Started the day with our breakfast that we ordered last night. Pho for me again, but1/2 the meat and extra sprouts and greens. For Andre Bun Cha which he loved, order will be the same tomorrow.
Today's adventure starts with a short walk, then our first grab to take us to Thap Ba mud bath. Short walk was to avoid bike guy from yesterday. A fun ride to the mud bath, through little village that tourists will not be staying.
Andres first experience at a 'spa', my second, first when I drew short straw and had to accompany my sister on her birthday.
Hotel gave us a voucher that got us in for 30K, where in the world could you do this for $18.00 per person, except here.
First step is shower and get into this tub built for 2 that is filling up with mud. It was not as thick as I imagined, but still muddy. We stayed in this mud bath for about 30 minutes.
Next to lounge chairs to let the mud dry. We got a little impatient with this step and only lasted about 15 minutes.
Next to shower off mud as best as you can then go through what I would call a pressure washer. I think it is meant to exfoliate, it hurt! One pass through the pressure washer was enough for me.
Next was 5 minutes in a jacuzzi jet tub, followed by two person mineral hot tub for 20 minutes.
That is the end of the mud bath portion, you then have use of the grounds and pools for as long as you want for the day.
Very weird when we went to the pool, there had to be 100 empty chairs set out and a Russian couple sat in the 2 chairs beside us, it was just strange, we were the only 2 people at this particular pool.
We stayed for about an hour using the pools then time for 2nd grab of the day. Off to visit Cham Tower/Pomagar temple. This us just a quick 30 minute visit. Did get caught again today by a 'teacher' that wanted us to fill out a tourist survey. That done and then he pulls out a card explaing he works for Red Cross and is selling toothpicks to help the blind people. I was all worried about filling out his form correctly, now I know why he didn't care how it was filled out. He was so nice until we got up and left.
From Pomagar tower it was lunch time, decided it was time to have some seafood since we are in a seaside city. We were going to walk to the shore but grab guy told us for 50k dong he would take us to a local seafood place with a nice view, not a tourist place so not expensive.
Seafood place means you look in the tanks and pick what you want them to cook for you. I left Andre in charge of picking while I rested at the table. Andre picked a fish and 1/2 kg of shrimp things. We ordered some noodles with vegetables to go with it. Meal looks amazing when it arrives. Andre says the shrimp things were trying to jump out of the basket when they were being weighed, so fresh. Cooked shrimp things arrive at our table, girl also arrives with gloves on and Scissors and proceeds to open them us for us. So yummy.
Fish dish had some squid, little shrimp and noodles with the fish. The fish was kind of clear and crunchy. I wasn't sure what it was. Google translate and it turns out Andre ordered jellyfish. He picked it from the tub and was sure it was fish. Neither of us enjoyed the jellyfish, we don't like to see them in the ocean when we are swimming and now we know we don't like to eat them either.
Lunch done, yes we were the only English speakers again. Time for our 3rd grab of the day off to see big Budda. About 150 steps up, just finished big lunch, and it is now 1pm and hot.
Andre wants to visit a photography studio that he had read about somewhere. Only 1km walk from big Budda, if you start going in the right direction. About 30 minutes later we arrive at the studio, what a great stop. This photographer only shoots in black and white with a rolei camera and film. His dark room was in the back of the studio. We were fortunate he was developing while we were there and he gave us a tour of his dark room. The photographers name is Thanh Long, well worth a visit, you may need to ring his doorbell.
Enough walking, grab #4 to the dive shop around the corner from our hotel to try to confirm our pickup for tomorrow. That was not a success, back to the hotel to use a phone.
Good thing with Andres Viettel Sim is free calling in Vietnam. Got our pickup confirmed for tomorrow at 9am.
For later, need to sort out 3 emails received today from Vietnam Air with flight changes. Hope this doesn't mess up our next Visas.
Beach time, need to get the rest of the mud out of my Bathing suit.
Finally got in the water at the beach here. It is calm in the mornings, but winder and fun small waves to play in the afternoon. Lots of families out having a great time.
Todays Pictures:
Breakfast
Panorama hotel, pool is on the 46th floor and you see through to the bottom, $6.00 if you want to use the pool
Jacuzzi tub
Mineral water soak
Pools at the spa
Cham Towers/Ponagar Temple
Seafood lunch
Long Sun Pagoda
Mr. Long Thanh Dark Room
Tough walking on some of the sidewalks
lunch looks good but not sure about the jelly fish Rollande
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