It’s been just 8 days since I arrived in Nha Trang, and I’m already in awe! I'll add more details over time but this city has for sure touched my heart.
One fine afternoon in Manali July 24 is when Han told me how badly she is missing her favourite city - Nha Trang & how much she wants me to introduce this gem.
Han spent 2 years of her college here & re-built herself - her habits, schedule, goals! All her parts were in harmony here.
We decided to stay here 2.5 months. Some good stability before I go to home for Diwali & my wedding preparations (yayyyy!).
Nha Trang is a beautiful beach city in central Vietnam, one of the easternmost points. Just a 6-hour drive from Dalat and even has its own international airport.
Stay
We're staying ~2 Km north of city center (barely few hundred metres away from Han's university).
Staying at a 2BHK on 31st floor just opposite the beach. One of the most beautiful city-sea view in 1 frame.
There’s a significant Russian community in our building, with Russian as the second language on the signboards.
A room for disposing garbage just on the floor - one of the most hassle free waste disposals I've seen. 3 giant marts in the ground floor of our building (5 minutes to go & get anything)!
Shoppee is a blessing. Such cheap chinese stuff that works - Study table (Rs 1600), basic self assemble wardrobe (Rs 1500), portable extra screen (Rs 5k)
Culture & place
People here deeply love ocean & nature. It's like a giant swimming pool.
Everyone from children to 80+ adults - you'd see them all on beach early morning & evenings for the dip & exercises! It's a sight to watch - taking care of their body - their temple.
People sleep and wake up with the sun. Getting in the habit of sleeping & waking up early.
One of the most beautiful sunsets ever! Sun just comes out from the ocean.
Cycling, running & fitness in general is so common here. I get now why Vietnam has one of the least obesity rates in the world!
People playing badminton in courts at ground floor of building early morning. 6:30 is late
What I'm doing
Waking up between 5:30-8 AM generally and trying to sleep by 11 PM.
Loving cycling! We purchased cycles and damn I never knew how powerful the gears are. Life saviour when driving through mountain passes.
If I wake up before direct sunlight, I go for a 15 km cycle run else postpone it to evening. But we really like to have long cycle run 4-5 times a week.
Taking a dip in the ocean almost daily. Leave for beach around 4-4:30ish.
Making out time for my creative zone. I really wanna build project Prime. Perfect place for the same. Really want to work on my financial freedom.
Food
We're majorly cooking ourselves. 1 light meal a day we generally have outside.
Cooking is an art! How to cook - boil, stir fry, deep fry. How to cut veggies. What are condiments and how they give flavour. What happens when you put too much oregano or let rice noodles boil too much that they become sticky! From watching youtube on how to cut garlic to making sandwiches with half fry eggs - I am having fun!
Hate washing utensils. Though getting more normalcy to it like the sand in beach.
Cost of living - blew my mind!
Fully furnished apartment with Internet & building amenities ~ Rs 28,500
Nha Trang is relatively cheaper compared to tourist hubspots like Hoi An. Healthy & tasty meal per person for 60k VND (~Rs 230)
How I am feeling overall
Sense of stability. Loving that I have a place now where I can get back. A slow life. A place I can call home.
Routine is back. Waking up early. Sleeping early.
In touch with nature. Cycling, beach, swimming in ocean is a bliss.
Exercising well so most of my parts are happy with this achievement! Something I found too hard earlier and I didn't prioritise much. So happy :)
Me & Han regulating each other. Really getting to know our parts & proactively talking to them.
My current travel philosophy
It takes minimum 7 days to settle down to new location. Can be more. Generally hate this period but this has happened too often that I'm at peace with it. Helped me understand how nothing matters in life!
We get a place for 2-3 months minimum now. If we really hate it, we are not ourselves, we leave it after 1 month. Fuck the money - peace of mind is important. Else we give it full 3 months. See all the things that it has to offer.
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