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Nha Trang Boat Trip.
What a day it has been. Filled with sun, booze, and plenty of 'divertissement!' We were both looking forward to snorkelling and a bit of drinking in the sun. We had read some reviews that the boat trips are similar to Club 18 to 30 booze cruises, so when we saw the string of old wooden fishing boats lining the port and about eighty Chinese tourists waiting to get on them, we really didn't know what to expect.
We boarded the boat and everyone sat down, it was a little cramped with everyone squeezed into the bottom deck. Only a few of the crew members could speak English, one was very entertaining and encouraged everyone to have a fun time. He asked everyone where they were from. There were people from Chili, Germany, South Africa, Vietnam, a big group of Chinese, and a group of old French people.
I noticed one of the Vietnamese women staring at my boobs, I had my sun glasses on so she didn't know I saw her slap her husband around the face when he turned and looked at them too! Hehe! The staff came round and we ordered sea urchin soup to go with our lunch, we had never tried it before so we thought we would give it a go.
When we got to the first island we were very disappointed, the water was crystal clear but there wasn't any coral so there was nothing to see! The beach was pebbly and we had to pay to go on it. Chris tried on about five different snorkel masks but they were all crap and let in water. Some of them were so old, they were probably left from the Vietnam war!
The Chinese people enjoyed it though, they're not bothered about sunbathing and getting a tan, in fact they want to be as white as they can. We sat and watched them splash about while we waited to get back on the boat. We got chatting to a couple of people who also thought it was rubbish. When we got back on the boat we ate together on the top deck, it was much more spacious and we had it all to ourselves. The food was laid out on a large mat on the floor. We sat around it in a circle and enjoyed a couple of beers, then we were brought our Sea Urchin soup. It looked disgusting, like someone had sneezed into the bowl! It smelled good though so we tried it, well Chris tried it first! It tasted just like chicken soup! I made an effort to eat a few mouthfuls but the slimy texture and lumps were too off putting so I let Chris finish it off.
We drank some more beer then watched the staff do karaoke downstairs. They were quite funny but it was nothing like a Club 18 to 30s boat. A little later they threw out a floating bar into the sea and everyone jumped in. We were all given floating rings to hold onto while we drank really strong orange vodka. Nobody was interested in a second cup at first, even Chris wasn't keen, it wasn't very nice but it was alcohol and it was free! So I helped myself to about five cups of the stuff! Then everyone started to join in and the bottle was gone in no time. When we went back on deck two of the old French ladies came up and sat with us. One looked ancient and kept opening her legs up wide doing the splits, I think she was a bit nutty. She said she used to dance and Chris asked her if she was a stripper! Lol!
A little later we tried fresh Sea Urchin straight out of the sea. It was very salty and not very nice. The old french lady said it was very expensive in France and couldn't get enough of it! Then I saw her pull out a blue Star Fish she had taken from the sea. I told her she shouldn't have taken it then Chris called me away from her. The lady brought it up on top deck and showed it off to everyone. I couldn't let her keep it, so I pretended to pose for a photo with it then said "Oops!" as I chucked it over board. She was not happy! She shouted at me and hit me with her towel. I laughed and told her again shes not aloud to take them. She asked me if I ate fish! I said I do eat fish but I don't keep them on display. Dean, one of the guys sitting with us could understand French and translated everything she said. She was cursing me for the next hour or so, threatening to take our camera and throw it over board. I still think I made the right choice, if everyone took something from the sea there would be nothing left, just like the beach we were snorkelling at earlier.
When we stopped at the second island we were asked to pay again. It looked even more boring so we stayed on the boat and had more beer. We watched the French lady go looking for another starfish and she managed to find one. She came on board gloating in front of me. Stupid women, Chris told the crew and they asked her to open her bag, but she refused. Then he threatened to get the police involved who would fine her $200 dollars if she didn't put it back. She laughed an annoying cackle. She showed no respect for the crew or the marine park. By now everyone on the boat knew what she had done and frowned at her. She grabbed only shells from her bag, tossed them over board but not before running at me and catching me on the cheek. We all kept on shouting at her to put the starfish back but she clutched her bag tight while cackling away. When we got back on shore a few minutes later, Chris and Dean went to the office and told the harbour staff. Everyone was on the bus, we told the driver about the lady so he waited for security. It was so funny, I had to point her out on the bus like a grass. I really didn't want it to escalate this far but she pissed us all off so much and deserved to be told, plus I didnt want her to win. After a bit of shouting her husband finally got the starfish out and gave it back. I started to clap and everyone followed, we were starfish heros! Hehe!
She still showed no remorse and cackled away like a crazy b**** on the way back, no doubt she will probably keep on taking stuff from the sea.
We planned to meet up later with the group for a few drinks but I have a hangover now! So we are going to get some pizza and stay in instead.
Charlotte & Chris
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