Nha Trang

We spent our first day in Nha Trang (yesterday) on the beautiful 4 mile long beach...sitting on lounge chairs under straw umbrellas...looking at turquoise waters, mountains and islands (there are 71 of them)...breathing the fresh air (Siem Reap was dense with wood smoke)...and listening to Russian (this is a major Russian tourist destination). The wind picked up in the afternoon so we mustered the energy to have a late lunch and go to the playground for a bit. We crossed the insane street packed with motorcycles and bicycles like locals (shoot the gaps- there are no traffic lights and no pedestrian right of way), and retired to the room before 5:00 where Addi and I promptly fell asleep for the night and Jim worked.

Today we went on an all day boat trip on the South China Sea. We stopped at three islands for some snorkeling that didn't have many fish but did have some of the most gorgeous corals we've seen yet- reds, blues, greens, whites, yellows and blacks- shaped like brain, lace, antler, fans, sticks, etc. We are a little bit spoiled by the warm Indian Ocean and thought the water was cold, but I know it wasn't! We had an amazing Vietnamese BBQ right on the boat which included fresh picked sea urchin. I have heard it described to resemble a newborns diaper...I agree with that description- even when served with cilantro and lime. I am proud to say I tried it, but I did not like it!

We wrapped up the day with a stop at a fishing village where Jim, Addi and I took a paddle ride between fishing boats in a round basket. We couldn't believe this basket stayed afloat with four people in it (the three of us and the woman who owned the boat) but it did! At one point, the woman dropped her oar, pulled out a machete, and started hacking at some coconuts I hadn't noticed earlier. Once my heart came out of my throat, I accepted the coconut, now with a straw in it, and took a sip.

Tomorrow we will enjoy the beach in the morning and then catch a 6 hour bus to Dalat, a town in the mountains/ central highlands. There are things to do in Nha Trang that aren't ocean focused, but we don't plan to do any of it. We aren't even exploring the city its self. Jim and Addi are lucky- this cold is slowing me down and we are taking advantage of the gorgeous beach for R&R. Maybe next time!

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