25.2.23

I was so excited by the pineapple pancakes on the breakfast menu, John chose the same. They were a stack of yellow pancakes containing slices of banana with a side dish of a sort of pineapple jam and just ok, didn’t warrant the excitement.

John told them that our toilet is leaking, they looked and moved us to bungalow 105, opposite our 101. It’s slightly smaller but a longer bathroom and is nicer inside. It’s also further from the main dorm and rooms so a little quieter and we have a river at the back.

The grounds are really lovely here.

All we needed was some sunshine, and today we got it.

We decided that we would walk today, first on our list was Bich Dong Pagoda, a Buddist temple, about 3km away. The walk was stunning.

I’m making no apologies for the number of photos, it’s definitely one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

https://localvietnam.com/blog/bich-dong-pagoda/

We absolutely loved it, loads of steps but so worth it.

We were too hot by now and bought t shirts for less than £3 each at a nearby stall, then had a lovely lunch with a view at the next door restaurant.

From here it was 5km to Thung Nham Bird Garden.

Another stunning stroll. The amazing rock formations are 360 degrees around.

Entrance was 150k vnd each (£5.25) and the boat trips are included.

Within 10 minutes we had a row.

There was an arrow to a cave, we started up the steps but with a combination of my poorly blister, too much trekking and temple steps I was struggling. John was way ahead, I called him and asked how much further, he said he can’t see round corners and the last I saw of him was him showing off running up the steps.

I decided I’d had enough and waited a while. Then I felt very vulnerable with no one around, passports, money and bank cards. Being mugged wasn’t an option so I went back down to the main path and waited there. Ok, so on the way down there were no robbers, just a young couple and 2 older ladies who stopped for breath after 6 steps.

John appeared a while later, indignant that I didn’t tell him I was turning back and dismissive that I could have been mugged. When he finally stopped justifying his actions I asked if he took photos in the cave – no because he was worried about me.. 😂 He wasn’t that bloody worried when he ran off..

Anyway nothing was going to spoil this beautiful place.

We decided we would do a boat ride into the cave. By the time I’d put my phone in my bag I looked round just in time to see John almost face plant the water. There was a mix of shouting and laughing going on. Somehow he got his balance back and sat down.

The rest of the journey was uneventful.

We continued along the path signposted bird garden. A beautiful stroll, the landscaping is fabulous.

We walked all the way back again and decided we would like to do the boat ride we’d seen from a viewing platform. To start with there was just us, then by the viewing platform we picked up 3 people we passed the time of day with earlier.

We pulled up alongside the steps to get out. John was getting out, slipped on the wet step, one leg in the water and his arm trapped between the boat and the step.

He was lucky it wasn’t much worse and I was lucky it didn’t happen to me.

Near the exit was a First Aid point, the first aider had gone home but a guy from a hotel next door cleaned and dressed it. Somehow the lady that had been been sitting behind us on the boat appeared and was giving instructions to the guy doing the dressing.

There were numerous tour buses around, but nothing that looked like a public bus. I suggested a taxi but John didn’t think he should get into a taxi being so soggy.

So, we walked for about 3km, by now it was dark. A car stopped near us. Taxi? How much? 50k

Ok. There was another couple already in there and he dropped us near our homestay. We’re not totally convinced it was a taxi but more than happy this happened.

We had a bit of chill out time before going in search of dinner.

I didn’t want more rice or noodles, I struggled to eat the huge chicken pineapple rice at lunchtime, so the search for something like a chicken burger began. Miscommunication meant we walked until we ran out of eateries, John stopped and bought walking trousers and we stopped at a hotel that advertised food that had baguettes as well as noodle dishes, and the smartest glossy menu we’ve seen.

It didn’t bode well that no one was in there and the waitress had to wake a young man asleep on a sofa.

The only part of the order that was easy to explain and correct was Johns beer. My ice coffee came as hot coffee with a glass of ice, my baguette had scrambled egg as requested but inedible chewy mushrooms and the ‘please no salad’ was in it. John’s noodle soup had no flavour, using google translate he got salt and chilli but it was still terrible. When it came to paying she was very apologetic and didn’t charge for the soup.

Not the best end to an otherwise amazing day, so we compensated with ice creams on the walk home.

Looking forward to spending more time here tomorrow.