vietnam.

so after checking out some local markets and getting our fill of cheap clothing, (or at least our backpacks' fill..) taking a cyclo-tour, (a non-profit organization which provides jobs for men who would otherwise be living on the streets) and a night out for supper and dancing with eileen davidson and kim foster, we said goodbye to phnom penh..

from there we crossed the border into vietnam and got into ho chi minh city (previously known as saigon). checking it out in the afternoon we realised it was quite like any big city, expensive accomodations (more than $2 a night..) and full of cute stores that inevitably mean spending money we don't have.. so after buying an open-ended bus ticket up the coast, we decided to enjoy the evening and continue on in the morning. in order to do so, we felt a spa would be most appropriate. (we had a tough day.. the bus trip was agonizing on our delicate bodies..) much to our surprise, on arrival we found a naked asian man in the jacuzzi.. and another in the steam room.. (quite the asian experience..) with a deal like that, we should only have assumed it was co-ed! for $10 including tip, we indulged in the jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, 1 hour body massage, and a 1/2 hour foot massage.. not too shabby.

heading the next morning, we reached mui ne. we found a very cute hostel right on the coast, accented with palm trees and a pool.. to our disappointment, the beach was covered in broken shells and the water was littered.. we copped out and went for the pool. at 7:30 the next morning we got our own motos and drivers to take us out to the sand dunes.. the white sand dunes were the most beautiful.. we pulled up right besides a lake filled with huge pink lilly flowers and pads, reflecting the desert landscape behind. i couldn't believe how hot the sand was at just 8 o'clock.. we walked about 15 minutes into and up the sand dunes, and then.. we crazy-carpeted down! yeah, we did.. :) on the way back we visited the red sand dunes then lounged poolside before zipping off again on our sleeper bus, only to settle in nha trang!

so here we are. another day, another beach..