Nha Trang

I spent all of Wednesday on the beach at the Sailing Club. I managed to buy a new halter neck bikini at one of the local shops and I am trying to even out my tan. I have to be really careful that I apply suntan lotion everyday as I get a wicked farmers tan and a red neck! I saw Denise during the day as she wasn't very well and hadn't made it to school. All seven of us met up for a drink in the Oz Bar and Denise went to get some noodles, which was all she could bear to eat. Unfortunately this kind of stomach problem is in everyones future when they come to Vietnam. I am not helping myself by having ice in my drinks, I'll deal with any illness when it happens. I went to a sushi shop for dinner with Carl & Marjorie and Justin & Carrie. The store didn't have tuna but what I did order was excellent and reasonably priced. I would definitely go back. It was very natsukashii (brought back memories) for me as we had to take our shoes off and sat in a tatami mat room with a tatsu, i.e. a dip in the floor under the table for your legs. Some of the staff even spoke Japanese.
I didn't do much the next day, I am trying to alternate the days I got to the beach so I can give my skin "a day off" from the sun. I made it out for a short walk along the beach in the late afternoon, but that was it. Before I left the U.K. I had bought a few DVDs, so I have plenty of things to watch. I usually watch something when I want a break from my reading material. When I stayed with Kate in Boulder,CO. she recommended a book for me, "Racism without Racists". I bought it in the U.K. and brought it with me as I figured I would have plenty of time to read. I do have a lot of free time but the book is heavy going, I read a chapter and then need to take time to digest it. It's also the kind of book I can read again and not get bored with it. I did spend Friday on the beach and had a late dinner with the whole gang at Lanterns, a Vietnamese restaurant that also offers cooking classes. Maybe Darren might want to sign up, although maybe he would prefer Thai cooking lessons. I don't know.
I met with the others at our local coffee stand on Saturday morning. While the others went shopping I went and got my hair cut and coloured. There is an alleyway that links my hotel with the guesthouse that Denise and Cal are staying in. So every day I've walked past this beauty salon that is fronted by a gay Vietnamese guy. When I first stopped in I asked about a bikini wax, well he didn't have any wax so he offered to thread my bikini line for me, I declined and went some where else for that! After that he was always on at me to have my legs threaded, but I shaved them and then he said he could cut my hair instead. And as if that wasn't enough he told me that I needed to have my hair coloured to make me look younger. I think he was referring to my grey hair. I haven't had my hair coloured since July last year. So I gave in and I think it looks good,especially as it only cost £8. My last cut and colour in the U.K. cost over £100 and I wasn't happy with the cut. Everyone reconvened at the Guava Bar and they agreed that it looked good. When I got back to my hotel, the hotel staff all complimented me on the new hair colour, which is a deep red.
We all went to Justin and Carries house for dinner that night. I was excited to see the house. Denise gave me a lift on the back of her scooter, she's only had it for a couple of days but she's so confident already. I loved it and I totally trust her driving. On the way out to the house we went across the river bridge that I've only seen in the Top Gear Vietnam special, as traffic from HCMC doesn't enter the town by that route. I had forgotten all about the bridge so it was a lovely surprise. The view is amazing and now I know where it is I can bring Darren here.
The house is beautiful and so large, it has two huge terraces and a smaller terrace and fish pond on the ground floor. The first floor landing could house a family of six easily. Justin cooked us an amazing Italian dinner and Carrie made sure that our glasses were never empty. I had such a good night and I can totally see why they decided to rent the house. It's outside of town, so it's a lot quieter there but it's on the way to school so they have a much shorter commute every day. After living in one room for a while I definitely see the attraction of having a house, especially a kitchen. It may be nice not to have to cook but it's also nice not to have to leave your room for every meal.
I had a good evening, lots of conversation and laughter. Amazing that I've not known any of these individuals for more than two weeks. I've especially connected with Denise and I am very thankful for that. As I've said before a place can be made or broken by the people you meet there. Denise dropped me off at the end of the night and as happens when drunk I decided I wanted another beer so I went to the Oz Bar and had one more beer. I've got to know a few of the expats who hang out there so they always make me feel welcome.
The rain started in the night and looked like it would continue for the whole day, so I went to my usual coffee stand and started my Sunday. I was feeling a little hung over and the coffee and baguette was just what I needed. The baguette ladies liked my hair! Later in the morning I met up with everyone at Guava Bar and uploaded some "Trailer Park Boys" from Carl and he took some stuff from my hard drive. I spent the rest of the day in my room as the rain didn't let up and I was feeling lethargic anyway. For my last night in Nha Trang Denise and I had dinner at the Cyclo Cafe, just around the corner from her place and finished off with one last beer at the OZ Bar. I had to be up early the next day as my bus was at 7.30am. I had no way of setting an alarm, I hoped that the next morning would not be one when I woke up late. Most previous mornings I had been awake by about 7am at the latest. I packed everything up and went to bed.