{"id":1359,"date":"2012-12-06T08:26:07","date_gmt":"2012-12-06T08:26:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/?p=1359"},"modified":"2025-11-23T07:17:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T07:17:05","slug":"five-nights-in-the-same-bed-wow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/2012\/12\/06\/five-nights-in-the-same-bed-wow\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Nights In The Same Bed\u2026\u2026..Wow!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mui Ne Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Mui Ne, our first big buffet breakfast was followed by hours spent by the pool reading, dozing and then eating fresh spring rolls (the non-fried ones) for our lunch.\u00a0 Having spent most of the day being thoroughly lazy, we decided to make ourselves go for a long walk, so we got a taxi along the main road towards the fishing village and then, when we thought he had gone far enough, we asked him to drop us off.\u00a0 The poor driver seemed a bit confused as he couldn\u2019t work out where we wanted to go and I think he was a little worried that we didn\u2019t know where we wanted to go.\u00a0 We hadn\u2019t really noticed anything outstanding along the way; it was just kilometre after kilometre of hotels, shops, bars and restaurants, so we just wandered back and at 7pm chose the nearest restaurant to eat dinner.\u00a0 Back at the hotel, we thought we would go up to the roof to check out the bar, but it was closed, there were just a Swedish couple and a Swiss girl sitting on the loungers with their own bottle of wine.\u00a0 We stopped for a quick chat and then wandered downstairs for a second night in the same bed.<\/p>\n

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Piglet On The Roof Of Our Hotel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

On Sunday morning, we were hard at work on the sun beds, this time on the beach. We watched the kite surfers and the ladies in their non la (conical hats), peddling t-shirts, or fruit, or coconut drinks along the beach. Round fishing boats passed us slowly and when we went\u00a0 for a swim, the sea was rough but with no rip and it was the perfect temperature \u2013 warm, but not so warm that it felt like someone else\u2019s bath water.\u00a0 One man passed us on the beach dragging his bicycle, complete with sweetcorn cooker, through the deep soft sand; which looked like an impossible task.\u00a0 I decided a stick of corn-on-the-cob would be the perfect lunch for us, especially after another buffet breakfast and very little exercise.\u00a0 When I reached him, I noticed he was accompanied by a cute little old man of a monkey who was playing with the pedals on the bicycle.\u00a0 When the daily afternoon breezes got too strong and I realised I was getting a bit sunburnt, we went up to our room for showers.\u00a0 Then while Rodney went to change some money and book a tour and return bus to Saigon, I went down to the spa for a pedicure and another massage\u2026.mmmm, wonderful.\u00a0 We finished the day with an Indian meal and another shorter stroll when the sun had gone down.<\/p>\n

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Sunset From Our Hotel Room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

We got up early on Monday and meandered along the beach to the headland before breakfast.\u00a0 Later while reading by the pool, the normally cheery pool-boy looked anxious.\u00a0 The gardeners had managed to cover the water with a dusty layer of gardening detritus; it didn\u2019t look quite as inviting now.\u00a0 There were a few shouts between the man with the strimmer and the lady sweeping, but still more dust and clippings spread over the surface of the pool.\u00a0 There were a lot of long looks and furrowed brows, but not a lot of action.\u00a0 Finally, the security guard came up with a net and all four people, plus us, watched as he proceeded to skim the surface.\u00a0 What seems surprising to me is that this must happen fairly regularly and yet everyone involved looked vaguely clueless.<\/p>\n

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Fruit Seller On The Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

After showers and then searching out the monkey and corn seller to buy today\u2019s lunch, we headed out on the day\u2019s adventure.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t exactly anticipating this trip with a hey nonny nonny and a skip around the maypole, but reading the reports on Trip Advisor at least had us forewarned and forearmed for the adventure. The jeep was rough and ready, with not a few wires hanging out under the dashboard; I didn\u2019t even bother looking for seat belts!!!<\/p>\n

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I’m Still Trying To Decide How We Ever Agreed To Get In This Jeep….?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

We bounced north along the main road and abruptly pulled up outside a caf\u00e9 full of jeep drivers.\u00a0 We were pointed up a lane which we duly followed, past incredibly smelly fermenting pots of fish sauce and came to a brick red, muddy stream \u2013 Suoi Tien or Fairy Spring. Ignoring the local kids cries of \u201cleave shoes here, only 5,000 dong\u201d, we carried our flip flops upstream to a small waterfall (your shoes can apparently disappear along with your 5,000 dong).\u00a0 There were palm trees and tropical vegetation one side, in complete contrast to the other side where there were big sand dunes and eroded pinnacles in red and beige sand.\u00a0 It was hot and the breeze blew the loose sand all over you, but our feet were very comfortable in the water.<\/p>\n

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Suoi Tien<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our next jeep stop was by the side of the road as we were approaching the fishing village of Mui Ne.\u00a0 We were amazed at the enormous number of fishing boats almost filling the sheltered bay.\u00a0 There were large boats, smaller wooden boats and little round boats that looked a bit like an Irish coracle, some of which were made of plastic and others that were made of some type of wicker.\u00a0 It must be amazing to see them all returning early in the morning and unloading their catches for the market.<\/p>\n

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Fishing Boats At Mui Ne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

We then bounded along in the jeep with sunglasses on and hats jammed on our heads.\u00a0 After about 25kms we could see the White Dunes.\u00a0 They\u2019re not quite white, but they\u2019re dazzling in the heat of the afternoon.\u00a0 Ignoring the local kids cries of \u201cyou rent quad bikes?\u201d, we walked up to the top of one of the enormous dunes.\u00a0 It is quite remarkable scenery only spoilt by the constant whining of the quad bikes crawling all over the huge mounds of sand.<\/p>\n

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First View Of The White Dunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The White Dunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The White Dunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The White Dunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The jeep then took us back towards Mui Ne passing farmers in carts drawn by heavy looking oxen and also past fields full of a yam like plant which was being put through a shredder and then spread on huge plastic sheets to dry.\u00a0 The female workers walked, or should I say, shuffled through the layers turning them over with their bare feet.\u00a0 We couldn\u2019t understand the name of the vegetable that the guide gave us, but whatever it is, the thought of all those feet trampling it, rather put me off\u2026!<\/p>\n

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A Vietnamese Farmer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our final stop for the day included a cold can of Liptons iced tea\u2026.aaah, and then another walk up a sand dune, a yellow one this time.\u00a0 Ignoring the local kids cries of \u201cyou rent plastic mat?\u201d, I really couldn\u2019t face sliding down a sand dune on a sliver of plastic; there was already more than enough sand in every orifice and crack in my body.\u00a0 By the end of the day\u2019s trip I remarked that I felt rather like a cement wall, truly sandblasted.\u00a0 Despite two showers, I was still finding traces of sand behind my ears the next day.\u00a0 Anyway, back to the yellow sand dunes.\u00a0 We walked to the top of one that was a little away from the crowds and watched the sun turning red as it moved slowly down to set.\u00a0 And as it did, the dunes around us turned orange and our fellow sunset spotters turned to black silhouettes.\u00a0 It was beautiful.<\/p>\n

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Sunset On The Yellow Dunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Sunset On The Yellow Dunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

When we got back to our hotel, it really was a treat to walk in to our huge shower and soak our sweaty sandy bodies before dinner and another good night\u2019s sleep.<\/p>\n

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No Comment<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

By the pool the next morning, Rodney finished his book and the only other one available, or not available, was mine, which I was still reading!\u00a0 Every time I started to read, I would fall asleep, which is somewhat annoying as “The Shipping Forecast” really is a brilliant book, I\u2019d laugh out loud and have to share bits with Rodney, which was annoying him as he just wanted to read it for himself.\u00a0 I promised I would try and finish it that day, but I had a feeling that unconsciously I didn\u2019t want it to end\u2026.?<\/p>\n

Having loved the buttery, salty corn on the cob for lunch on the last two days, and knowing we wouldn\u2019t be able to have it again after we left Mui Ne, we decided to have it again for the third day in a row.\u00a0 While the man prepared two sticks for us, he gave us each a handful of loose corn kernels and pointed to his monkey.\u00a0 As I put my hand forward the monkey held my little finger with one tiny paw and then he would pick up the kernels with the other paw.\u00a0 Interestingly fussy, he would suck the soft centre from the kernel and drop the outer layer on the sand.\u00a0 Even more interesting to me is that I can still feel his tiny fingers holding the little finger of my right hand.<\/p>\n

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The Corn On The Cob Seller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

After refreshing showers, we ambled down to the bank and it has to be the first bank I have ever been in, where a pot of tea and teacups are set out for customers on a coffee table, or should that be a tea table?\u00a0 We didn\u2019t partake, we only needed to do a quick cash exchange.\u00a0 We then strolled over to The Forest Spa and had another very good massage, by now my fourth in only ten days; my body was now feeling so loose that I thought I might turn to jelly.\u00a0 The spa was a beautiful place made of wood with open sides and so relaxing.\u00a0 Apart that is, from the noise of a pig, somewhere out the back, that sounded like it was giving birth…\u2026about sixteen times !!!\u00a0 On the way back to the hotel we stocked up on more non-healthy snack food for the six-hour bus ride back to Saigon the next day.\u00a0 Then after our third cool shower of the day, we popped over the road for a local meal at \u2019The Sunny Restaurant\u2019.\u00a0 In the morning, with the thought of the bumpy six-hour bus trip ahead of us, we decided to get up at 6am and walk along the beach for the last time.\u00a0 It\u2019s amazing how much calmer the sea is in the morning and the lack of blustery winds made it a lovely calming stroll.<\/p>\n

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Early Morning On Mui Ne Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hate to appear racist, but the one thing we won\u2019t miss about Mui Ne is the Russians.\u00a0 There were so many grossly overweight and dour Russians holidaying there, it was quite a shock and certainly something we had not expected at all.\u00a0 Apparently it is a very popular place for them to take their holidays.\u00a0 There was never a cheery hello or a smile in the lift, in the breakfast room, by the pool and not even amongst themselves.\u00a0 I watched horrified as one woman shouted at a waiter in one of the restaurants.\u00a0 They seemed to be the most seriously miserable race of \u2018holiday makers\u2019 we have ever come across.\u00a0 What can they be like when they\u2019re at work?!!!<\/p>\n

The bus picked us up at 8:45am and we managed to get the last two seats on the non-sunny side.\u00a0 We passed endless fields of dragon fruit, an amazing looking fruit with a gorgeous pink hue, but the bush looks more like a cactus having a very bad hair day.\u00a0 Two stops and another lunatic driver who again managed to slickly avoid any bumper car shenanigans, and we somehow arrived safely back in Saigon.<\/p>\n

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Dragon Fruit Plantation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

We dumped our bags in Rick\u2019s office and strolled around town a little to stretch our legs, before taking a taxi back to the Craik\u2019s home for the last time.\u00a0 Our most enormous thanks are sent to Rick, Lan, Carmen and Miss Chin for making our stay with them so wonderful; their generosity and kindness has been huge.<\/p>\n

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Rick and Carmen – Off To School<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  In Mui Ne, our first big buffet breakfast was followed by hours spent by the pool reading, dozing and then eating fresh spring rolls (the non-fried ones) for our lunch.\u00a0 Having spent most of the day being thoroughly lazy, we decided to make ourselves go for a long walk, so we got a taxi […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1377,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1359"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1359\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8204,"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1359\/revisions\/8204"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petersphotogallery.com\/rodneyandlaura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}