Reflection by Kylie-


     It was dark and while all the guests were asleep, Punahou students found themselves dragging their bodies at 5o'clock into the lobby. We loaded the bus and chased the rising sun down the road. After about half an hour we wound up in a tourist stop on our right and a mountain of red/orange sand on the left. We hiked up the steep hill and gasped in awe at the sand dunes. The sunrise was a bright orange with a red tinge, no other sunrise could be compared to the way it reflected into the sand. When we got back to the hotel we headed straight to the buffet breakfast. A mixture of western and asian pastries and assortment of meats covered three tables.
       After our delicious breakfast we lounged by the pool and swam into the pool bar to munch on  french fries. Then we headed down to the private beach and rested in the cabanas to watch the jet-skies zoom past us. Later for lunch we walked down the road to a "Korean" restaurant with an interesting selection of "Korean" food. Might I just say that it did not beat Korean Airlines bibimbap! But anyhow we had a photo-shoot for Vdang and Minh. Unlike the western culture where it is tradition that the groom may not see his wife until she walks down the aisle, in Vietnam it is a custom where pictures of the bride in her dress with the groom are taken before for the wedding party. We paraded around the beach and pool while we all snapped wedding pics for the soon to be husband and wife. There even was a "professional" underwater photo shoot  by  the one and only famous the photographer. Some of you may know her by the name of Mandy M. Props to Mandy for getting wet and taking one for the team.
    Throughout the day all of the girls scheduled appointments at the Zest spa in the hotel.  With a wide selection of treatments, Sophia and I opted for a package. After a deep coffee rub, cooling aloe wrap, milk & flower bath, and lemon citrus massage, we waltzed out of the spa feeling like new people.
     So far this trip has been filled with many different foods and exciting, new experiences. We opened our eyes to the Vietnamese culture and ways of bargaining. Watch out parents, us girls are coming back ready to shop til we drop as we have learned in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Every day our group is getting closer and Vdang is getting funnier by the minute. #vdang Can't wait to see you all soon, but for now we are still relaxing in our ocean front rooms. I can't help but wonder, how did we ever get so lucky to wind up in a stunning resort in the middle of nowhere? Vietnam... That's why!

(Editor's note: Vinh is getting married in June to Minh. We had a fun pre-wedding photo shoot!)