Day 81 - Chan May, Vietnam

Day 81 – Tuesday 1^st April 2014 – Chan May, Vietnam

The gym is very quiet this morning, as I try to ease myself back in, but found it very hard, the bug must still be there.

Today is April’s Fools Day and in the ship’s daily programme which you receive the night before was the flowing advert.  “As today is a special day for Trixie, our ship’s cat and lucky mascot, we would like to ask you to help her celebrate her birthday.  Her favourite treat is chocolate. We therefore kindly ask for any donations of chocolate, including the pillow chocolates, to be placed in the box provided in the Grand Lobby.  Thank you your kindness and generosity.”

On the night, we heard of lots of ladies who had collected up all of their chocolates, bagged them, and deposited them at the purser’s office.  Only to see, the following day in the next daily programme.   A picture of a cat, dressed in a sailor’s suit. “We would like to thank those of you who kindly donated chocolate to Trick-sie, our ship’s cat.  It was the PURRRfect April Fool!”

Chan May Berth

We arrived late at the commercial port of Chan May, which is half way down the Vietnamese coast, due to the mist/fog during the night.

We had lunch in the restaurant before boarding the shuttle bus to a beach resort hotel.

During the twenty minute ride, we passed through clearings with paddy fields while the surrounding hills were covered with impregnable undergrowth, giving you a little insight into to what it may have been like, fighting in this terrain during the long war.

    

The weather was still hot and humid with poor visibility, although the beach at the hotel resort was very clean, the sea did not look inviting.

We found the garden bar and were quite happy with our drinks while logged into the internet.

Resort Pool

  

Resort Bungalow

We stayed here for three hours before boarding the shuttle bus back, outside of the resort we passed other bar/restaurants, so obviously there was plenty of night life, but it was not my idyllic spot for a holiday.

Back at the quayside another market had sprung up, so I was happy in here, haggling away until they had extracted my last half million dongs.

We sailed at 19.30 with a cocktail to celebrate, Chan May Mule, spiced bacardi rum, angostura bitters, ginger beer and sugar syrup.

After dinner, early to bed as we left Vietnamese water.

I was impressed by the spirit of the Vietnamese, considering what they had been through; they are very friendly and laugh a lot, which appeals to me.  You can see they are trying to improve, and although it will take a long time, I am sure they will get there.