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January 27, 2005
Got a mail from Beth !
Hi claire,
i hope your travels are going smoothly and your still enjoying the pace. Just to say..it was a real delight meeting you ..what a great start! heres a little update till now...
After leaving Saigon i headed to La Dat..in the mountains, along twisted steep roads that climb high with the promise of excursions to lakes, waterfalls and remote villages. It was lovely..my hostel looked out onto the back of a favela where the kids stood waving every afternoon. I met an English guy (Paul) and we decided to take a ride with motorbikes but as passengers. We passed small settlements where the locals were involned in either coffee plantation, silk production, mushroom drying (and selling) or basket/blind weaving.We did indeed see a waterfall (also called after elephants) and after a scrumptious lunch with tofu, freah greens, bbq pork, rice and rice wine (the locals tipple) we visited a tribes village. The children were extremely inquisitive and quite bewildered by this ever so tall (compared to the vietnamese women who average under 5 foot) white girl. They love candy so Paul got some and i handed them out..so adorable. .
Now im in Nha trang, a beach town that im really basking in...too much actually as my hands appear to be severly burnt. Strange but true. there are many tourists here..diving is popular as its cheap and thailand has lost a little trade as you can imagine (and those still teaching are expensive). Im having a lot of nice times here. Yesterday i spent all day on the beach reading..not so productive but welcomed with no effort to fight relaxation. In the evening i walked all over the streets..too much but i found a sweet woman selling water who was delighted by my arrival in her shop..to the extent that she offered to take me to a vietnamese lunch today.
I am getting up early as im not sleeping very soundly for several reasons (light coming through to stir me, men busling outside, the feeling that at 3, 4 or 6 i should be awake for something?).
Set out today on a sweet bicycle (with a basket) to see the huge white buddha that sits high above a pagoda. I thought it would be peaceful and i could also sit and meditater my thoughts but there were too many children trying to sell postcards. On the way back down though i noticed another buddha laying with a sculpted scene behind him. i sat and decided to draw ..really great. Two monks from the pagoda below saw me and came to see what i was up to. looking on in some sort of awe..soon another came who spoke better English and seeming pleased with our conversation asked me to return tomorrow.
i rode out of town to an old Indian resembling temple dated 7th-8th century..the view was clean and fresh angled at the river encircling Nha Trang. Later i retuned to my beach spot to swim and blush my skin with colour.
Its so amazing to be on the road again..my heart jumps sometimes as i remind myself where i am..its so beneficial for the mind and soul...happy feet.
Well i have to fly, my hostel closes the gates very soon (may have even missed the closing time) and last night i had to climb the fence. Dont have much luck in that respect.
Let me know whats didlin where ever you are...keep your feet happy
Bethan
Posted by claire at January 27, 2005 03:10 PM