to visit. The old town in particular. And the market area.
I was lucky to meet up with a nice couple from East Germany.
We found cheapp guesthouses together by trudging around the streets. We then met up for a meal together.
On the Vietnamese new years eve, I managed to get a bus to take me further south to Na Trang. But I had to pay three times as much as usual because of the new year period. The journey took 12 hours. The scenery from the bus was beautiful. But the bus driver was mad, he just kept honking his horn as long and as loud as he could warning all the other vehicles on the road they had to scatter to avoid being hit by him. We even stopped for ages to tow another old bus that had broken down!!When I arrived in Na Trang I was shattered.The streets were packed with everyone heading for the new Years Eve celebrations.I have to say I had a melt down, I was so tired and disenchanted with this country.I headed to my room in tears feeling sorry for myself.


Half an hour later the receptionist called my room and asked me if I would do her the honour of eating with her, as she had to work new year.She said she would love to have someone to have a meal with. It was just what I needed to restore my faith in human nature.The north Vietnamese had been so unfriendly.We had a lovely meal of noodles and the special Vietnamese new year cake and tea. I then watched the firework display and I went to bed feeling a lot happier about life.


Over the next few days I just unwound by the beautiful sea and watched the crowds of locals who had come down from the mountain villages to enjoy the seaside resort over the new year holidays.

MORE BIRTHDAY PICS FOR LIZZIE DRIPPIN

Just thought I would add some more of the pictures of Carmel's birthday bash for her mum, Liz to enjoy.X

BIRTHDAY BASH

Carmel opening her birthday present from Grandma Sylvia.

There was a lot of work to be done for the party. But Carmel and I managed to pop to Bondi beach for a bit of sunbathing first. I could stay there all day, but Carmel is not really a beach bum, so after an hour we retreated to shop for the party.

The quality of the fruit and veg in the shops is so much better than we get in England!

Carmel and her housemates, who were lovely and made me feel very welcome, spent ages decorating the garden with bunting and various games to create the feel of a garden fete. It looked fantastic.


Carmel also made a very good punch, from a special recipe.

Shady and Christina being domestic goddesses.

There was also a major operation in the kitchen to produce CUPCAKES, which tasted delicious. My contribution was to suggested 'Guess the number of sweets in a jar' game. Thankfully that went down well and Matt was thrilled when he won the sweets!!
The party was great fun. I really enjoyed myself chatting with Carmel's friends who are so lovely. I just know that Sammie is going to love it here!! I cannot wait for her to arrive!!

SYDNEY EXPLORING

Well this is where I am staying, Central YHA in Sydney. I am sharing a room with three other women. They change most nights, but it is good fun and the facilities here are great. They have a swimming pool, sauna, and their laundry room is good, so I am quite happy.

After meeting up with Carmel for the first day I took myself off to explore the next day. I love wandering and seeing where it will take me. I found Darling Harbour, where I checked out the maritime museum.Then I got a weekly ticket for ferries,buses and trains and hopped onto the nearest ferry to Watson Bay. The views of the bridge and opera house were stunning.


I just kept getting on ferries all afternoon going to and from various beautiful places including Manly beach.
The next day was Carmel's birthday so I got up early and caught the bus to Bondi beach to meet her for breakfast.As I got there very earlyI took a stroll along the beach and I was amazed to see this boat load of fellas jsut speeding into the shoreline. I thought all my prayers had been answered at once!!



But sadly it was just the local coastguard chaps out for an early morning training session. But I had to take a picture of them in their little trunks!! Carmel tells me they are known as "Budgie smugglers" which I think is hilarious.
I then met up with the birthday girl and we had a very healthy breakfast at this lovely little cafe just off the seafront. Carmel has such a nice lifestyle here in Sydney.

We went for a little walk along the coatline and I was blown away by how beautiful it was.

And by all the gorgeous fit men out jogging!! It is enough to make one want to take up running!!
But we had to go to prepare for Carmel's birthday bash later that day.