Ngoc Lan Hotel Dalat

... of the farms, we see this tree with huge pomelos (large grapefruits with thick skin). Pierre wanted one badly even though i've been working my fingers off peeling him 2 pomelos so far on this trip, using a tiny little Swiss Army knife...the things i do for that man, sigh. The farmer wanted 100,000 dongs for it and couldn't care less if he sold it since most people will pay big money for these beasts come the New Year celebration. A regular pomelo goes for ...

... remember the 8 hour day for 2.50 aiden across the border!!). This whole villages help each other out and animals and children roam free as birds under the communal suppervision. You got a real sense of happiness and family in the place and even tho electricty and TV have come in the last 10-15 years they still enjoy and love the simple things in life and put communal joy over individual or material wealth. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!! Another thing ...

... pirated version, as most dvds are in SE Asia).

We were chagrined to discover that the promised five hour bus to Da Lat ended up taking eight hours. We arrived at the small mountainous city at 3:30 p.m. and quickly found an extremely cheap hostel ($5/night for a room with t.v. and free Internet). Not wanting to waste the day, we walked to the Da Lat Crazy House, which is a hotel designed by a Vietnamese architect that studied in Russia. The guest house is comprised ...

... really beautiful and fun to just see riding on a motorbike
let alone checking out the sights. We didn't have enough time to get
out to any of the indigenous villages but we were happy with our fun
filled day.

We ended up going out for a late night snack our
last night and were once again surprised that it was such a high tourist
season,yet the whole town was dead by 10pm. We finally found a place
still open with vietnamese tourists still ...

... my original departure time, a plane pulls into the gate. Passengers...all bearing shoes, stream off. Phew! Must be a new plane!

Never did find out what went down. Just filed it away with yet another odd Vietnam Airlines incident. Along with the obnoxious family of fourteen yelling at each other from across ten rows as to where everyone was going to sit. They continue to play leap frog as the flight ...

... I can't really describe it other than some of it was a bit Gaudi-looking... and then there were 2 massive giraffes, a bear with scary eyes, a kangaroo... glittered mirrors... it really is the craziest house I've ever seen!
My driver, Truong, was great... and could answer all my random questions... and when I ran out of tissues (I've got a bit of a cold) he gave me his spare hankie bless him... reminded me of my dad who always seems to have hankies on him ...