The Vietnamese Boyzone

So my last day in Nha Trang was spent on a boat visiting the islands scattered just off the coast, and it was certainly not a trip I was expecting. 

We were going to about 4 different islands in about six hours, I thought that it would be short stop at each of the islands take in the views and that’s it, but it turned out to be a real laugh, a party boat but Vietnamese style, you can't even imagine what it was like.

I looked like I was in a straight jacket and it felt like it to; it wasn't tight enough so I bobbed up and down with the jacket around my ears.

I hadn't slept at all the night before, maybe things were on my mind so in the morning when I got on the bus my eyes were heavy and sore but surprisingly enough I was still pretty lively.  I think I’ve told you before that all the boats look exactly the same here, all blue medium size fishing boats really.  I think Del boy must have all sold them the same paint.  We arrived at the dock and got on the boat Vietnamese style, going up this giant ladder with wheels, really not that safe but quite amusing deciding where to put your feet when both the boat and the ladder is moving, a jumping technique worked best for me. 

The first island was a place to go snorkelling, although the China Sea is just like the sky, murky and foggy thick with pollution, this obviously didn't stop us from jumping in from the boat, some from the top, however the boat had to move because people started to jump in and hit the bottom, so safety conscious.  Don't panic though mum I wouldn't do something like that, well at least not until someone else has tried and been alright, too much of a chicken.   It wasn't until the second island where the fun started to begin, a full buffet was laid out for us, you would be surprised how that little shelf with an open fire could cook all this food.  Really good food although I struggled with the chop sticks, but practise makes perfect, someone even asked for a fork to which the cheeky little guide gave a definite no.  After lunch we had to let our food go down before we took another dip, and to entertain us the sailor whipped out their rusty guitars, an empty plastic water container and a couple of chop sticks for drums and started to sing.  Absolutely hilarious, really good, everyone started to sway when they played Stevie wonder 'I just called', (Oh Katie I thought of you).  They made us get on the table while we danced to the twist 'lets do the twist again, like we did last summer', and this was before the floating bar.  I don't know how we all managed to get up there and dance, the band gave us a bolt of energy.

The girl at our hotel told us there would be a floating bar with free drinks, I was thinking of a palmed treed mini island like off of the film Cocktail where you all sat around and had a civilised drink, knowing full well it wasn't going to be like this I certainly wasn't expecting what came next.

The floating bar turned out to be a little Vietnamese skipper on a metal ring, staying afloat with old bits of tyre rubber, he had a very steady hand holding the Dalat local wine in a milk tray.  Brilliant, but how could we drink while we were in the sea.  The rubber rings of course, which in any western country can only be used in emergencies!  Well the lucky ones got a rubber ring, I got a life jacket, I certainly didn't look like no spring chicken and it took some really skill to drink and stay sitted upright and not to lie on your back. I looked like I was in a straight jacket and it felt like it to; it wasn't tight enough so I bobbed up and down with the jacket around my ears.  The jacket didn't stay on for long; I laid on it after I started to lose my ability to breathe.  Still managed to get my monies worth though!

Everyone was sprightly after a good sing song and a bottle of local wine which tasted like port (not like Chilean wine) so now it was time to just chill out.  I haven't thought much of the beaches here in Vietnam and especially after hearing so many good comments, but this island, for the rich was beautiful, lovely views of the islands surrounding us and the city which was nearby. 

The wine nicely soaked up I fell asleep on the top of the boat reapplying the sunscreen every ten seconds (obviously not when I was asleep) and woke up to our last destination which was the aquarium.  Fish aren't really my thing, but it was interesting seeing all the fish I saw at the reef in Australia and putting the names to the faces as it were, but it’s a bit like zoo in how it makes me feel.  The tanks were definitely too small.

On arriving back at base at 4.30 we only had a couple of hours before we had to get the bus away to the next city Hoian.  Why did such a beautiful, amusing day have to end badly...