Vietnam - Nha Trang

Nha Trang

We were due to take the train at 19:40 on Saturday – from Saigon to Nha Trang. We'd paid for a soft sleeper berth but only as we got on did we realise that it was a hard sleeper and the nice girl at reception had swizzed us! Only a few dollars difference, but sharing with 4 others instead of 2 was not ideal. At least our companions were intent on sleeping – an old lady and 2 people accompanying. The train journey was uneventful – arriving 40 minutes early into Nha Trang. The only issue was that Jenni was getting sick. She was so hot on the train, she burned me! She really wasn't well, so I had to get a porter once off the train to get her back. She carried the pillows herself!

We got a cab, meter said 22,000 and I only had a 200,000 note so when the cabbie took it and said thank you, I was a little surprised at his willingness to take a 178,000 dong tip! I had read of these scams so stood our ground till he coughed up the change.

Jenni was sick. Normally it's me, but this time it was Jenni. Her temperature was real hot, so I went and bought a thermometer. Hopefully not Swine flu! Anyway, I had a wander around town, not much going on but the beach. I was offered some “bang bang” but I politely declined! See what happens when I'm left to my own devices? Bang bang and I eat chocolate!!

I went next door for dinner and got chatting to an aussie guy that lives here and manages the next door backpackers house – a nice place, good restaurants but was perhaps a little noisy for us, so we are next door. Anyway, big Phil was real nice and when I bumped into him next morning, got the owner of the place – little Phil – to help out. He got the chefs to make some ginger tea and rice soup for Jenni. Unfortunately it didn't help and Jenni continued to be ill... Just meant time to add photos, write up diary / blog and to play mobwars on Facebook! At least this was a quiet, beachy stop so we're not missing much!

Jenni was sick the whole time we were in Nha Trang and I always got in to trouble when I went out alone... So, I went for a walk along the beach and stopped at some sort of monument when I was approached by a dude on his motorbike. His name was Mr Si and he was from pro easy riders, a company that specialise in motorbike tours. I had no intention of doing anything like that, so I took a minute to get out of the blazing sun and checked out his photos and comments book. It was at that point that I realised that in order to experience the real Vietnam, a tour like this might be necessary. So, I was seduced by the idea of sampling the open air, the mountains, all from the back of a bike, so I took a ride with him back to the hotel and excitedly told Jenni about it. She was ill, so she didn't care!

Anyway, I called Si back the next day and he came over with Mr Thanh to meet us and Jenni was able to come downstairs and see what the fuss was about. To be honest I think she agreed only because I wanted to do it! Which is a lovely thing to do, what a nice wife! So the next day we were off!