... Some times you just have to accept defeat... The last few days have included a few minor set backs but now things are returning to normal... As I wrote before, I argued my case when the travel agent we booked our open bus ticket with tried to charge extra, but in the end I had to accept defeat... I regret how I spoke in the travel agent, using phrases like, "You're cheating me.", "That's a lie", and "well now you have a nice bit of extra pocket money." (yes, I know, I was a bit of a twat!... I apoligised for going a bit over the top (I didn't swear though, I was just rude))... in the end I had to pay the extra anyway... Travelling you often here the phrase, "It's not the money, it's the principle"... it's a dangerous phrase really... the brother of the phrase, "cut off your nose to spite your face"... so I accepted defeat and moved on... I let it affect my mood which was frustrating... ... Nha Trang has been a bit of a frustrating place... when we took the night bus from Hoian to Nha Trang the actual sleeper bus (with reclined beds) got impounded by the police before it got to us (rumours went round that locals were trying to sell drugs on it and that it was massivly overloaded... the latter is more likley)... so then they weren't gonna replace the bus (meaning we would have to travel on xmas day... everyone wanted to avoid that)... at one point they said that there would be no bus, but then people power kicked in as we refused it (Vietnamese communism must be rubbing off on us)... eventually they pulled their finger out but instead of a sleeper bus it was a couple of mini buses... I didn't sleep a wink but did manage to complete a game of solitaire on my ipod (so not a complete loss;)... so we arrived on the morning of christmas eve and straight to bed I went... two power naps that day precceded a big night out (one of those night outs where you say, "Well I'll just have one or two..."... the famous last words)... Subsequently I spent all of the sunlight hours of Christmas in bed... I got up to watch 'An idiot abroad' which someone had downloaded, but then it showed a chinese man eating a chicken featus and I started to feel nautious... When I did get my ass out of bed it was worth it... Had a skype video call to home which made me feel great (Christmas is the first day I've actually regretted missing... so it was nice to be a part of it via skype, texts and pictures sent by e-mail and facebook)... so then I felt good, had a little italian (a meal... I mean a meal) ONE beer (I could stomach no more) and then too bed... ... ... so Nha Trang has involved a lot of bed time hours for various reasons... so even though it was a mission actually to sort out our bus tickets, tomorrow me and David set off to Muine, a quiet beach resort (So I've heard) which might act as the calm before the New Years storm of Saigon... ... Vietnam has been great but I'm starting to feel like I've lost my way a bit... I've wondered down the wrong path... I guess because I'm here for Christmas and New Years that place is a bit party-heavy... I look forward to a quick visit to Cambodia... you know, I never thought I'd say this but I miss the temples... I miss the monks and the Orange clothing... I miss the kind of atmosphere which surrounds them... I miss the touristic nievity (or just shambalaty (to be a shambles)) of Laos... Vietnam is a tricky place to understand... and also I'm kind of in the middle here... half way (ish) between Hanoi and Saigon... the northern and southern cities which were under quite different influences during the war etc... ... I know I haven't really understood Laos and Thailand, but I haven't even scratched the surface of Vietnam... I've just smudged the surface of the glass with my greasy nose as I try to look into the window of Vietnam... ... Yes, I'm looking forward to Cambodia and I look forward to New Years with trepidation (because I'm a bit of a boring bastered who is (usually) afraid to drink too much)... OK, so this post is getting a bit introspective which probably tells you I need to move on and start exploring places... Lord, give me a temple!
I miss you all and hope you all had a great Christmas with family and friends (even though I wish to have shared christmas with my family, I am still with good people here... it's not all bad;)
Lots of love,
Matt
P.S. If you are the person from Pakistan, Slovenia, or Malasya... please drop me a comment:)
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