Loving the resort life, it is absolutely
ruining me to the backpacker and hostel style of travel! The pool is miles long
and the beach is lush, the very end of what was known as China Beach. Beautiful
weather and an awesome old town nearby with a multitude of shops and things for
filling out dad’s suitcases!
Soon after our arrival we ate in the
restaurant, which was succeeded by a swim in the sea, a first since Italy for
me, so I was well happy. The guide came back and took us into the old town that
evening, and we wandered around spending money here and there. Dad found a
great tailor where he ordered a dozen shirts to be made, while I bargained for
goods, getting a dress for four dollars and teeny tiny pants for Alia at
2dollars each.
As we enjoyed a delicious meal on a balcony
looking over the river, we were forced to listen to loud annoying music from a
tent where a festival celebrating Vietnam and Japans relations was going on
across the river. We also had a great view of lightning storm in the distance,
but didn’t linger, instead kept wandering until after 8 when we caught a
shuttle back to the resort.
The following day we were collected in the
morning to wander the old town a bit more, visiting the oldest house and a silk
embroidery handicraft shop. Back to the resort, I was eager to try out
something adventurous, and decided on parasailing. With no instruction and
unanswered queries I was lifted into the air, strapped in and dangling
uncomfortably from the harness for fifteen minutes. They drove up and down the
coast with me loosing feeling in my legs and yelling at the driver. Seems funny
now, it wasn’t at the time.
To compensate for the traumatic failure of
the parasailing incident I went to have a spa treatment, a scrub and massage
for 100 minutes. Perfect. Feeling sleepy and relaxed, I returned to the room to
be hassled by Dad, so ended up feeling angry and exhausted by the day’s
emotions. We took a shuttle to town to eat at a famous restaurant ‘Streets’
that takes street kids and trains them in hospitality and silver service. The
food was very good.
Rain prevented us spending a few more hours spending more money in the
shops of the old town, so we grabbed a cab back to the resort to get an early
night. It was restless for me, and this morning my neck and back is aching. We have
a day of transit to get through. I have taken my Herbal Becalm pills, so
fingers crossed I survive the day. We will end up in Saigon, with a few days of
touristy activities ahead.
