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We enjoyed our breakfast at our usual restaurant with huge helpings of rice and vegetables which definitely bloated us out. We spent the morning as we had yesterday, haggling for a sun lounger and enjoying the quiet beach and warm, blue sea. Today was equally as hot and pretty brutal but we enjoyed it all the same. We saw another western couple and smiled at them before playing in the sea and lying in the sun listening to music. That's something I really miss.... music. The hours passed slowly and we were feeling throughly relaxed when Steven suggested some beers, I agreed and he set off to buy some water to put in the fridge ready for later and some beers for just now.
He was gone about twenty minutes before returning with a 'you will never believe it' face. He had gone up to the stall to buy the bottle of water and drinks when the women wouldn't accept his ten thousand dong note as there was a slight tear? So getting fussy with the money they take now too... Clearly don't need it then. He then headed to the hotel to get some more money when he was approached by the receptionist asking why we hadn't checked out... Apparently the receptionist yesterday had not noted down that we were were extendeing our stay and they were now full... One relaxing day, that's all we managed. Now we had to head back, pack up our stuff and head to another hotel and given the fun and games that was the other day it filled me with dread.
We got back and packed up before paying our bill and leaving a bit disgruntled, I then suggested we head back to Lee park as we may be able to stay there... Hopefully. On arriving the girl said she was full but we could stay at the hotel she suggested the other day... Problem was when we had arrived there they were quoting us four hundred and fifty thousand dong instead of the three hundred that was promised. She apologised and said she would call them and we would get a nice room for three hundred... Such a nice helpful girl.
We headed off towards the hotel and I didn't hold out much hope as it had been one of the first places I had checked out and what you get for three hundred doesn't compare to either the 'SunSea hotel' or the 'Lee Park' with no window, fridge or tv. We went in and after some broken English and Vietnamese I wrote 'Lee Park' on a bit of paper and the Mist cleared... She said oh yes and showed us to a very nice room that I would happily pay three hundred for. We dumped our bags and fell on the bed surprised at what and easy transition that had been... Very un-Vietnamese.
We decided to abandon the beach as by now it was about three pm and the place would soon start filling. Instead we showered and headed out for a cold beer or three on the sea front from our favourite little seller. As we enjoyed the ice cold beers we watched as the beach was being descended on by the hordes of locals. By now we were both peckish and decided to make the trip to our usual joint for some food.
On arriving we took our usual seats as a group of local men were knocking back the beers around a table in the middle of the restaurant. On looking underneath their table it actually resembled a rubbish tip you would find at home. There were numerous empty bottles of beer with scattered bottle tops, ripped open cardboard beer crates and general wrapping from god knows what as well as discarded plates. They were being quite rowdy as it appeared they had been going most of the afternoon ...well if the pile of rubbish was anything to go by. Suddenly, standing beside them was a young girl dressed in very short red dress. At first, it was not obvious what she was doing but I noticed a San Miguel lager logo emblazoned on her. Looking around at the other tables you then noticed random bottles of San Miguel unopened, obviously some sort of promotion. The girl was obviously trying with these intoxicated guys but they were obviously more interested in her dress and figure rather than an imported beer. They were all making that usual Asian high pitched laugh like a group of school girls. We were wondering if this beer was cheap or perhaps even free as it was a promotion but I held out little hope. On asking the question, of course, the price was a little ridiculous at thirty thousand dong, I can't say I was surprised.
The food as always was cheap, plentiful and tasty... we tucked into rice, vegetables and seafood and each plate was delicious. As we were eating away there was a sudden screeching noise which sounded like a chicken or some sort of poultry.... This surprised us as when we had enquired about chicken previously it was hugely expensive at over two hundred thousand dong (seven pounds) and was one of those foods where you ask for the current price, we assumed that was because chicken was rare here? random... however Laura suddenly noticed the staff wrestling with a chicken from a cage and it was briskly dragged into the kitchen where the chicken sounded like it was putting up a good fight before the noises suddenly stopped and I guess death came on swift wings for the poor thing... Poor Lou was pale and had her mouth wide open at this point. You can't say the meat isn't fresh here, although I'm glad I didn't order the bloody beef....
It was all quite bizarre and it got even more weird when a random car pulled up outside and a swarm of the San Miguel girls all converged on the restaurant. We were finishing up eating, feeling a little awkward as these girls (who out numbered the patrons three to one) in short red dresses and heels were standing by your table staring at you. It became clear that most of them spoke little English so didn't even bother trying to communicate with us although one girl did ask... well begged for us to try the beer for twelve thousand dong, the price dropped swiftly there. We declined and instead their attention went to the drunk lads who had started to bring out wads of cash from their pockets. We made a dash for it and left the madness that was happening behind us. You could say it was one of the more bizarre meal experiences I have had in a while.
We headed back to wards the waterfront walking past the men in speedos and little kids still wrapped on every floatations device imaginable. At this point it started to spit with rain and we darted for the hotel just incase the minor inconvenience of a monsoon decided to occur.
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