Part Two: Nha Trang Beach

[ Jennifer and me enjoying giant beer, it's a local brand, $1 per bottle!]

After re-hydrating myself after an exhausting night of disco dancing and GIANT beers (yes, I've actually had a few beers - I don't normally drink beer, in fact up until now I didn't even like it) we took off for a morning of boating, snorkeling, visiting the local aquarium and walking through a small fishing village followed by lunch at a fish hut.

Today was a rest day and what a beautiful place to spend time. We're right on the South China Sea with our hotel located across the street from the ocean. Once again we're staying in wonderful hotels, we're all on the 9th and 10th floor with views of the ocean. I have a small deck off my room where I can see the north coast line.

[view from my deck]The tour began with a short boat ride to the aquarium, a bizarre looking structure fashioned to look like a ship. Our curator was a young man that spoke fairly good English. The first sea life he showed us was a Rock fish that looked just like a rough looking rock you'd find in any ocean floor. He explained to us that stepping on it could be fatal if you didn't receive medical attention in two hours. The next exhibit was of a puffer fish that literally puffs up to scare away prey. If the prey does not disappear in five minutes or less the puffer fish will literally explode. He then went on to explain that if you eat puffer fish you will die in less that five minutes. Following that exhibit was the moray eel, also poisonous! By this time I was certainly thinking about opting out of the snorkeling! We were all assured that none of these fish would be near us, thank God!

After leaving the aquarium we walked through the fishing village. Every where I looked there was something sad, beautiful, confusing, magical, and astounding. The street was very narrow and on each side held a small house or shack and occasionally a larger, newer and grander looking house. Some of the homes were rusted metal with bright colored shutters. All around small children played with one another, chasing, laughing and teasing. The older children gathered in groups to flirt and talk. There were groups of adults playing card games. Looking into the homes for few had [pic: shipwreck looking aquarium] doors that closed, most were open walls, you could see a wood bed- no mattress, a small table for eating and preparing meals and little else. Sometimes several adults would be repairing fish nets in the middle of the room. I saw one man rocking and singing to his toddler as they both lie in a hammock. I didn't take his picture because I could see the baby was almost asleep but the image will stay with me forever. The man was so gentle and loving to his baby. It was a humbling experience. These people have so little yet they never seem sad or angry, simply joyful in what they have.

[village people]

Leaving the fishing village we loading into the bamboo boats that fisherman use to transport to larger boats or poor people use as their fishing boat. It really was comfortable and felt sea worthy. Once on the boat the young girl served me a fresh cold coconut so I could enjoy the coconut milk. The ride and the drink was $2.

[Ron in boat, someone has a picture of me, maybe I'll post it later]

We boated out to snorkel in the coral reef. I can't seem to get the snorkeling down - I seem to want to breathe too much and can't remember to only breathe out of my mouth or just my nose and I end up with a mouth full of sea water. I did it but only for about 10 minutes. I floated around in the warm water and enjoyed the lush scenery.

[where we had lunch]

It was another wonderful day. Tomorrow we ride for 48 miles and then travel in the vans for three hours. There is some hill climbing but overall it will be undulating road ( that is all of our favorite word: undulating. In the states we calling them rolling hills but I like undulating much better!)