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My Trip
So it was off to Hoi-An on a bus...fully air conditioned obviously!
Enroute we went on the stretch known as Ocean Pass, the Sea just looked so inviting, these were the Beaches where the first American Troops landed. There are bunkers scattered over the landscape and Vietnam is only 10 km long from the sea to Cambodia on its western border.
The views were beautiful. We did stop a couple of times, one on a beach called China Beach where the Americans used to come for R+R time...its again stunning. The water was semi warm (the South China Sea) we had a swim and lunch at a local restaurant...I am seriously beginning to like spring rolls! Weird! We arrived in Hoi-An to see another pool - wooohoo! And a pleasant hotel room should we say (huge). A quick tour and it was off to the Tailors. Hoi-An is renowned for exceptionally good Tailors at a fraction of the cost in the UK. I had to indulge; I had a full suit made with Two sets of Trousers, a business shirt (double cuff) and a Beach shirt made to fit me...light blue pinstripe on a black suit. And my god did it look good. Moulded to my exact figure and it cost me no more than 120 pound including shipping to the UK. The place was great. Katie had a ball dress made which looked great, Jonny had a Tux again he looked like 007, Marus looked like an investment banker, and Kim with a summer dress and Georgie a cocktail dress simply looked stunning. I couldn't believe the quality, I was told these kind of things cost 400 plus in the UK! A great experience and I'll look sharp as when I get home....
Hoi An in general was beautiful, very homely...little shops, craft shops, markets' and Vietnamese Restaurants are scattered along the town. Its really hard to describe but it reminded me of Park City Utah...but much hotter. I really could have stayed here longer. We again had some great food, I went to dinner with Marcus, Katie and Kim and got on really well with them, they are great fun and Marcus is hilarious. Balcony dinner anyone? We went out for some drinks as a group, ended up drunk on the hotel roof bar and generally chilled out and enjoyed everything about this place. It's so tranquil.
You should see the stars at night also, spellbinding. You can see for miles and miles, millions of little stars lit the sky up. The pool apart from being full of Chlorine (new word) was the biggest yet, and much appreciated after the Heat we suffered from while walking.
I got a CD player and some music... thank the lord.... IPODs SUCK! Hard drive error my arse.... So pissed off about it.
I was a bit upset to leave this place as it was so nice...but we had the highlight coming up.
But not until we had endued some real torture...a 10 hour seated train journey from Hoi An to Nha Trang. BORING! Really uncomfortable and generally horrible. The scenery the train goes through though was captivating, villagers all working the fields in their cool hats.
Point of Knowledge.... The Chinese use Umbrellas and the Vietnamese wear the hats to stop themselves from going browner...Brown in these cultures mean you are common and work in farms/fields. Pale skin...hey Pasty is a sign of elegance and beauty.
So the Train ride was suicidal, but the result was a good night out at a fish restaurant...well deserved! Penny had lobster while Gemma and I opted for the Tuna and it was delicious...caught that day.
Now this is where the Tour just became amazing. Whale Island. A short bus journey to this paradise that is only used by one tour group...US....
This place is unspoilt little gem in the southern regions of Vietnam. A whole Island with one "resort" - I couldn't really call it a resort since it was a few little huts and a restaurant. This place was stunning, the beach was gorgeous, and we spent loads of time in the sea where Sophie and I swam to the bois that seemed close but were unusually far off. She's a little water baby that one, really nice to talk to though, very polite and proper. I even did a little sunbathing! The food was mainly fish caught that day but the variety was good and tasty. Everything was taken care of on the Island apart from drinks, which was great. My hut had a Mozzie net and friendly Lizard outside that occasionally would say hey. I sat for hours on the Veranda (sorry on spelling) with Kim chatting about everything, this is her first place and she heads to Australia in June, hopefully we are going to meet up as she has a wicked sense of humour, and great to chat to. We snorkelled and I burnt my back quite badly...luckily I had my Mum Number 4 Penny there to help with that. Thanks Penny.
One drunken night Gemma, Holly and I played on the beach at night...drunken antics. They have been great this whole trip...ooh I forgot our many experiences of rickshaws with Holly, Gemma and Kim, Two to a bike...Racing through the streets...definitely something I wont forget especially with Holly and Kayne West blaring out of her Ipod. (It'll brake I've warned you).
The weather at whale Island couldn't have been better, and at night the sky was stunning, we could see lightening storms in the distance...I just gazed into the Crystal blue sea and chilled out.
Anyone, who said I couldn't be on an Island with no pubs/clubs or anything to do, is so wrong... it was heaven. Funny incident with a Giant spider in Gemma and Kim's room led to a loud night...and I think it escaped in the end. The facilities on the Island were great, the staff were friendly, and really this was the pinnacle of heaven on earth. Get a little bit hot, just jump in the sea. Pure bliss! I was able to finish my second book - My life as an Emperor - an insight into Chinese Dynasty life...good book too, and start on the Da Vinci Code...Yes I still haven't read it! We also had Floras 19th birthday on the Island...getting her slightly tipsy...she's very amusing...
I didn't want to leave this place at all, simply amazing but alas we must move on...
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