Snorkel time...

So this morning we get up early and go to some place called Chopsticks for breakfast, before we get picked up for our second attempt at a boat trip that includes snorkelling. The van is fast filling up with Vietnamese and it looks like it's going to be a repeat of the Cham Island boat trip, but then we pick up 2 Australians on their honeymoon. They're nice and friendly, and easy to talk to so the sitting around and waiting (for nothing it seems) went quickly, then we finally take off for the first spot, Mut Island. Old Mut eh. We get towels handed out and then up to the front to find flippers that fit and a snorkel that works. The Vietnamese have all got life jackets on as well, and I'm not too sure why. We don't put them on. After a small talk of how to blow out when you come up, it's jump in and be back in an hour an a half. Ok then. In we get, and Sam grabbed a dud snorkel and has to go back to finding one that goes, while I attempt to get more than half a metre under the water. The blowing out part when you come up is relatively easy once you get the hang of it, it's weird not having your nose play a part in breathing at all. Fun! And with the handy-dandy underwater camera (thanks again Amelia and Tony!!!) we get a few snaps of some fish, coral (mostly different shades of browny-green-beige) and us swimming. We even take a few videos which are hilarious to watch, it's like we've been attacked by sharks it moves around so quickly. Then back onto the boat and we have a few beers with the Australians, who are quite funny, and the lady reminds me alot of Miss Abbey Paton randomly enough.

We get taken to the second spot, and in we get again, tho after I get in and get going, I realise I have a different mouthbit on my goggles and ewww that means someone grabbed mine and I'm wearing someone elses. Gross. Ah well. More awesome looking fish, I chase around these big rainbow coloured ones trying to get a photo of them, but being a bulking unexperienced flippers user, they generally all get away, and all I get is blurry half shots. Darn you fast fish! There are also these creepy long thin ones that don't seem so move at all, it's kind of like they're waiting for something or thinking they are invisible. Who knows. This spot is alot wavier than the last, and theres a big drop off type bit where the view turns dark blue and endless looking. I think I'll stay by these rocks thanks. The guy running things tells us sometimes there is stingrays over there (pointing) and so I don't quite venture over there.

Back to the boat for more beers and YUM! Another endless food lunch. God I love how there's always so much food on these trips. Love it and hate it. But morely love it. MMMMx1000. Oh yay, then it's to the third and final spot for snorkelling, if I can drag myself off the sundeck, and not sink due to the food and beer consumption weighing me down. This time the guide gets in too, saying sometime there are Lion fish around here, and don't touch them, they're poison. I think he may be making it up for a bit of a thrill, cos then he's pulling a child in a rubber ring over to a spot where he may have just seen one and everyone come look. I go have a look and it looks like nothing but some people say oh right right I see it so maybe its camoflage is just too good. Then to a floating fishing village, where they chop up some kina looking things, catch some fish to take home, and it's hometime. On our way back in to the dock, theres about a million boats coming and going, and one boat has a bunch of youngins all jumping off and playing around, and one if just floating right in the boat path like it ain't no thing. Playing Chicken with a boat. What will they think of next eh?

We then have 5 hours to kill before our over night train leaves for Saigon. We waste time at an internet cafe, get dinner then head to the station. De-laaayed. Bummer. When it's time we accidentally get on the wrong train for a few minutes, and with our packs and the step height, it wasn't and easy thing. Getting off is harder. When we get onto our train, the door to our compartment it locked, and I'm starting to stress cos theres a pushy line behind me, and someone finally unlocks the door from the inside. Someones in my bed. Or Sams bed as it turned out. Semi awkward times trying to explain that we have the middle two bunks, and the girl that was sleeping there gets up and walks out...Who knows where she ended up sleeping, but they must've been crowding cos there's two of them on the bottom bunk aswell. Despite being in a room that smells like old bad breath, having a child wake up every so often and talk, and having the guy in the bunk under me breathe like he is trying to blow up a lilo most of the night, I really like sleeping on trains. Much better than a bus. Even if it was a tad harder. I might invest in a self-swinging hammock as a bed when I get to London.