Back to nature last night as rustling creatures were above us through the night. It is a good job we are now well hardened to such noises. Could have being lizards or rats or a whole number of other things. The hut we are staying in is new, basic and open to anything that may wish to enter. It also has an outside bathroom which is bizarre as Matt found out while he sat on the toilet this morning in the baking sun.

We have to apologise for calling the water murky. As when we turned up in the evening last night the sun was setting making it hard to notice that in fact the sea is crystal clear and ranging all shades of green. It is now easy to understand why people call this the emerald coast.

Hue Beach Bar is a hidden gem and we are thankful for finding out about it via some friends we met in Australia. This paradise feeling hasn't been present since we were in the Perhentians so we took out our books and baked in the sun. A little too much as by midday we were red and back in the shade. Looking out to the sea from the shore, the colours are turquoise, jade and emerald but then another huge band of jade and turquoise. We swam out the 20m or so to this band to find that it is a shallow sand bar off the shore. To get there you swim through deep water but it is a strange feeling to be stood in ankle deep water that far out but ideal to lay down and let the waves lap over you.

Sunset called for a walk down the beach, beers and Matt played guitar into the darkness. Unable to see anymore we sat and stared up at the stars for hours. Both trying to understand the universe but deciding sometimes it is better not to (or Matt won't sleep tonight). Matt doesn't know if it was the beers or the sun but when paying the bill tonight one of the Vietnamese staff was reading the items we had purchased today and says "Two day on the beach". Matt starts saying calmly "I don't think we have to pay to go on to the beach." It takes a few comments back and forth before he realises that 'A day on the beach' is the name of the cocktail that Char had been drinking. IDIOT.

M & C xxxx