Farewell to Vietnam...

Before getting started on today, I forgot something from yesterday--the Vietnamese Water Puppets. So, you get a shallow swimming pool--maybe 2 feet, and you curtain off the back half and fill it with opaque water. Then, you get a bunch of fantastic puppets out front acting out stories--fire breathing and water spouting dragons, phoenixes, people, fish, leopards--and 5 live musicians providing music on traditional instruments and singing out the stories. It was just amazing!!!

Nha Trang today--and what a great day it was. Sunny, hot and humid, of course, but calm and except for the tender rides in and out, we were a lot closer to things today. Its a seaside community, with islands and mountains inland just a bit--and absolutely green and gorgeous. We were a Cruise Critic group of 12 on a private tour with a guide, driver and almost air conditioned van.

First stop was the Oceanographic Museum, which had a lot of live sea creatures and a special exhibit on Antarctica (!?!). Well done--who knew that Nemo had some black and white cousins? Then, to an embroidery place. That description doesn't do it justice--live music, people doing the work, and many examples. We bought one small piece for home, so you will be able to see the workmanship. Amazing, done by hand. Another stop was at a Buddist orphanage/children's home, where we saw the little kids eating. Another stop at a Vietnamese house that was old style--wonderful woodword--and we had some fruit there. Then, off to the river where we boarded a boat for a trip downriver.

We stopped for lunch at a riverbank shelter and had traditional Vietnamese foods, and beer. We were all wilting badly at that point so it was a good opportunity to get some energy back. Further on down river to a place with crocodiles and coconuts--we had some milk right out of a freshly chopped coconut--and an eel farm on the river just beside where we docked. Some more river time--it is interesting to see the land from the river. Just about at the mouth of the river we docked and climbed up the hill to a 1000 year old temple that was a Vietnamese-Hindu mix.

Then we shopped at the city market--the place where the Vietnamese shop. What a neat experience. Laurel's prize purchase was, well, we're going to make you wait, because words fail to describe it--but she will wear it on her head while riding, although maybe only once because it would be illegal anywhere in North America...if not any place other than Vietnam! Then, the best stop of the day--at the beach. Beautiful, gorgeous, wide, sandy beach with the warm South China Sea lapping against it. Laurel went for an impromptu swim--in her clothes!!--because it was so hot.

We're underway now--a sea day, then 2 days in Hong Kong. Bye for now!