Nha Trang – Scuba Diving

The day I was most excited for in Nha Trang was the day I went scuba diving. I had been planning this pretty much since the moment I arrived in Vietnam so I was ready to explore the deep blue sea. We woke up early and took a shuttle over to the docks where all the scuba and snorkel boats were. Then it was about a 45 min ride out towards a small island to the area we would be diving. It was a beautifully scenic ride out and I got to see some of the areas of Nha Trang that are less developed. We passed by Vinpearl island, which is accessible by boat and by cable cars. This is a place I want to visit my next time in Nha Trang. There are a lot of plush, green areas that probably have some good hiking trails and places to explore.

Once we arrived to the place we would be diving, I noticed a few houses precariously perched on the cliffs. They didn’t look very stable and had long, elaborate ladders leading from the water to their doorsteps. I learned these houses are occupied by protectors of the swallows’ nests, which are in the surrounding caves. These people live here year round to make sure poachers do not come to steal or destroy the valuable nests. Only a certain number of nests are allowed to be taken each year and are then sold to make bird’s nest soup and drinks at a very high price. A person caught taking the nests out of season or without a permit faces some serious penalties.

It was finally time to suit up and jump in. After a brief lesson on how to inflate and deflate my suit, how to use the breathing device, and the hand signals we would be using underwater, I was ready. At first I was uncomfortable with the mouth piece, but once I was fully submerged underwater I was relaxed and ready to explore. Being underwater was such a cool experience, I got to look around at the sea life and didn’t have to be bothered to come up for air. It was also so peaceful, I couldn’t hear anything but my own breathing or see any of the other divers around me. I often swam too far from the instructor and he had to come after me, but I figured how far could I possibly get from the boat. The time flew by and before I knew it we were surfacing by the boat. One of the other instructors was taking pictures while we were diving and even caught a video of a devil face fish, the one I ate the first week I was here. Scuba diving was an incredible experience and one I look forward to doing again in the near future. I also plan on becoming certified so I will be able to go anywhere in the world and only have to worry about renting equipment.

Published in: on September 15, 2011 at 11:17 am  Comments (2)  
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Nha Trang – Po Nagar Cham Towers and Mud Baths

From the Big Buddha we took a taxi over to Po Nagar Cham Towers. This is another ancient area of worship that has been modified to attract more tourists. The prayer rooms are still in use, but there is not a monastery attached. There are, however, people creating various crafts throughout the grounds, from hand made woven fabrics to traditional Vietnamese paintings. The view from the top of the hill is extraordinary. You can see all around Nha Trang from the ocean to the surrounding mountains and the entire city in between.

From the towers we then went to the hot springs for a relaxing mud bath. First, you soak in the mud bath for about 15 minutes. The mud is warm, slimy, and makes you oddly buoyant in the tub. Then, you bake in the sun until the mud is dry before rinsing it all off. Getting all of the mud out of my suit was challenging, so I was glad I wore one I didn’t really care about. Then you stand in between 2 stone walls that blast warm, mineral spring water all over you from every direction. Then it is to the mineral water bath to soak in the hot water for about 30 minutes. It felt good to sit in the warm water and stretch my muscles after having been crammed in a sleeper bus the night before. After the bath you can go lounge by the mineral water pool, one hot and one cool, where there are also water falls you can stand under. The water falling on my shoulders felt like a deep tissue massage. All of this cost $5 and gives you unlimited access to the pool. While relaxing in the lounge chairs, some took a nap but I just enjoyed being surrounded by the thick forrest and clear skies.

 

Published in: on September 13, 2011 at 12:41 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Nha Trang – Big Buddha

After an overnight bus ride to Nha Trang, we checked into our hotel and set out for our first stop, the Big Buddha. It was only about a 5 minute cab ride from our hotel and is right in the heart of the city. At the bottom of the hill is the monastery, which is beautifully decorated and supremely serene.  If you look closely in the picture below, you can see the Big Buddha’s head in the tree tops (you can click on the picture to enlarge it).

One of the most common Buddhist symbols is the swastika, which unfortunately is usually associated with the German Nazis. However, it actually means “good health” or “well being”. It also commonly seen on the sole of a Buddha’s feet because it is believed to symbolize Buddha’s footprints. I saw this when we moved from the temple, up about 50 stairs, to the Lying Buddha. This is a Thai Buddha and in the stone wall behind it, the faces of worshipping monks were carved.

From here it was up another 100 or so stairs to the Big Buddha on top of the hill overlooking Nha Trang. Underneath the Buddha was another small worship room with incense and a place for offerings. The monastery and surrounding grounds were a peaceful place to spend the first part of the morning before moving to the next destination.

Published in: on September 12, 2011 at 8:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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