Saturday, November 15th, 2003 – Day 270
I was a bit hung over so I did not leave my hotel until 11.00am. I had breakfast and walked to:
Po Ngar Cham Towers
This standing temple complex was built from the 8th to 13th centuries to honor goddess Yang Ino Po Ngar, mother of the kingdom. It was built over a wooden temple burned by the Javanese in A.D. 774. There were originally 10 structures; 4 remain. The main tower, or Po Ngar Kalan, is one of the tallest Cham structures ever built. Its square tower and three-story cone roof are exemplary of Cham style. It has more remaining structural integrity than many sites, giving you a good idea of how it might have looked in all its glory. In the vestibule can be seen two pillars of carved epitaphs of Cham kings, and in the sanctuary there are two original carved doors. The statue inside is of the goddess Bharagati, a.k.a. Po Ngar, on her lotus throne. It was carved in 1050. The Po Ngar temples are still in use by local Buddhists, and the altars and smoking incense add to the intrigue of the architecture. Detracting from the whole experience are kitsch stands and endless hawkers.
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Click on the picture to see it in it´s original size
Nha Trang – Towers (15-11-2003)
It was a 20 minute walk. It was 4000 Dong (.22 Cent) in. It was pretty small and there was not much to get excited about. There are TOO many offers of MOTORBIKE taxi guys shouting for business. It got annoying.
I then walked to the local market. It was interesting. On the facade this is a seaside town, but the market was very good when different animals sales, fruit sales etc.
I then walked to:
Long Son Pagoda
The main attraction at this circa-1930s pagoda is the huge white Buddha on the hillside behind, the symbol of Nha Trang. Around the base of the Buddha are portraits of monks who immolated themselves to protest against the corrupt Diem regime. After climbing the numerous flights of stairs, you’ll also be rewarded with a bird’s-eye view of Nha Trang.
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Click on the picture to see it in it´s original size
Nha Trang – Long Son. Sea the flooded fields (15-11-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in it´s original size
Nha Trang – Long Son. Reclining Budda (15-11-2003)
Good views from the top. Had to pass many postcard seller hawkers. It was free entry. The enclosure is closed from 11.30 to 1.00pm. only had a few minutes there. Funny thing is that I could have had more time but I visited the hill first. I can get paranoid when I get free advice. A local wanted me to get in earlier as I was walking up the hill but I ignored him as I thought it was a scam. You can too paranoid here and believe everyone is out to get you.
I had hear alt of horror stories regarding over charging foreigners but I have NOT encountered it really. I buy lots of snacks and bread rolls (3,000 dong) (.17 Cent) every day and have not been over charged. They have been nice, kind and courteous.
An update to the Flooding in Central Vietnam that killed dozens.
the heavy rains triggered deadly landslides and floods in central Vietnam for the second time in two months, killing at least 49 people, officials said Friday. The dead included 15 gold miners who were sleeping in their huts when a landslide buried them in Quang Nam province, 560 miles south of Hanoi.
Rail services and traffic on a major national highway were halted. Up to 20 inches of rain fell in central Vietnam between Tuesday and Thursday, according to the National Meteorology Center in Hanoi. Water levels have started receding, but more rain was expected over the weekend
The difficult thing I learned is that the troubles are yet not over, as tropical storm Nepartak, which pounded the central Philippines early Friday, killing four people and leaving millions without electricity, is expected to hit Vietnam within days.
I also visited nha trang main cathedral here today. It was large and interesting. It was quite beautiful inside and inside and outside was spotless. There seemed to a dozen people cleaning the place for Mass.
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Click on the picture to see it in it´s original size
Nha Trang – Cathedral. (15-11-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in it´s original size
Nha Trang – Street Monument. (15-11-2003)
The construction of Nha Trang Main Cathedral was started on Sep 3, 1928. Archbishop Louis Vallet had the top of the mountain blown off with 500 mines to obtain a flat surface of 4,500 m2.
In March 1934, the colorful windows were fixed into the domed doors and in the cathedral, completing more than ten construction items. Three big bells were supplied by the famous Bourdons Carillons company (established in 1786) and were christened in July 1934 and in October 1939. The big clock on the top of the cathedral was inaugurated in December 1935.
The cathedral was built with steel reinforced concrete with walls in top quality cement slabs. In general, the construction has a solid and strong structure with details getting smaller as they climb up the building.
The highest point is the place where the cross is fixed on the top of the church: 38 m from the surface of the street below. Although it was built nearly 70 years ago, the cathedral keeps its majestic beauty and its unique architecture.
I was just back in time for the New Zealand (All Blacks) V Australia (Wallabies). I watched it on my hotel TV. It was a good game and I am glad the host country went through. I hope France do the business tomorrow.
It was 4.10pm local time when the game started and it was dark when it finished. I went on the NET for a while and had a bite to eat. I went back to the place where I had the home made beer. Its only around the corner from the hotel. I was just passing but the owner made me!!! I had too much. I always do this before a day I need to get up early. I had nearly THREE liters. It came to 18,000 Dong (1 Euro). I was still in bed by 11.00pm but I was up all night going to the toilet. The beer was fine. It was just the large volume of liquid.
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Click on the picture to see it in it´s original size
Nha Trang – Market (15-11-2003)
I was to bed pretty early as I want to be up at 6.00am.