25 Dec 2011: BOATS, KITES, DUNES

Not very Christmas-y here in weather or atmosphere. We started to get nostalgic this morning which is OK but to get our minds off being away, we rented another Yamaha motorbike and cruised for a few hours. (How would YOU get out of a Christmas funk??) There are the usual historic pagodas, so well-kept they look new and colourful after 800 years. There is Fairy Spring which looks more like Devil Ditch. There was the standoff at the gas station when I asked for 40,000 dong in gas but the guy gave me 4 litres, a difference of 50% in my favour. Who do you think was the grinch in that one?? 

But there is also the "Fishing Village", the far end of the bay that shelters the fleet. A dumb-founding sight of hundreds of craft looking like they're about to land at Dunkirk in WWII. Is there enough fish in the sea to keep them all busy? How do they keep out of each other's way? Can you buy a used one? I don't think I've ever seen that many (vessels) at once. 

Then a long ride on a new but deserted highway to the other end of the bay. It turns out the wind and surf conditions are some of the world's best for kitesurfing and kiteflying. Who knew? Dozens of places giving lessons, complete with the latest gear and groupies. Again, I've never seen that many (kitesurfers) at once. Hundreds of colours in the blue sky. Does Santa kite?? 

Finally, inland a few kilometers to the red and yellow sand dunes. Huge hilly areas that keep the climate of Mui Ne dry and warm. like living in the Easy-Bake Oven girls used to get under the tree. Then on the road home a sighting of the Olympic rings ---- I don't think Vietnam has the Games next, does it? 

All this for some diversion of our thoughts of home, family, and friends. Save us some of those desserts, please.