Mui Ne
I chose to visit Mui Ne because it’s a good place to learn to surf and kite-surf, two things I wanted to try during this trip. The great thing about having no real plan though, is that things not quite going to plan isn’t the end of the world, and often leads to other unexpected experiences. I’d arranged with a kite surfing school to head out on my first morning, to get started as soon as possible, but it slowly became clear there weren’t big enough waves to surf, and not enough wind to kite surf.
Luckily, on the bus over I had met Denise and we immediately realised we were the same kind of weird. When we arrived at the hostel after a long bus journey, we had both put our things down and jumped straight in the pool to cool off and a friendship was forged. With my planned activities not possible, I joined Denise for her planned activities - finding good quality food and coffee, and sitting and appreciating it. It’s not something I would have done on my own, but the routine - particularly after we’d discovered coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner places we were both happy with - made Mui Ne an unexpectedly stabilising and restful stop. We had plenty to talk about over several days worth of coffees and meals, and also took some time out from cafe culture for a tour of Mui Ne’s tourist highlights - the fairy stream, the fishing village and the red and white sand dunes.
On my last day here, the waves were again big enough to learn to surf, so I had a lesson. I got beaten up by the sea, and stung by a lot of jellyfish (you could see them everywhere), but I was impressed that I managed to stand up pretty consistently, sometimes make it to the beach, and by the end catch waves on my own without help. I wouldn’t say I’m good at it, but given balance is not one of my strong points, I’m happy with how I did. After all, the project for this trip was never to be a great surfer, but to get more comfortable in the sea. I’d say I am.
One more coffee, (well, two for Denise) and one more breakfast and I’m on an overnight bus to my next destination. It’s not been the stop I planned, but after more than 3 months travelling around it’s been a really lovely and unexpected little pitstop with a lovely and unexpected new friend.