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Well, i've spent the last 8 days at a place on the South China Sea called "jungle beach" - yes, there is a jungle and there is a beach. i have a little bungalow a stones throw from the beach. everyone eats communally at a little table under a thatched roof. there's really not a whole lot to do, but i think that's the point.
this has been a welcome change of environs after Nha Trang, where my hotel was broken into and all my possesions were stolen. after a long, exhausting day of bus travel from Da Lat, i got a nice room with mini fridge(!) and a balcony, about 4 stories up from the street. anticipating an evening on the town, i showered and shaved. i laid down in the bed for a few minutes to catch some rest, when i woke up about 10 hours later i looked across the room and noticed my pants were missing. how strange? of course the t.v. was on as well as the fan and the fluorescent lights and the balcony door was open. not only were the pants missing but so was all my luggage, digital camera and some extra cash hidden in the luggage. unfortunately this coincided with the not so uncommon one day diarrhea/ travel sickness.
i spent most the day between the bathroom and the front desk trying to file a police report. i must admit i found dealing with simple government beuracracy in vietnam to be very frustrating and i was having some very negative thoughts. my frustration has since subsided. interestingly i'm actually in the same town (Nha Trang) right now. i came in just for the day to do some emailing, run some errands, etc.. I just walked by the hotel were the incident happened and noticed they had now installed large, spiky metal entrapments around the balconies, making it next to impossible for vietnamese, street climbers to get onto balconies. so i guess my sacrifice may help future travelers. geez, i'm such a martyr. just kidding.
anyways, i met a fellow traveler that i went to junior high with in a really small town in washington state! i had never ran into anyone, even stateside, who went to there. i've actually become good friends with him and his wife, which has prolonged my stay at jungle beach. in a few days time i will be in Hoi An (maybe i'll get a cheap suit made, and some pants) and then its off to Hanoi. until next time...
where you from brother?
paul
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