The Famous Red Sand Dunes of Mui Ne. We

Sand Surfed Down the Dunes

A Trio of Friendly Kids from the Fishing Village

Near Mui Ne

We stopped by some of the fishing boats and a young girl and two boys posed for a photo. They then asked for 10,000 dong (about 25 cents – not breaking the bank). We handed it to the girl and asked her to share it. She smiled and ran off with the money. The boys grumbled and asked for money. Instead we spied the girl ahead and reminded her of her promise to share. With a wry laugh she whipped out some smaller bills and paid off the boys. Quite the cunning little sales woman – lessons to be learned by all.

The Ubiquitous Red Flags and Banners Made You

Very Aware of the Political System of Vietnam.

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Mui Ne is Famous for Its Fish Sauce, and One Whiff

of the Air and You Know You Have Arrived

Mui Ne is Famous for Wind Surfing and Kite

Boarding. Getting Big Air! This Guy Was Awesome.

Mui Ne is famous for Kite Surfing. Many experts were staying at our hotel from France (and most married to Vietnamese women with bi-racial children). The Kite Surfers had such deftness as they took flight, did twists, and landed as if on a pile of marshmallows. They would then lift up and take air once more. One can only admire this amount of skill, agility and how they accomplish this with grace.

The Old Culture of Drift Fishing on the Open Sea

and the New Culture of Sailing the High Winds

Sunrise From Our Hotel Room Overlooking

Nha Trang Beach and the South China Sea

We were dropped off by a tourist bus in Nha Trang (with no announcements by the driver) – found a taxi to discover we were only two blocks away from the Nha Trang Lodge (a large high rise – we had a spacious room with a huge balcony overlooking the Sea). Our first night we had dinner at the hotel and ordered a bottle of Dalat Red Wine (local) – only $4.50 for the bottle. Our server brought it out and set it beside us – We eventually got his attention and asked if he could please open it and pour it for us. Jim ordered a dish with pork and received vegetables instead. The server argued, “No you no order pork, your order this.” We were the only ones in the restaurant at this point and he appeared to be the only server too….so Jim chose to eat the meal and so our time began…..The next day we had a full on breakfast buffet (the normal morning offering at most places) – this one had all Asian specialties (Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese) with European – baguettes with cheese and jam (I chose the latter). We found Vietnamese food to be so healthy yet at times bland – not many spices (yet we loved all the veggie and tofu choices – well, we are Californians, right)!

One of Three Beautiful Waterfalls We Hiked to in

the Lower Central Highlands Outside NhaTrang

Suzan Holding Up a Huge Rock Slab While Our

Guide Looks on in Amazement.

We hired a guide to take us on a hike – what an experience. Utter beauty. We walked below a piercing blue sky in a thick dense jungle with green bushes, palm leaves, elephant leaves, alongside boulders, streams and waterfalls – some were trickles while others exploded through granite rocks creating a series of pools. We laughed when we saw middle school girls in uniforms (white blouses and blue pants) all giggling themselves leaning into one another and splashing each other (in their school clothes) – on a school day too (hmmmm….) We climbed to the third level of waterfalls (which became a bit technical at this point) and our Guide seemed to be a bit agitated with Jim who continued to stand on ledges with his camera always dangling or in front of his face. Then he said he was going to dive into a pool below on level 3. That was about it for me…I know I married an adventurous man (even more so than me) yet …enough. He chose to jump in rather than dive and from a lower platform (after swimming and checking it out) so he did survive.

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Snake Wine. Cobra, Spiders, Other Snakes and

an Assortment of Crawling Critters Comprise this Juice

Po Nagar Cham Tower, Built Between the 7th and

12th Centuries by Hindus for Worship.

The Cai River Harbor in Nha Trang as the Sun

Sets on Another Peaceful Day.

We decided to explore the area and find a boat to go to an island. The tourist office wanted $30 per person for one island. We walked outside and a taxid driver yelled over, “What are you looking for?” We mentioned a boat to an island and he said, “My brother have boat – take you wherever you want.” After some negotiations we climbed in and jetted off to the harbor. Along the way we passed this island that had carved into the mountains Vin Pearl. We found out this is a five star resort – Ukranian businesspeople purchased the enire island to develop this resort which starts at $200.00 and up (As most of our accommodations were deluxe and about $50.00 or so per night one can only imagine). This resort has a shopping complex, amusement park, 2 ferries to transport guests and even a cable crossing over the Sea!

We boarded our ‘tourist boat’ which looked like it could easily take 20 folks (and we were only ones)  they even had snorkel masks aboard. We asked for a non-touristy island yet most importantly with the best coral and fish AND a restaurant for lunch. Our boat brought us to a rocky pebble beach with small slats of sand – local people sprawled out on picnic tables, hammocks with coverings with piles of food in front of everyone and lots of beer – folks laughing, playing games, and children running around, People sit in circular rows around a “hot pot” with a woman stirring it and serving up the food (whenever plates become empty).

We first went to snorkel and my mask did not fit! After many failed attempts, I wandered around the island until I found a mask for purchase – I only had one choice and thought it would fit (NOT)!! When I returned with the mask I found Jim already toweling off – he only saw 2 fish and a lot more floating trash! We then decided we’d walk the island – well that took all of five minutes. Then we said, OK Let’s have Lunch.  We went to counters and asked for menus and we had blank expressions from all of the folks. Turns out this is a place where everyone brings their food. Our boat wasn’t returning until 4:PM to pick us up! We convinced one woman to slice up watermelon for us (and we paid her)…and along with some beer and water (which we could purchase) this was our lunch. The bathrooms at this place were of course of the sit and squat variety (though this one required holding the nose at the same time)…..so altogether our patience and flexibility were quite tested on this day – we’d almost given it up until we spied a trail behind the bathrooms – we’re always ready to find out where any trail leads. This trail took us over a hill and through a very colorful and ornate graveyard. Each grave like a small house and painted a different bright color. We reached a ledge and discovered another village (we later found out that we would have found our lunch at restaurants there – well how were we to know no one told us)! And by this time we had to turn around so as not to miss our boat! Since we hadn’t paid our boat guide yet the boat was certain to arrive for us! Very glad to sail away – it was a beautiful place though – stunning scenery and what an interesting experience. They had taken us to a non-touristy place per our request (sometimes we guess the tourist places aren’t so bad---at least one can get fed). And maybe find a snorkel mask that fits.

We ended our day with yet another adventure – while out walking on the sidewalk near the Sea – we crossed a huge bridge and came in full view of some distant ruins. We’d secretly hoped we’d have time to see the Cham Towers (ruins) and there they were so we scurried toward them. Along the way we watched people eating outside on the sidewalks on small red and blue plastic tables (like Kindergarteners would use). Several glass cases with pots of raw squid, octopus, crabs, lobsters, and fish with head/eyes intact – were all lined up along our path. We arrived at the Cham Tower 15 minutes before closing. We went into the Hindu Temple to see Siva (Shiva) – several statues so ornate with angelic eyes – just looking at theme I felt my body tenseness vanish. A peaceful composure overtook me. Local people came in and prayed, bowed head a few times and held hands up in prayer while holding burning incense. These towers originated in the 7^th-12^th Centuries – Hinduism from India influence. We stayed well into dusk and while walking back saw some kids playing in a large dragon costume; passed a fishing village with dilapidated wood piles like shacks with open walls, dirty kids and dogs running around in front and piles of garbage along the banks with a large rat scouring through it. Sad to observe how some of the villagers live (if one can even call this a life. Oh how blessed and fortunate we are).