GrannyLiz goes to Vietnam!: Con Dao islands (3)

Having made plans the night before on Monday Amanda got up early to go to the market and the shops to buy supplies for our picnic and breakfast, as.o to buy fruit juice from one of the street sellers. Andrew went for take away coffees and we made a diy breakfast in the hotel courtyard. This was "flashpacker" accommodation and we had use of the kitchen. After a breakfast of scrambled eggs , baguette etc we set off to hike to Dam Tre lagoon. This entailed an electric taxi to the trailhead then the walk began at 10.0am. We walked 2km across the Sandy bay passing the other end of the runway to a spot in the corner where the trail was marked. This took us almost 50mins and we then stopped for half an hour for drinks and snacks. Then the tough-for-me section of the walk began. We climbed up 500ft on a paved path through the jungle, the start was steep with lots of steps and it was very hot and humid.

The start of the jungle hike

I was sweating to put it mildly and Amanda realised that I was probably getting dehydrated, I had been saving my water, but she assured me that she thought there would be drinks at the rangers station at the other end. This section, through the jungle was 3km, the longest 3km I have ever walked! Once up the steepest part it went up and down along the headland, we think, we couldn't see through the trees! .....and eventually started to go down hill. It took about an hour and a quarter to reach our destination and, yes, the ranger station had drinks! I bought a coco cola to replenish my electrolytes etc and we made out way down the stony beach. They call Dam Tre a lagoon, but in fact it is a long inlet and only becomes a lagoon at low tide as we saw from the plane as we left the island. The tide had turned when we got there and was coming in quite strongly. I had to use my walking poles to get to the waters edge, it was very slippery but I had a quick swim. Amanda and Orlo snorkelled several times drifting with the tide, Andrew also had a go, the first time snorkelling for him. They saw lots of coral, some parrot fish and giant clams. I has not taken my snorkel mask, I could have borrowed from them but the waves were a bit strong for me. We had another great crackers and cream cheese and fruit picnic along with left over pizza which had been boxed for us the night before. Then I laid out my towel Costa del sol style on the concrete path and had a snooze!

This place was really isolated apart from the ranger station and we only saw one other person all day.

Snorkellers in the water

We set off back after two and half hours and fortunately I found the walk back much easier and did it to the beach in an hour. The tide was coming in, and we had noted that the high tide mark was well above the the area where the runway wall is built. We had a quick dip, in the sea then began to walk the 2km back along the beach, M and I went ahead and had to wade a bit with the sea coming up to our calves. Orlo absolutely loves the sea and had been reluctant to stop swimming and come along so they were a bit behind us, by the time they came to that area the water was up to their knees and Orlo swam part of it, Andrew got drenched by waves colliding with the sea wall! Exciting times!

Andrew had been a bit anxious about our access and if we had we later and had to wait until the tide turned it would have been dark!

We walked on almost to the end of the beach where there is a very smart resort, the Poulo Condor Boutique Resort and Spa. They have a beach bar and made five slightly bedraggled hikers very welcome. We sent Michael in first to set the tone for the rest of the party in his check shirt, calf length shorts and Panama hat! We were able to change in the rest room, in fact Orlo had a shower, and then had a very civilised drink as the sun went down. The hotel called a taxi for us and ferried us through the lush grounds in their golf cart. The resort consists of villas and suites, it was almost 7.0pm when we got back to the hotel so we had a quick change and headed to the Bar 200 bistro where Amanda and I indulged in a well earned gin fizz. We ate simple food like toasted sandwiches, pizza and burger then walked back for another early night.

The staff at the resort were amazed we had walked back through the tide and the lady at our hotel decided we were all very strong to do the trek!!! It was the heat and humidity that made it tough.

We left the island this morning and have gone from the ridiculous to the sublime; we are staying at the Hotel Majestic in Saigon and have been upgraded to adjoining suites!!

Apparently the local streets will be closed to traffic at 7.0pm and there will be fireworks on the river in front of the hotel at midnight.