The fatigue gnawed at us, the delayed flight a final act of defiance from the travel gods. The original 11 am departure had morphed into a 6:50 pm scramble, leaving us a weary mess by the time we touched down at Cam Ranh Airport at 8 pm.The airport itself, however, proved a welcome surprise. While we landed at the domestic terminal, the international terminal gleamed with a futuristic allure. Awaiting us was a representative from the Marriott, a beacon of efficiency in a sea of travel-induced languor.
The drive to the hotel, arranged by the Marriott, unfolded like a dream. The coastal road, a ribbon of asphalt carving through a verdant peninsula, was blessedly devoid of the frenetic symphony of honking that had assaulted our senses in Ho Chi Minh City. Here, a languid peace reigned. Even the humidity, that oppressive Singaporean constant, seemed to have taken a holiday. My skin, usually slick with perspiration, felt strangely dry, a refreshing novelty.
Check-in at the Marriott was a marvel of modern technology. Facial recognition cameras, a testament to the relentless march of progress, ushered us into a world of sleek design and impeccable service. Faced with the choice of a speedboat or a cable car for our transfer to the island, we opted for the latter. The prospect of a panoramic vista trumped the allure of maritime transport. Our decision was richly rewarded. As the cable car soared upwards, the island unfolded beneath us, a tapestry of emerald green and sapphire blue. The wind, however, possessed a mischievous streak. Every attempt at movement within the confines of the car sent it swaying precariously, prompting a stern decree from Yit Peng, as she’s quite susceptible to motion sickness.
Emerging from the cable car station, we were greeted by the beaming smile of Ethan, his youthful exuberance a tonic for our weary spirits. Dinner, a bounty of fresh seafood glistening with oceanic allure, awaited us at the resort's restaurant. Irene, her warm embrace a balm after a long day, joined us, while Raymond, consumed by the all-encompassing pursuit of Pokémon, remained elusive for the moment, but soon joined us.
The symphony of flavors that night was a testament to the bounty of the sea. The prawns, skewered on satay sticks and grilled to smoky perfection, surrendered their crunchy shells to my shameless greed. The clams, bathed in a delicately spiced broth, were an ode to simplicity. Tiger beers, frosty and refreshing, and a few other dishes rounded off a truly memorable meal.
The sheer scale of the Marriott Nha Trang, both the sprawling resort and the capacious rooms we had booked, defied expectations. Four rooms, intended to accommodate a boisterous party of eight adults and four children, at a maximum will not only hold the 6 of us. A quick tour revealed the merits of the ground floor options, and soon, decisions were made. Shiqin claimed one, while Yit Peng and I settled into another. Ethan, ever the independent soul, had already staked his claim to an upstairs room, the other one taken by Irene and Raymond, I suspect will be the Party Room. Their flight from Hanoi, thankfully, had been spared the tribulations of delay.
Exhaustion, a heavy cloak, descended upon us. The day's events had taken their toll. Thankfully, the agenda was blissfully devoid of further commitments. A final flourish of travel journaling, and then, blessed silence. Sleep, a sweet oblivion, claimed me soon after.
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