Hotch potch.

I was going to write a blog about showers in South East Asia. Given the variety and diversity, from the superheated steam blast that blows you away like a fire hydrant to the limp squib barely able to wet the floor let alone your body you would think I were able to rant on ad infintum. All I really want to do though is to describe my showering experience this morning in Dong Hoi. Dong Hoi is on the coast east of Phoung Nga by about 50km (the width of Vietnam at this point). Thanh and I had come here to meet Vicky and Ernie off the flight from Hanoi. They had flown because the 2 day drive would have crippled Ernie. Anyway we spent a very relaxing day on the beach at Dong Hoi in a very pleasant backpacker hostel that offended Mr Thanhs sense of propriety. Ernie and I fished to our hearts content. This brings me to the shower. I had been fishing early in the morning and had been absolutely soaked in a rain storm. I went to our room for a shower, to clean up and warm up. A word about showers in Vietnam:- They vary a lot. Some are instantaneous gas and supply hot water with gusto. Some are electric and are a little sullen. They give up thier labours with little good grace. They usually have to be cajoled into some kind of begrudging submission and even then the water is tepid. Well my morning shower at Beachside Backpackers, Dong Hoi was not tepid. The shower had to be cajoaled. First it was a good idea to turn the electric heater on , a point niether of my roommates had noticed. Anyway heater turned on I applied the tap. You would have to say at this time that the wter pressure was sverely depleted to the point of less than dribbles. But the water was wondefully warm. Held at point blank range you could apply a gloriously warm caress to the entire surface of your body. The sensation was excuisite. I wetted down my entire torso in a state of sensual bliss. Then I soaped off only to anticipate the delight to come when once again I repeated the showers caress. The whole experience was wonderful.

Our departure to Phoung Nga from Dong Hoi must have frustrated the hell out of mr Thanh. We dithered and delayed for an inordinate amount of time. I was  trying to have a cup of restorative coffee while at the same time booking flights on Vietjet from Danang to Saigon and packing my bag. The booking kept timing out and the packing became frought with all kinds of complications. In the end we managed to head out for breakfast at 9:30 with Thanh concerned we would miss out. We didn't but it was close.

It is two days since I started this post. We have been in Phoung Nga for 2 days now. We have been to the Phoung Nga Cave and the Paradise Cave. Phoung Nga is lovely and low impact. Stunning formations seen from the luxury of a boat or gentle stroll through the columns, stalactites and stalagmites. Very pretty and quite spectacular. The Paradise cave is also spectacular, beautiful and stunning. The access however is challenging for an old man. 585 meters straight up to the entrance and some 300 straight down once inside. The cave itself goes on for some kilometer   or so and the formations are good. The entrance is gained through a series of ramps some steepish and some the same steepness a cow would make going up a hill. The exit is stairs, hundreds of them. Not so good on old knees.

Today we are off to Hue and then Hoian. The journey has been great and the memories entertaining. Especially when Ernie ran out of petrol on his hired 110cc tiddler!