Vietnam

We reached Nha Trang via some of the most unbelievable and spectacular roads and views and scenery imaginable. I will make a post just about the ride later.

We reached the Nha Trang train station and here we parted ways from Blake. In true style he is soloing it against us and the train. This will give. Kim, Mitch and I two – three days in the perfectness that is Hoi An. Already Mitch doesn’t want to leave and we are already discussing the different options available to us:
– jet skiing
– cookery courses
– full body treatments, spas, saunas and massages
– diving lessons, accreditation and trips
– POOL BAR!

The list is endless!!!

The trip here however was painful. The train sleepers were all full. A large group of foreigners had beaten us to booking and we could only secure soft seats on the train.

There are four classes of travel on a Vietnamese train:
Hard seat – 90 degree wooden slats, no air con, caged windows with metal shutters and many many people crammed in. I have done this before and it is a real mental battle!
Soft seat – reclined semi comfy chairs. Aircon. Smells.
Hard sleeper – 6 bunks, limited Aircon limited room. The peoples choice on the reunification express.
Soft sleeper – the ultimate and only way to travel overnight via train. 4 bunks, Aircon, comfy bunks room.

We travelled soft seat (my first time – as I have travelled all others before). We were at the back of the carriage next to the door which was used continuously allowing the briefest most ungodly smells to creep in and assault our nostrils at every loud opening. Food carts and annoying locals who just like to walk the train kept this door in operation much to the dismay of Kim. After switching seats with her the door became my mortal enemy. In Vietnam xx- large as a size does not exist in any form. So the seats are small and close together. It’s not so much sitting next to Kim as it is sitting entwined with Kim. And on my other side with my new close friend the door. Every food cart that trundled down the isle inevitably smashed into my shoulder and arm while trying to navigate the tiny door. It was a long night…

6:00am glared into the train and brought perhaps the single greatest annoyance in the history of mankind – the spoilt child. This one child needed a hiding like the deserts need the rain. The little shit would not stop running up and down the isle screaming and carrying on. What could be worse? Well simply his entire extended family being in the carriage sporadically placed in strategic locations that allow for the maximum amount of carriage cover by this little spawn of satan. He just ran around from family member to family member trashing and teasing and screaming and starting fights.

The child drew the deadliest looks from me and Mitch and never quite understood just how close he came to being booted off a moving train…

Perseverance is key, and finally at about 8:30am Da Nang train station arrived we packed up the bikes and we headed to the fabled city of Hoi An.