Sunday 08 November 2015

Vietnam second week……..It’s the last full day in Nha Trang and I should be doing absolutely nothing. Overnight it must have rained a lot as the side street nearby is flooded. After breakfast I head out again taking bus 04 into the centre of Nha Trang. This time I over compensate and end up short of my target. There are a couple of locations that interest me but it’s another foot slog to reach the main roundabout in the city centre perhaps a replica of the roundabout at the Arc de Triomph.
Nha Trang Cathedral ……..Nha Trang Cathedral is located at the junction with Thai Nguyen a few minutes away from the train station.The cathedral showing the influence of French Catholicism is free and a quick sight to see. The Nha Trang area still has a strong Catholic population. As with Dalat Cathedral, I am pleased to report there is no apparent suppression of religion. The cathedral is in regular use for mass.

Nha Trang Railway Station……..At Nha Trang Railway Station I find a way onto the platform, so surprised to see it deserted but there is a busy train schedule. It appears that passengers are requested to remain in the waiting room. I don’t know what I expected to see but it looks like I have work to do to review the station. There’s nothing to see so I head back to the roundabout.

Sore feet……..next I spend nearly an hour footslogging about the town but it’s hot and I’m wasting time when I could be sitting on the beach. By the time I find the only shopping mall, or so it seems, it’s well into the afternoon. I take lunch in the food court and head off again, now along the seafront. No buses run along here so if I want a quick return it’s the taxi again but I walk over the river bridge and pick up the bus from there. It’s a great relief to be back in the room for a nap.

For evening I go out foraging again to find food. It’s really a struggle when you’re 5 km from anywhere that you feel comfortable with. We both struggle with local food and the language. It’s a lot to get used to and I don’t have the time. Tomorrow I will be away from here and those first impressions I had when I arrived disappeared long ago. I just don’t know why I feel uncomfortable here. At reception they try to help but apart from arranging the ticket to Ho Chi Minh City tomorrow their input has been quite ineffective. It’s time to give my feet a rest and also my eardrums from the constant throbbing of music playing in the restaurants from 8-10pm every night. Next Page.