Amanda had said to call for her this morning so we could do a bit of shopping together. I awoke quite early but as it was her day off, I decided she possibly wouldn't appreciate a 7am call. To allow her a lie in, I picked up my book to read in the morning sun that was shining into my room and onto the blue tiled balcony.
At 10am I walked around to the house, only to find silence and locked doors. I called, knocked a few times and deciding if she could sleep through all that she must need the rest, I left! I returned to the apartment, threw a few things into my bag and headed to the beach.
The sea and breeze were wonderful. A bit of sun, a bit of sea, a touch more sun before another soak in the warm rolling swells. The sun is directly overhead by 11am and stays there until well after 2.30pm. A walking tan is not an option in this country, as the only bit that catches the sun is the top of your head, shoulders and feet! Getting my sides brown involved lying in the recovery position with the side for browning pointing up towards the sun. The things I will do for a tan!
Having burnt so easily already, I kept a careful eye on my skin. By 1pm it was time to walk away and find some shade. I still hadn't had a chance to talk to Kris about bringing the dates of my Open Water course forward. Tomorrow was his day off, if I could start on the Sunday I would be finished by the Tuesday. I also needed to book a flight for Friday from Saigon to Bangkok. This would mean leaving Nha Trang on the Thursday night bus. Time was passing much too quickly.
Back on my balcony, I picked up the Open Water Manual I had brought with me and began to read. The afternoon passed in a calm haze of Orange Fanta, Peanut Crackle and dive information. With chapter 1, 2,and 3 safely stored in my memory, I showered. Kris had text to say they were all just watching TV at the house and to come around when ever I wanted. Clean and refreshed I wandered around.
They had set up a large fan in the lounge, bottles filled the table, a film was just starting, cushions were moved as I settled with them for the first part of the evening. It was a great film with Eddie Murphy as an alcoholic drop-out super-powered android! I think you have to see the film to appreciate that statement and understand!!
As it finished Kris announced he had a problem! He had been invited to a Pub Crawl and wasn't sure what to do with me. I laughed as I had been there when the pub crawl had been discussed the night before and knew all about it. I said it was fine. I would come for the first one but would then leave them all to it. It was his day off tomorrow so he deserved a good night out! He hugged me and got ready.
The Pub Crawl idea was the brain child of a local boy. He wanted to make money he explained but unless you worked in a bar or were a Diving Instructor there wasn't much you could do in Nha Trang. His theory was that a lot of tourists and travellers passed through the city with only a short time to discover the place. For a set price he was offering an organised Pub Wander. He had been to the various bars selling his idea, 7 had signed up to his idea so far. He would bring his 'Party' to their bar in exchange for free shots. Each bar offered something different, a bit like the Happy Hours in Sihnoukville. Tonight was his first night!
Kris, Amanda and myself headed off to the Shamrock. As we walked (no one was expecting to be able to ride a bike home later!) I asked Kris if I could start my Open Water after his day off. He couldn't see a problem as he would be my instructor and had nothing booked so far. He would sort it out for me the next day and also help me arrange my flight to Bangkok. Happy I entered the bar.
The Shamrock is like stepping back into time. Old rugby shirts hang on the wall. Cricket bats hang in glass fronted cases. The dart board is hidden on the side wall behind two door with coloured frosted glass upper panels that look like they came from an Irish country pantry. The bar is long and narrow, as are all the shops around that area. Playing a game of darts involved opening the doors and then standing with your back against the opposite wall to throw darts over the table we were sitting at , hopefully avoiding people entering or leaving the bar.
Our Pub Wander Organiser challenged Kris to a game, to pass the time while we awaited anyone else who was coming. Kris has never played darts, as we were all to discover after the first one ricocheted off the wall onto our table, followed by the next one doing the exact same thing. He did get the third into the wall but about a foot away from the board!
Drinks were picked up. Feet drawn nearer and a keen eye was kept on where the darts were heading as Kris perfected his game. One more person arrived but that was all. Slightly disheartened Our Host handed out the wrist bands and the first round of shots appeared on the table. It was only the first one everyone reassured him. Once word got around things would pick up. Determined to have a good night regardless, everyone raised their glasses and knocked back their shot! I left them as they headed towards the second bar of the evening.
I hadn't eaten an evening meal but wasn't really hungry either. The heat takes away a lot of your appetite and you find you eat because you should, not because you are hungry. I picked up some more vegetable biscuits as I passed the supermarket, just in case and went to the cyber cafe to catch up with the mail. Hot mail was working fine but Facebook kept freezing. I abandoned my mission and headed home only to walk past Kris, Amanda, Matt and a few others outside Rainbow Divers! I stopped for a drink – well it was only 9pm and one has to be supportive of local schemes as well as sociable! By 9.30 though I was ready to head home. Kris was most concerned about me walking back alone and wanted to come with me. Matt offered to walk me home too. It was still early I pointed out, I would be fine and they could virtually see the hotel from here. Eventually I was allowed home – alone - but with my phone in my hand in case of emergencies. Who is the grown up here?!
I sat out on the balcony revising my notes and eating my biscuits. I am so so happy I came out here. Seeing Kris's life, meeting his friends, putting names to the faces I see on Facebook. Life couldn't get much better than it was just then.
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