We ll I`m happy to say that Steve made it to level 3 and has been up and riding . Being a spectator is almost as rewarding. He ripped yet another kite , lost a helmet and a safety line during the process, but it's been worth it.
It's our last day here so we're hoping the winds are strong enough and the kite repair is done so he can get another day of riding in.
Another bank run and were well received in spite of the last time we were there. They quickly took our mastercard and passport and still gave us a big smile. After an hour and a half the process was complete. I think that it was their way of getting back at us for the last go around. It usually takes under an hour. Go figure?
Paid up our bills for kite repairs,rentals, replacements, bus trip, visa extentions and flights. Tonight at 1:30 am we bus to Siagon (Ho Chi Minh City) . We'll arrive around 7am and then catch our flight to Phu Quoc Island at 10:30am. It is one of the largest island in Vietnam with most pristine beaches and we are told it is not as touristy. The travel guide says that this island is to
expand like Phuket, Thailand in years to come. We are excited to get to it before over development. We see major infrastructure started in this area with roads , large boardwalks, street lights, greenery, and only a few hotels with complexes, along miles and miles of these empty new roads. Big things are planned for sure. The one thing we will say is they need a little insight on tourism and how a smile will go a long way. That is one thing that bugs me and I feel is missing! Thailand has got that nailed. I guess thats why they call it the land of smiles. Here it is only done a fraction of the time, by a small amount of people.
We see lots of interesting sights. The fish net ladies, they are repairing and not wearing them. Back home we have water delivery, here it's rice. Everything from bags of sand, trees, birds in cages and pigs are shuttled around via moped. They pack and stack steel tubing and any other construction materials that back at home we'd need a pickup truck and here they get it all on their bikes! It's amazing what they can put on their mopeds.Steve says no wonder with all their determination and strength, that they won the war. Subtle and strong minded.
The dogs in Asia love to ride with their masters. What a sight! They look as comfortable riding as the small children they are raised on their mopeds.We question the licensing process as the drivers here are absolutley terrible, they pull out with out looking, pass and then come to a complete stop, u-turn without shoulder checks and all they seem to be taught is to us their f-ing horn. It's not road rage, they are just announcing they are there. As to what they are going to do next, one can never tell? We have had a few close calls. Thanks to Steve`s defensive driving we are safe .At home we tease him and call him grandpa driver, but here I am so grateful for his choices. We are surprised that we have only seen one accident so far. It unfortunately involved a tourist and a local. Wonder whos fault it was?? Always the tourist.
We love the back up warning on the taxis, rather than a horn or beeping it plays the happy birthday or a wake up song. We notice that at most hotels and restaurants there's a shower set up for the staff. They work extremley long hours and some sleep at their work places on a simple mat. We notice a lot of head checks and nit picking, looking for lice. Speaking of hair I had another fine experience at the beauty salon. First I walked by a few times and asked directions, no wonder, as the salon is also a motorbike rental shop and tour guide operater. The girl at the front desk was happy to quote me 10 bucks for a color, asked me to pick it out, and then called the stylist to say she had a customer. She applied the color in a somewhat similar application that we use at home, only with huge two inch sections then combed it flat to my head, wrapped a towel around my hairline and placed me under a hot steamer for about 20 minutes. I was cooked, perspiration was literally pouring into the towel that had become my sweat band. She then washed off the colour with cool refreshing water and gave me a full face wash and scrub. I kept my mouth and eyes tightly closed, she would rub and scrub and after she did a few scalp manipulations along with some face tapping with full on ear probing, or should I say pumping, this was a first. The treatment and color results were fine and I felt refreshed. Plus we notice the national shoe must be the flip flop. What a great fashion statement! Used at work, rest, and play.
Well last day in Mui Ne, gotta love it anyway!!!
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