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Sunday 22nd November 2009
Mui Ne - Finally we were collected from our hotel in Nha Trang 1hour 30 minutes late, we are getting used to the fact that nothing arrives on time!! Coach collected us and we got on and shown to our seats.....right at the back at the bottom of a two level sleeper bus Hmmm not good at all, no room and more to the point no air con, great!!! we had 5 hours before we reached Mui ne, this is going to be one long uncomfortable journey!! the next stop 2 burly men got on and you guessed it they were right next to us, we were struggling for room, so we have no idea how they managed to cope in the tiny spaces / seats allocated!! Got half way to Mui Ne and quick pit stop as the toilet was not working on the bus, but to be quite honest neither one of RAT were going to venture in anyway!!! Pit stop made, we were all desparate to get outside for a few moments even if it was just for a wee and some air!! 15 Minutes later we were back on the bus headed for our destination, we must have managed to get some sleep because the next thing you know we are stopping in the middle of nowhere.... driver tells us this is MuiNe........ok are you sure we say!!!! we managed to get our bags without too much fuss as the other people on the bus were headed to Saigon!!
So here we are no accomodation booked, no motorbike taxi or any kind of transport, it was deserted!!! there was a couple we met at the hotel back in Nha Trang that were coming to Mui Ne as well, altho they had booked accomodation already and it happens to be where we were dropped off is where they were staying - lucky for them!! Right what was RAT to do, the only thing we could do was see if this resort had any rooms and stay here tonight and find somthing else in the morning!! Job done, managed to speak to a lady and she organised a room for us, should have been 20$ per night we managed to negotiate 15$ without breakfast!!! After the ordeal of getting here we just wanted to crash.... nite nite!!
Monday 23rd November 2009:
The following morning we woke up, the weather was not too bad a bit overcast but still really warm, we ventured out into the resort, WOW!!! it would seem that we have landed on our feet, swimming pool, with sun loungers then just down some steps to the beach........perfect just what RAT needed after the party nights of Nha Trang rest and relaxtion, at this point it was minus the sun!!!!
We decided to make the most of the beach and get some relaxing done. That night we went out and exlpored the town, it would appear as well that the only way to get around in Mui Ne is motor bike taxi!! R was not keen at first but it was either that or walk!!! and the town was miles away!! So motor bike taxi it is then....we wanted to check out a place called Wax bar, as this is T's nickname we got there and it seemed to be dead, so we decided to go and get a bite to eat, a fresh fish restaurant was the order of the day, T ordered curry, R ordered what she thought would be tuna steak and vegetables, it came out tuna steak, lettuce leaves and pancakes, hmmmm not exactly what she had ordered, was not the best meal but filled a hole all the same! After this we had a little look around, the town seemed to be really quiet with not much going on at all!! We headed back to Wax bar, and had a couple of drinks it was here we met Joel the owner and Karl and Gemma, two friends that had known eachother since school, such a good laugh that we met up with them the following night, Joel was lovely and gave us free beers to make us feel welcome, well actually he gave us free drink all night, Beer, cocktails, yager bombs.... oh dear another late one for RAT, , good job we had a little sleep on the beach during the day!! Rollled in at 4.am.!!!!
Tuesday 24th November 2009
The following day was jsut spent pretty much the same lounging on the beach, with a little sun this time!! That night we met Karl and Gemma at a place called Snow, very strange clynical looking place that did not go with the scene at muine at all, but they had a live band playing that night. Was a good night but RAT was very conscious that we had a very early start in the morning as we were going to see the dunes at sunrise, meaning we had to be up by 4.30am!!!!, we left Snow and ended up walking with Gemma and Karl to a place called Pogo Bar (it turns out we were walking for an hour), it was a really good bar once we got there and very chilled out, the bar sat right on the beach, one Mohito later and we were ready for bed and our very early morning.......
Wednesday 25th November 2009:
Alarms set and ready to go off at 4.30am, ready to meet our Motorbike drivers at 5.00am, and were off... still dark and headed to the dunes to see the Sunrise, neither of RAT realsied that it took an hour to get to the dunes, as you can imagine our bums were completely numb by the time we got there.... we got taken down a dirt track and taken to a little shack where a little boy came to meet us and asked us for 30,000.00 dong for our mats, about 50p!!! About ten minutes later walking through the forest of mosquitoes we reached the dunes, what a breathtaking sight, as far as the eye can see. We were met by another little boy who led us to the top of the dunes, this is it we were going to slide down these...... R went first; the little boy, 10 yrs old spoke amazing English and piled loads of sand onto the mat, he said that this makes the mat heavier therefore go faster, he was right, R got onto to the Mat and 1..2...3 weeeeeeeee down the slope, next it was T's turn she took to the mat, but this time no sand was piled onto it, so she started to slide but unfortunately got stuck half way down....oh dear not quite the weeeee that R had had - The little boy helped her back to the top and piled the sand on onto her mat, this time she went straight to the bottom, the hardest thing about riding the dunes is definetly getting back up to the top, one step forward and what seems like two steps back, anyway RAT managed to reach the top and did this a couple of times and then decided to have some pics taken at the dunes, whilst jumping in the air, Hmmmm easier said than done. Neither T or R could get a good shot but the little boy, did - perfect - what a shot!!!!
He has obviously had far too much practice!!!
After riding the sand dunes RAT were taken to the early morning fishing village, wow what a sight, hundreds of locals sourcing fresh fish for the day to be shipped out to restaurants and bars, shells scattered all over the beach, little old men carrying 3 times their own weight in fish, women de shelling fish, couples gutting fish, now this is what you call hard work, each had their own little pile of fish/shells/crabs to be attended to, along with young girls wandering along the beach trying to sell shell necklaces, bracelets, earrings etc. Very Sad, they all looked very poor and it really made RAT think!!! We spent about 20 mins or so wandering around and then got back on our Bike taxi's to take us back to the resort -
What a day, well actually it was only 10am, but as RAT had been up so early it felt like a whole day!!! You guessed it, breakfast then, sun loungers were the order for the rest of the day!! Lovely!!!!
That night we went to a place that was recommended in the guide boook called "Good Morning Vietnam" both had pizza - bloody lovely!!!!!
Thursday 26th November 2009:
Another day spent lounging by the pool, we got chatting to a lovely couple (Lyn and Ady) telling them all about the sand dunes and early morning fish market, we were meeting up with Gemma and Karl that night so invited Lyn and Ady as well, it was only when we went back to our rooms that we discovered they were our neighbours so we sat on the balcony for a bit chatting and drinking a bottle of red wine, RATS first since we had been away!!!
We all went out that night to a great Indian restuarant that had also been recommended to us, Ganesh, it was the best indian since Hoi An - think it was the same chain so we knew it would be good, RAT decided not to order a set meal this time, as last time it was way tooo much!!!
After the indian we went to Pogo Bar, with Gemma, Karl , Lyn and Ady, had a great time Mohito's all round, we played this game called "s*** Head'' - Basically the aim of the game is to be the first to lose all your cards, whoever is left with the most is the "s***head"!! You get the idea - anyway a few s***heads and Mohito's later and we all decided to call it a night, RAT were checking out in the morning but the bus wouldn't be collecting them until 1.00am the following morning, so check out at 12pm - no bus till 1.00am -
Friday 27th November 2009:
nothing to do but chill in the sun - The bus ended up picking us up at 2.15am - 1 hour 15 minutes later than scheduled - we are getting very used to waiting around!!!
On to Saigon the city that never sleeps...........................................................
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