After breakfast I packed my bag ready for the train in the evening, I went to a different cash machine, and succeeded in getting cash! Then Dave, Belle and I went to ride the world's longest over sea cable car to a mystery destination which had what Ngyuen had previously described as 'games'. The 12 minute cable car ride was very picturesque, and very high at 60m above the sea. All the while we edged closer to an island which had 'Vinpearl' on a hill in the same way Hollywood does.
When we got off it turned out we were going to a theme park. Vinpearlland had it's own island, and various attractions such as an aquarium, water park, and a free arcade game centre in addition to the usual theme park fair. We first went for a 4d ride a la terminator, honey I shrunk the kids etc in Florida, which was made much more real by Belle shouting 'oof' every time we 'hit' something. This lead us out into the free arcade, where we tried one of those hammer things (I got a respectable 86, Dave hit 99 aka max. To be fair he is 6 foot 8 and fairly broad), air hockey, one of those basketball things, a bull (which I stayed on till the top score), and the most realistic horse simulator ever amongst others.
Next up was the upside down washing machine type ride. Belle was very happy I was there, as she could stay off the ride and hold the stuff. Normally Dave makes her go on with him, unless she 'brings out the tears' (her words, not mine). The ride was surprisingly restful, not nearly as fierce as it looked from the ground. Next up was a roller coaster, which Dave almost exceeded the maximum height limit for (ie he almost hit his head on a beam, there were only a few inches in it) before we went looking for the aquarium.
The aquarium was standard as far as aquariums go, but still good, with a decent variety of fish, one of those underwater tunnels, and good air con (which was very important, as it was boiling outside). Afterwards we went to the alpine coaster, in which you controlled the speed of your own cart. Belle went first, as she only wanted to go slowly, then Dave asked the guy to stop him until Belle was near the bottom so he could go really fast. I was happy about this, and the ride down was very fun. I ignored all the brake here signs after the first couple, but still didn't go flying off the track.
After this it was getting on for 2pm, high time for lunch. We partook of one more 4d film, since Belle had enjoyed the first one so much (it wasn't as good unfortunately), and then got the cable car back to the main land. Another taxi saw us back to the hotel, and we went 3 doors down to a German brewers for some western food, as constant rice and noodles can wear on you.
Afterwards Belle decides she was going for a massage. I said that I had been considering one, since I'd never had one before, but was worried about my sun burn. She told me they wouldn't be too vicious probably, and the oils might even help. Thus reassured, I went for it (especially since it was only £4 for a head, neck, shoulder, and back massage). This was probably a mistake.
I lay down on the massage table face down, the lady came and draped a towel over me, then started walking up and down my back. This was rather painful on my sunburn, but nothing compared to what came next, where she balanced on one tip toe in various (mostly sunburnt) places, then flexed her standing leg, causing the toe to penetrate half through my body. Thankfully it got gentler after that, and I probably would have enjoyed it sans sunburn. The scrubbing off the oil with the coarse hot towel, and the back punching were also quite unpleasant though. I do feel a lot looser at least.
Afterwards we went for ice cream, and I also got a coffee which was the sweetest ever (horribly so), then we went back to the hotel and I relaxed for a couple of hours before tea. We went to another Vietnamese place, and I had clay pot pork, which I had enjoyed so much in Hue. Unfortunately this was not quite so nice, but still good (though a little rich). The heavens opened just as we finished our meal, so all the gangsters and prostitutes rushed for shelter (in fact I had only seen 3 possible gangsters, and 1 possible prostitute in my whole time in Nha Trang), while the Russians just looked at the sky contemptuously with their dead eyes, and we got a bit wet getting back to the hotel.
It wasn't too long before we had to make our way to the train station, where we had a 45 minute wait, as unfortunately the train had been delayed by 25 minutes. Our cabin stank of cigarettes (Russians again probably!), but we were all ready for a bit of shut eye, as the train was scheduled to arrive in Ho Chi Minh City at 4.30am!
I don't like the sound of that alpine ride AT ALL,! Belle was wise not to go too schnell.
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