After taking an extremely uncomforatable sleeper bus from Hoi An (read: 5 foot bunks) we were dropped off on the highway 65km North of Nha Trang. We then hired two motorbike taxis to take us the remaning 30km to Jungle Beach. The place is sandwiched between untouched jungle and 10km of pristine, powder white sand and everyone sleeps in rustic cabanas 30 feet from the beach! All meals are served around a communal table where fellow travellers swap stories, smoke cigarettes, play drinking games and drink the best coffee in Vietnam (from the central highlands).
Days are filled with sleeping in hammocks, sleeping in lounge chairs, sleeping on rattan mats on the beach and sleeping in the surf. We also spent hours playing soccer and volleyball with the locals who work at JB for Sylvio, the eccentric French Canadian ex-pat who does nothing but snorkle, play ping-pong, and smoke weed. Adding to the afternoon enjoyment was the 3pm fruit plate that was brought out to us on the beach.
Joe spent time with the locals gathering fallen palm leaves (the Brits thought this was quite Canadian of him) and dragging them to the beach for late night bonfires. We spent several nights getting drunk (yes Joe was drinking with the best of them) with fellow Jungle Beachers around a raging fire under the stars listening to Johnny Cash and the Rolling Stones. Also, the water at night glows when you swim b/c of the phosphorescent plankton that collects near the shore. It's like an indigo blue electrical storm around your entire body!
We also spent a morning hiking through the jungle to a 12 metre waterfall and swimming pool. Joe decided to venture further into the jungle and ended up getting lost and returned 45 minutes later sweatier than I've ever seen him and covered in cuts and bug bites. He made his position known to us with a loud "fucking jungle!" that resonated through the forest.
Possibly the best part of Jungle Beach are the people and the sense of family that develops very quickly upon arriving. After one meal with these kindred spirits you never want to leave. Swapping stories and travel adventures brings everyone together and this combined with the setting makes this place a true paradise. It is as close to the movie "The Beach" as you can get. So now we're off to the cool mountains that surround Da Lat and will ipdate again as soon as possible.
Bye for Now
Joe and Nicole
Jungle immediately off the beach.
Feet are supposed to lay in the hole for sleeping.
The beds however are designed for 5 foot Asians.
A beach-side cabana
Nicole lounging in the hammock outside our
cabana.
View of the beach at dusk.
OK, that does look like paradise, or, adult camp, if you will. I really like the volleyball pic where Joe is assessing the mad skills of the man reaching to test the net.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the fantastic pics and blogs. Loving it!