Nha Trang - Photographs Part 2

I don't know if you can see so well in this photograph, but shortly after we had got into a taxi on our return from Vinpearl it began to rain. And then it rained and rained some more. By the time we got back to our hotel it was pouring. We stood underneath a canopy outside a clothing shop waiting for a break so we could make the dash down the alley to our front door. After 10 minutes and no sign of clearing we made a run for it, finding ourselves ankle deep in water. We didn't stay in our room for long as we were starving, so headed next door for Pho. From the balcony above we took this photo. By the time we'd finshed dinner, the rain had stopped too and the water quickly subsided.




On a whim one afternoon we hired a couple of bicycles and set off around the city. First stop was the bank. And then onto Long Thanh Gallery, Long Son Pagoda and the Giant Buddha. Now one may be thinking, push bikes..... easy!!! Well you couldn't be more wrong. My heart was in my throat the entire time as we ducked and weaved our way through the traffic. It seemed like every round about we went through had about six exits, and as you probably know Vietnam isn't know for it's road rules. I felt like a little fish lost amongst a sea of much larger ones.



Our first stop after the bank was Long Thanh Gallery. We didn't take any pictures when we where there... well, cause we couldn't. But you can check out some of his work here.



Next we headed for the Long Son Pagoda and the Giant Buddha. When we arrived we were immediately spoken to by an "official of the pagoda" that told us we had to buy postcards in lieu of an admission fee. I knew it was a ploy to get money from us as I had read about it in the Lonely Planet. I was really firm and just explained that I knew that it was free to go inside and that I would not be giving any money to her for postcards. It was really tricky cause there were so many of them and they'd organised themselves into some official looking uniform so they looked important. We were actually concerned that they were going to vandalise our bikes while we were up there so we told a guy that we would give him some cash if he made sure they were there when we got back.




View from the top overlooking the city of Nha Trang.




The Giant Buddha




Surrounding the base of the Buddha were around half a dozen kids burning playing cards.



A bit shaky, but I like the effect.



The day we left we headed back to the beach. We didn't do as much swimming this day because someone had allowed what looked like a rubbish bin enter the water. Basically you were swimming amongst food scraps, packaging and various other items of rubbish.




My gorgeous Andy looking slightly *cough* sunburned.