~ Qui or Quy...who cares ~
July 31. A Saturday. You're like feeling totally rejuvenated now. You've got itchy feet although you're soul isn't so perturbed. You know you're not a big city boy. Hanoi was just too much for you to take. 'Strange days indeed...most peculiar mama'. So it's continue the free-fall down to QuyNhon. Walking over to the bus station after checking out somewhat suddenly from the BangSau Hotel you're still smarting from the loss of the Cham Museum shots.
You haven't pre-booked a ticket or anything civilized like that. You didn't know you were going until this morning! You just mosey on over as best you can with 25kg extra. There's a MaiLinh coach south. To Quy or is it Qui Nhon. Down past towns full of Champa archeological sites. Their former heartland. It's a pleasant enough ride too. You try to snap the passing countryside and towns through the bus window. At the lunch break, while the others are eating...you go for a short wander in the heat of the day.
You arrive in QuyNhon in the mid-afternoon. You head for Barbara's Place. You'd talked to some travelers at Hoa's Place, China Beach. You knew you'd end up there. At the time though, when the bus pulls in to the QuiNhon bus station you think you'll just check out some other possibilities along the way. You hire a Xe Om to take you 'to a cheap hotel near the beach, OK'. The asking price is VND20k. A dollar. You pay fifteen. What the hell. Big spender! The hotel he takes you to isn't even a VND5k ride on a motorbike. It's on the beach front at the south-west end of the bay. It's way over my budget. There just happens to be an 'International' traditional martial arts tournament on at the moment, too. Most places are fully booked. Anyway you've blown your 'tranport budget' for the day and do a healthy hour's walk from virtually one end of the bay to the other. It's still hot. The pack gets kind of heavy on your [57 year] old shoulders too. But it's exactly the way you like to get to know a new town. And this one is pleasing to behold!
Tired and thirsty you finally make it in to Barbara's Place with her Kiwi Restaurant. No surprise. No rooms. But there's a bed in the dorm with my name on it. Great. How much? Fifty. Thousand that is. US$2.50. Done! There's everything you need here. It's right on the esplanade overlooking the attractive bay too. She's got a good cook at the Kiwi restaurant. It's not really as cheap as the street food you're used to. Nevertheless. You feel pleased with the day. Tired but happy. After resting up you then head out to find some eats.