Tuesday, 13 October 2015

Weekend Away in Mui Ne

Monday at noon I had a meeting with the CIS principal, Sheryl Freeman.  My goal was to discuss some work stuff and figure out some issues.  However, Ms. Sheryl's first topic of business was not work related at all; she wanted to know how our family was doing and where we had been so far. I said we were great, discovering Saigon, but we hadn't travelled outside the city yet (it has been 2 months since we arrived, and I seriously don't know were the time has gone!)  Sheryl said we have to go away...a weekend away is in order.  She searched up some pictures for me and showed me the resort in Mui Ne she loved and said we were going.  She actually got the resort on the phone, then and there, and started negotiating a family stay for us!!! Meanwhile, the clock is ticking, I'm on my lunch hour, and I DO have business I need to discuss, but hey, a weekend away, family time and travel is TOP priority...I love how she thinks.  So during this productive, yet short meeting, we did get my issues dealt with and we got a weekend holiday BOOKED, not your standard meeting with the boss, but I LOVE it!  Super, now just to tell Stepan...

Mũi Né is a coastal resort town in the Bình Thuận Province of the Southeast region of Vietnam. The town is close to the city of Phan Thiết.  It was originally a small fishing town, but in the last 15 years has built up many resorts and attracted ocean loving tourists.  It is about 200km from Ho Chi Minh City and therefore a possible weekend destination accessible by car, bus or train.  We decided to hire a car, as this would allow us the most flexibility for departure times and sightseeing around the town.  In Vietnam it is not possible to just rent a car.  The only way to rent a car is to hire a car with driver - pretty cool...that means no worrying about directions and getting lost.  Our driver picked us up at our apartment, and we were off. After sitting through an hour of rush hour traffic, we were finally out of the city and on our way.  In Canada, 200km means about a 2 hour drive.  In Vietnam 200km means a 4 hours or more drive - this is due to road conditions and traffic.  On the road we travelled there was only a small section of two lane highway (in each direction), the rest was single lane (in each direction) for cars and a small lane for motorbikes, that resembled more of a paved shoulder. 

We stayed at the Pandanus Resort.  It is a beautiful resort with over 10 acres of gardens and grounds...there are so many beautiful tropical blooms, lotus flowers and coconut palms absolutely everywhere.







Saturday morning we woke up at 5 am, because we had arranged with our driver to take us to the White Sand Dunes in the early morning, to beat the heat.  The White Sand Dunes are about a 20 minute drive from the Pandanus.  We arrived just before 6 am and there were already quite a few people there...including wedding parties taking pictures!



We rented a jeep to take us around the dunes, but we didn't go as far as I had anticipated and we could have done the entire trip on foot and saved some money, but the ride was fun and crazy and racing up and down the dunes, at a few points I felt it was a near death experience...expecting to go tumbling down the side of a dune at any moment.  We held on tight to not fly out!






Having an experienced guide meant we were able to find the best dunes for sliding...it was so much fun!!!  We were able to rent crazy carpets at the  bottom of the dunes...otherwise, there is no fee charged to go visit the dunes....just fees for the extra toys (crazy carpets, atv's, jeeps).














We did a lot of sliding in several locations, and for me the best part was walking barefoot to the dune summits to check out the views!












I know....so many pictures....but it was incredible!


One more!


After our dune walk, we hung out at the base of the dunes for a bit before heading back to the resort.




Someone's dinner.


We saw a large herd of cattle on our way back to the resort.  We also noticed that cattle are used to pull carts and assist with labour on the farms...no horses here.



We got back to the resort just after 9am, hungry and ready for breakfast, and we were not disappointed.  It was delicious, with traditional Vietnamese breakfast and western options, of bacon, sausage, smoked fish, pancakes, French toast and maple syrup! (a big deal here!), pastries, fresh fruit and veggies...the options were endless...





We didn't want breakfast to end, so we continued with coffee outside while the kids explored the beach.




The beach offered lots of beautiful seashells, views of fishing boats, women selling fruit.










We relaxed the rest of the day, at the beach, at the pool, played pool and I went for an oceanfront massage...seriously, I am pinching myself, because it feels like a wonderful dream.




My massage was right here...amazing...I know.


We did a little mini yoga session by the sea, and I almost had a coconut fall on my head.  It dropped right beside my head (we are talking 30cm) and smashed open so I was covered in coconut water...I just couldn't get back in my zone after that, but someone was looking out for me, that's for sure!  I am so grateful and count my blessings!





That night we decided to indulge in the seafood barbecue.  At $25/ person (kids were half price) it was quite pricey, but it was Thanksgiving weekend so we opted for the treat.  There were tables of endless food...and the variety was huge.  It was all very good, but could not compare with the seafood dinner we would have the next night at a local restaurants with friends.













The next morning, Sunday, our last day in Mui Ne, Stepan and I got up to watch the sun rise.  It was calm and peaceful.

After breakfast we took the free resort shuttle to the Fairy Stream. The Fairy Stream is a small creek that is so shallow that in places you are walking on a very shallow carpet of water...it actually almost feels like you are walking ON the water.  It is warm and fun to walk in with your bare feet.  We walked for about a kilometer, enjoying the changing and fascinating scenery. Take a look!





Notice, Viktor with shoes in hand.


We came to an outdoor café and the kids were immediately drawn to the monkeys, however, I explained to them that these poor animals were not being treated well.  The were on very short chains and basically there only to attract visitors to buy and feed them bananas.  If you know Viktor, he was especially upset, and began plotting ways to rescue the monkeys.  I saw this as a teachable moment and explained, that the best way to help animals like this is to not support the business that they are being used for. He was so thrown off that he left his shoes at the café, and we would have to make a trip back to retrieve them.  The life lessons we learn...





Notice Viktor without shoes in hand...lol.
The landscape was really out of this world! I can see why it is called the Fairy Stream...it's magical.









Pineapple tree.


Random people love taking pictures with Eva...she's getting tired of posing...I think she may understand how celebrities feel, when they are constantly photographed.


A break for ice cream after finding Viktor's shoes.  We had to wait for our driver, because we missed the shuttle back to the resort. 


On the way to the fairy stream...something wickedly stinky is being brewed...seriously, the smell was nauseating.  I think it was some kind of fish sauce, but I could be wrong. 
Back at the resort we had a few hours left to enjoy.  We ran into a fellow teacher, Jay, who was just checking in with his family for the fall break (Stepan gets this break with all CIS staff, but BCIS staff, which is where I fall, do not...too bad, but it is what it is).  We decided to stay a few more hours and just hang out with them.  We wanted to squeeze every last bit out of the weekend. The kids had so much fun...being with friends adds a whole new level.





Jason and Quinn have been to Mui Ne several times, so when they invited us to go to dinner with them we were in!  Who wouldn't want to explore some local seafood dining!  We went to Mr. Crab.  A local restaurant right on the ocean.  I mean we sat at a table that was on the edge of a 10 foot drop (with no railing)  right to the beach and ocean.  We could see the fishing nets and boats from our table...that is fresh.





The seafood bar.  You choose what you want. Tell them how you would like it prepared. They weigh it and within a few minutes you are eating.  Quinn is an expert.  Everything she ordered was mouthwatering.



Squid.  The best I have ever had!


We had clams steamed with lemongrass, grilled muscles with crushed peanuts and a spicy/sweet sauce, barracuda, giant shrimp and other things...everything was delicious and served with a little salt & pepper dish, that was mixed with freshly squeezed lime juice...it gave everything such a zing!  It was the perfect way to finish off our first weekend trip.  The kids are already planning another trip to Mui Ne, and by the way, they all tried all the seafood (except Viktor...he stuck with the fried and steamed rice...maybe next time).



  It was only a weekend, but somehow we managed to unwind and relax, and experience and do so many things, it seemed like much longer than simply just a weekend.  It was also Thanksgiving, and although we missed our family, turkey and fall colours, we are so thankful and grateful for our new friends, opportunities and adventures that we are able to have here in Vietnam.





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