Our
start into Nha Trang was somewhat delayed because there of high winds which
caused the tender boats to pitch and thereby made boarding them difficult.
Given the average age on our ship is rather older than myself and Eric, some people have
more trouble with the transfer off the ship than others. Anyway we obtained our
tender ticket just after nine and did not get on shore until almost noon.
After negotiating a taxi to take us to the Cham towers and the local markets, we set off. The driver was lovely and polite but didn’t speak any English.
Our first stop was to view a large and imposing catholic church. Being Sunday it was not open for visitors, however, we took in the view from outside and enjoyed the many instances of bonsai in the courtyard. We also had a good view of a major city roundabout and watched as a tour group, each on a rickshaw, rode by. As always in Vietnam there were scores of motorbikes and the flow of traffic was steady and chaotic.
The Po Nagar Cham Towers came next. This was what I wanted to see, it is an example of the Cham civilisation’s temples to the Hindu gods they worshiped. I loved the intricate brick work and the colour of the bricks. The temple complex looks like it has been restored a lot but it still retains some of the mystery of the original builders.
Eric and I donned some gowns to enter the main building of worship. It was black with centuries of smoke from incense sticks and candles which even now are burned in worship. There were golden statues of Hindu deities and golden material lantern like things which made a bright focus for worship. There was also a box for offerings of cash. I'm not sure that there are people who still worship in the way the original builders would have, however there are still those who want to respect the gods there.
I enjoyed the gardens as much as the structures themselves. These had lovely views of the buildings of worship but were also serene, taking in views of the river and the city beyond. I was interested in the statues of Ganesh and a female goddess praying. The statues were surrounded by lush green plants and lots of bonsai. It felt tranquil.
Our final stop was at the local markets. This was a two story complex with thousands of small stalls with clothes and souvenirs. It was a bit more pushy than other places, with women particularly trying to sell their wares. Many of the clothes were the same style between shops, just different fabrics. There were also places which would tailor clothes for their customers and bolts of colourful fabric every where.
Eric found it hard to get things which fit. The length was the problem. We bargained a store keeper down on a top for Eric. Lovely fabric but he will have to be careful not to lift his arms.
We skipped that part of the Market which had food, the colours and variety of fabric and clothes were enough.
The town reminded Eric of a Vietnamese kind of Gold Coast with hotels, restaurants, shops and bars all along the beach. People in swim wear, or thongs and T-shirts wandered along, some with drinks in their hands. There were lovely beaches and interesting parks on the beach front. I noticed lots of interestingly cut trees along this area, trees cut like shaped bushes in Australia, but it was hard to take pictures and we did not stop. Overall it had a nice laid back beach town feel, but still retaining the Vietnamese traffic and electrical wires.
Returning to the boat, we tried to pick up Samuel but he refused, preferring to play computer games with Jamal. Fortunately with the delay in our leaving I had gone up to check on Samuel and discovered that he and Lexi were going out to play on the top deck. I delivered suncream and hat, glad that he was at least doing some physical exercise for a moment in the day.
Eric took some pictures on our way back to the ship and from the ship, including one of a very interesting vessle.....
At night mum and I watched as we sailed out of the harbour. It was a pretty site with the pillons for the cable cars which stretch across the bay and prevent large ships like ours from docking, being all lit up. They look like a line of Eiffel towers in the sea. In the background were the lights of the city, including some light shows on some buildings. The large Ferris wheel, seventh largest in the world, also displayed a lovely show of lights. A nice way to finish the day.
After negotiating a taxi to take us to the Cham towers and the local markets, we set off. The driver was lovely and polite but didn’t speak any English.
Our first stop was to view a large and imposing catholic church. Being Sunday it was not open for visitors, however, we took in the view from outside and enjoyed the many instances of bonsai in the courtyard. We also had a good view of a major city roundabout and watched as a tour group, each on a rickshaw, rode by. As always in Vietnam there were scores of motorbikes and the flow of traffic was steady and chaotic.
The Po Nagar Cham Towers came next. This was what I wanted to see, it is an example of the Cham civilisation’s temples to the Hindu gods they worshiped. I loved the intricate brick work and the colour of the bricks. The temple complex looks like it has been restored a lot but it still retains some of the mystery of the original builders.
Eric and I donned some gowns to enter the main building of worship. It was black with centuries of smoke from incense sticks and candles which even now are burned in worship. There were golden statues of Hindu deities and golden material lantern like things which made a bright focus for worship. There was also a box for offerings of cash. I'm not sure that there are people who still worship in the way the original builders would have, however there are still those who want to respect the gods there.
I enjoyed the gardens as much as the structures themselves. These had lovely views of the buildings of worship but were also serene, taking in views of the river and the city beyond. I was interested in the statues of Ganesh and a female goddess praying. The statues were surrounded by lush green plants and lots of bonsai. It felt tranquil.
Our final stop was at the local markets. This was a two story complex with thousands of small stalls with clothes and souvenirs. It was a bit more pushy than other places, with women particularly trying to sell their wares. Many of the clothes were the same style between shops, just different fabrics. There were also places which would tailor clothes for their customers and bolts of colourful fabric every where.
Eric found it hard to get things which fit. The length was the problem. We bargained a store keeper down on a top for Eric. Lovely fabric but he will have to be careful not to lift his arms.
We skipped that part of the Market which had food, the colours and variety of fabric and clothes were enough.
The town reminded Eric of a Vietnamese kind of Gold Coast with hotels, restaurants, shops and bars all along the beach. People in swim wear, or thongs and T-shirts wandered along, some with drinks in their hands. There were lovely beaches and interesting parks on the beach front. I noticed lots of interestingly cut trees along this area, trees cut like shaped bushes in Australia, but it was hard to take pictures and we did not stop. Overall it had a nice laid back beach town feel, but still retaining the Vietnamese traffic and electrical wires.
Returning to the boat, we tried to pick up Samuel but he refused, preferring to play computer games with Jamal. Fortunately with the delay in our leaving I had gone up to check on Samuel and discovered that he and Lexi were going out to play on the top deck. I delivered suncream and hat, glad that he was at least doing some physical exercise for a moment in the day.
Eric took some pictures on our way back to the ship and from the ship, including one of a very interesting vessle.....
At night mum and I watched as we sailed out of the harbour. It was a pretty site with the pillons for the cable cars which stretch across the bay and prevent large ships like ours from docking, being all lit up. They look like a line of Eiffel towers in the sea. In the background were the lights of the city, including some light shows on some buildings. The large Ferris wheel, seventh largest in the world, also displayed a lovely show of lights. A nice way to finish the day.
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