Golf 3 Hotel Dalat

... These are then picked up and roasted to perfection and are the most expensive coffee in Dalat. It sells for 100,000 dongs ($6.50) a kilo... Did i mention i LOVE this country? Somehow, i remain skeptical about the weasel story, i mean how many can they eat to get enough beans to make tons of coffee but i digress;
- rice wine making: anyone with a bit of rice, some yeast and clean water can make this wine with a recipe from the internet. It tastes a ...

Vi v*kn*r p* morgonen och *r r*tt risig i kist*n efter g*rd*gens buffe, men tving*r i sig lite m*t i*f.

check*r ut fr*n hotellet och p*borj*r den tuff* v*ndringen till v*r*t ny* 4 stj*r**** hotell, en m*rsch p* c* 10 min. Tufft,

Vi kommer till hotellet och mots *v en j*ttegl*d m*n som t*r i h*nd och fr*g*r v*d vi heter och v*rt vi kommer ifr*n ...

... is the second biggest producer of coffee in the world after Brazil. I had no idea it was even in the top ten. We then went to a small family run silk factory and seen the whole process from worm to cocoon to thread to weaving lovely fabric and after that went to an amazing waterfall where a path allowed us to get right down to the bottom of the watefall where the cold spray was class on a hot day. Seen some traditional hand weaving of silk before we headed off ...

... off of the coast of another island for "snorkeling," sunbathing and optional para sailing. We jumped in the water with our snorkeling gear and were cumulatively very disappointed to discover that the water was very mucky and all the fish had been scared away by the pack of tourists accompanying us. We ended up enjoying a fifteen minute swim before heading to the roof of the boat for sunbathing. Next we headed to another island where lunch was served. It was literally a ...

... big there was no
point in staying right on the beach for us (though it would have been
nice).

The town was pretty much dead when we were there
because we came during the down season though you wouldn't know it with
how little they discount the rooms. ;) Both nights in town were super
low key and most places started closing up by 8pm if they didn't get
buisness. We became friends with a local at a book exchange and he
offered to go ...

... I appeared to be a burden and was taking up space...

Fortunately, I am in a better place now - Dalat - a quaint mountain town, north of Saigon, described as "The Paris of Vietnam!" Getting here via the domestic airport in Saigon was a yet another interesting experience. As I wait to board my plane, I notice a group of security guards congregating just outside the entrance to my gate. (People watching at ...

... as Thailand!
I am managing to eat the noodles with chopsticks... it doesn't look very elegant but I've never been an elegant eater and the important thing is they do get into my mouth right?!
Kim left at 8 and I was due to meet Ali, Charlie, Malia and Matt at the cheap bar at 9... expect they were all late so I was sat with drunk old locals (and a Swiss couple to be fair) who ensured my glass was never empty, fed me bar snacks like quail eggs and popadum ...

... in it.



Next we wound our way into a small village where we got off the bikes and waded through the muddy fields to inspect some of the local crops.



It was very slippery, so Katie decided not to go right to the top of the hill, and to ...

... back on the bus, and after 2 pointless and excessive stops at various holes in the ground ('cafes', technically) we started climbing up into the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

A few hours later we finally stopped somewhere interesting, a glimpse of a hillside temple which we couldn't be bothered to walk up to, thank God for big zoom lenses ;)



Soon enough we were back on the bus and climbing ...