The midnight train to Da Nang!

Leaving the hostle and heading to the station I'm mentally preparing for the 15 hour train ride to Da Nang, which by the way is not a sleeper train, it's just a seat and me for 15 hours. Hooray.

Arriving at the station it is very clear to see that I am the only westerner that has ever been here. Everyone's eyes widen and they cant believe it. I check in, get my ticket and sit down. As there is a charging point I plug my phone in..Boom. the power goes out. Our chargers use a lot higher voltage than is needed in Vietnam. Of course. The security guard comes over and tells me to move seats, to a closer PowerPoint, turns on the fuse, just for my corner, the fan is going and he tells me to plug my phone in, however it still doesn't work. He flicks all other fuses off and leaves mine on, sets me up real nice. Much to the disgust of the cafe in the corner that now has no power. I feel like such an ass. The next thing he asks is the classic question, "Are you married?" , I respond with a quick yes, and flash a photo of a mate and myself from this course and that seems to work, exiting iut of that picture he spies one of the thousands I have of my beautiful Nephew and says "ooooh baby too?" I panic and say yes. He gets up and leaves. Well at least I know thats the key. Kids are touching my hair through the window and I feel like a zoo creature. Only two more hours till the train comes.

Getting on the train is the exact same thing, everyone steers as I make my way to my seat. The seat numbers are weird so I sit down anywhere and look lost. A lovely man comes over as he speaks English and helps me to my seat. The people around me stop and point and make no effort to hide the fact they are talking about me .However the only saving grace is I look over and the seat behind me is another Western girl. We chat throughout the entire 15 hour journey while fending off other potential husbands. Arriving in Da Nang we swap numbers and head off to our hostels.

2 hours later Catherine and I are meeting up on the beach for some cocktails and a swim. The beach is stunning. It reminds me of Miami, white sand, warm sea and palm trees. Yet so quiet! A few hours pass and the rain is coming so we head home and call it an early night.

The next day comes and we are meeting up again at C's hotel for happy hour and to hangout with some other people that have joined the group! Now this rooftop bar was stunning yet it had a childs birthday party going on. Not the two best combinations. As a group we are pretty diverse! Three Australians, one American, one Portuguese girl and me! We head to a bar where they take song suggestions and it only seems right to put on six60 and see where the night goes! The bar seemed to love the song and in felt such a sense of pride!

I had to be at the airport the next day at 5.30am so at 4.00am I get back to my hostel for some much needed sleep. On my way in I get chatting to someone else (surprise surprise, make friends in a morgue). He is travelling south and will be in Ho Chi Minh at the end of the week, we exchange numbers so I can show him a bit more than just the tourist view. Heading to bed I know I'm not getting much sleep, but that's what the plane is for right???

Time for Hanoi!!