The 'sweet taxi driver' and the 'knackered Buddah'

Well it’s been a huge day. Sorry, but a huge blog post today.
When I asked in Hoi An about a cab price I was given a price of 320000 vnd, which I think was more than I paid to get here in a maxi-van, so I decided to wander about and find my own cab.
To my despair I couldn’t find a cab anywhere, and over here that is just bizarre. I decided to grab a soft drink and sit near a busy intersection and let a cab find me. That took about 6 seconds. I insisted and the driver agreed to use the meter. Therefore whatever the deal it would be fair.

The taxi driver was singing to me all the way. I tried my best to get video of this, but clearly it as a bit awkward. I’m not sure if his serenade was a love song, but he gave me some very lovely looks.

I stated I wanted to go to the Backpacker Hostel not far from the train station. Because in my description of where I wanted to be dropped … he had taken me all the way to the train station, and it eventuated that I had ended up paying more. But no probs. It cost 470000 vnd for the trip from Hoi An to Da Nang. That was one cab I was quite glad to exit from though I must say. I walked with my backpack from Ga Da Nang to the Backpacker Hostel (on Quang Trung) to down very close to the Song Han river.
It took about 20 minutes or so.

The Backpacker Hostel. It’s a nice enough place, the staff are friendly here. I have a shared dorm room (and it appears it’s all to myself as the backpacker season kind of ended last week when most poor souls had to go back to work). The Internet is rubbish (although for the first time I get to post my blog on an actual real computer as opposed to dictation into my tablet – hence the big blog post). Everybody claims the undersea cable to Vietnam had been having problems, so internet sites in Vietnam work fine, but any international ones will not work (ie google.com). That along with Microsoft and Google (Gmail) sending me “we don’t believe it’s you … as you are connecting in Vietnam” emails and not allowing me to log into my account because I’m logging in from another country – its driving me mad. I think I have this sorted now. I have ended up using their computer to write this up, and my own phone hotspot to get online. The room here is only 170000 vnd per night. Shared Dorm room. Actually I must be the only one here. When I arrived one of the questions they asked me – was what was my favorite song. As I write this (some 5 or so hours later) – I can hear that very song playing in the Foyer … lol – nice!

In walking around Da Nang I may stay a couple of days which is more than I had planned. They’ve been having rain, but today was overcast but warmish. I walked many KM’s just exploring the CBD. And it looks like there is a few things to see. Marble Mountains etc. Probably hire a bike and hit the road tomorrow.

During my walk I was initially seeking Camera stores. There are no viable options here that I could find. One that I went into insisted they had underwater cameras (which I know for sure they were not), and they stated they only work under Vietnamese water. Ok ?? I guess my next best hope may be Hanoi – but I’m now thinking it will wait until I get home … and I do have a birthday coming up readers!!!

Another funny thing that occurred, actually three times - on my walk and all in the same “Da Nang Con Market” that I wandered through. Three times and old man or woman would walk up to me smile, then rub my tummy and laugh pointing at it – I took this to be that I was to them a reincarnated Buddha of some description. It made me feel better about it. Should I get home and have not lost any weight, I shall expect to be addressed as “Almighty Buddha” :-)

So I walked from Ga Da Nang to near the river Song Han. Then along Pham Chu Trinh, and back along Nguyen Chi Thanh (dodgy camera shop area), then out along Hai Phong and into the markets there somewhere. When I exited I wandered along Hung Vurong and through a bust roundabout. I saw a crash happen again between a motorbike and an old lady on a pushbike. They both slid nearly 20 meters, so it was a fast one. I got a few photos, the old lady had a huge bump on her head, but they just got up and carried on as though nothing had happened. I continued up and along ad found a big shopping centre. Ever hopeful I went in, but us usual it was chocka full of ugly cheap clothes. I had some chicken and fish dish from the market across the road … the chicken was ‘nearly’ cooked right through… ugggh. I also downed two energy drinks – just to keep the Goz’s engine running.

I then walked up and around Thac Gian (a lake) then back all the way down Nguyen Vun Linh (?) to the Cau Rong bridge. Then got some photos walking along the river past te many statues and under Cau Song Ha bridge and back to the backpackers.

Phew! This Buddha is the “Knackered Buddah”