Sunday 23rd March Nah Trang
I left Mui Ne just after lunch and took another long (5 hours ish) bus journey to Nah Trang. Nah Trang is another coastal spot but bigger and busier than Mui Ne. When I got out of the bus the usual group of people touting for business arrived and I asked if they knew where the Perfume Grass Inn was. They assured me they did and, after a bit of bartering regarding the price, I got on the back on a Honda Om. Despite my very clear directions the guy took it upon himself to take me to a different hotel which he had previously tried to convince me to go to. I assured him that I wanted to go to the place I had initially stated and he apologised profusely as if he had made some terrible mistake. He then brought me to the correct place and I checked in.
My room is nice with two double beds – maybe I can alternate between the two or something. Breakfast is included as is free internet which helps but it’s a bit expensive ($15). It’s ridiculous how picky you get regarding a few dollars or dongs (yes the local currency really is called the dong) when you realise just how cheap everything is.
One of the reasons for coming to Nah Trang is that there are boat trips out to local islands where there is meant to be amazing snorkelling. I’m considering this for tomorrow, although I am still tending a comedy halter-neck shaped sunburn (one side) and am wondering if a boat trip is the best plan in my current partial lobster-like state. There are also natural mineral baths where you can bathe and apply therapeutic mud which sounds like fun. I’m probably going to stay here two or three nights and am then planning on heading North to Hue (pronounced Hoo-ay) for my next stop.