Nha Trang #2

Halloh! I'm heading home tomorrow so I better catch up. I took another Mama Linh boat tip. There were only two other westerners onboard. A grumpy old Aussie and a grumpy young Aussie. I teased the 'cruise director' about the group being not very fun. We did have a fascinating discussion about the 'Abo' situation in Australia. How can I not have fun playing in the sea for $7 a day!
One afternoon I took a taxi to the local mud bath and mineral spring spa. There were hundreds of Viet bathers and four westerners. It was $5 for a group tub or $12 for a private one. As 'thrifty' as I am, I chose the group tub. As I was a single male, I was directed to a tub with other single men. Three old Viet men with bad teeth and me slipping around in a mud bath. After the mud part, everyone together cleans off in a shower, then through a double headed water blaster and into the mineral pool. It was fun.
On the beach is a brew pub/restaraunt called Luisanne. There is a great pool there a guest can enjoy all day for $1.50. Thats how I spent my last day in Nha Trang. There was a hospital ship in the harbour all week. I met some corpmen at the pool that had been given leave for the day. The ship is a U.S. Navy boat called the Mercy. There is a sister ship elsewhere called the Comfort. They sail around the world doing good deeds. Their main gig is called Operation Smile. They do cleft pallet surgeries on children. I asked if they carried Marines on board. He said if the Commadore is aboard there are two! These men were given leave because the brass aboard considered Nha Trang 'safe'. Oh 'Pulueezze'. The medic I talked with was surprised at how 'western' Nha Trang was. Come on, it's a goddam tourist town! He thinks they are going to Palau next. I mentioned that Palau has great medical and it would be a waste of their skills. He thought it was a waste for them to be in Nha Trang. The next day aboard a bus to Dalat I saw a man walking with his knee facing backward. One leg moved like a birds leg. Too bad he wasn't in Nha Trang. I ramble. In the afternoon I was invited to join some drunken Viet men. They bought me beer and wanted to be my friend. The loudest one couldn't even say 'Doahlah'. I got another new name "Joahlah". When he reached over to give my 'junk' a little squeeze, I decided it was time to leave. The young lady serving the table was very embarrased for her
countrymen.
I had a wonderful time in Nha Trang and hope to return someday.
Bye for now, Joahlah