Won Tons N Breadsticks

Trip Start Dec 01, 1999

103

Trip End Aug 31, 2000

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Flag of Vietnam Da Lat, Vietnam
Wednesday, December 22, 1999

Dalat - City and Around (11)

Dalat - City and Around (14)

Dalat - City and Around (18)

HeyHeyanda Big G'Day toya

The group rose early and we began our journey north.

Before leaving I decided to rid some of my over packed things. I filled a plastic bag and before boarding the bus handed it to some of the local children whom sat across from our hotel each day. At first they bothered us but after a day or two they settled at our sight and became friendly instead of begging.

Today we were heading to the beautiful city of Dalat.

On the way we stopped at a road side Tobacco House. Here a family farmed tobacco. There was loads of it set on racks drying in the sun. It was a surprisingly interesting stop as I really had never thought about tobacco farming prior to it. Can't say I have thought about it much since but the thing is it made me think at the time! Thinking is a good past time. If it's done in a positive manner then continue do to so, it can only enrich your life. If it's done in a negative manner, discontinue all thought, format the hard drive and re-load your running software.

It'll take you no where and leave you a no-one, sadly mostly to yourself.

As we drove we passed large rivers with little towns made of river house boats. I guess it could be called a water community. We also stopped at a beautiful waterfall. It was so beautiful. At the bottom of the fall was a bridge that has always stayed in my memory. It was made of stone and had three arms meeting in the center. It reminded me of a spiral. Here we climbed up to a little hill side temple. Before leaving many had a ride on some of the elephants that smelt as much as the public toilets. They were rotten! A poor lady sat outside of them collecting money.

How she done it I have always wondered.

After a (I think it was over ten hours) long bus ride we arrived in Dalat. Arriving in Dalat after nightfall is not a bad thing. In fact, I think it is the only time to arrive. I remember coming over the last hill and looking at the town for the first time. The first thing that comes to vision is the town's mini Eiffel Tower. I laughed at first until I remembered the reason behind Dalats creation.

It is defiantly one of Vietnams more beautiful towns.

As it is located in the Central Highlands so this makes the journey there a visually stunning one. The city was created as a hill station to enable the 'big guys' to escape the heat and chaos of 'Saigon'. The city is set around a lake, surrounded by trees, waterfalls and beautiful countryside. I guess it's kind of Vietnams Kunming. Kunming is known as 'The Spring City' due to its climate and Dalat is known as 'the City of Eternal Spring' due to its climate.

It was in Dalat that I experienced my first real Asian Hotel room.

By this I mean a room of white tiles. Ho Chi Minh was hot during the day and hot at night so I never noticed. Dalat warm during the day and cool at night. The night was made even colder due to the stupid bloody white tiles! My hate for the Asian 'white tile' was born in the year 2000 in Dalat Vietnam and still exists to this day six years later in Tianyang China where I sit surrounded by them as I write!

We spent the next several hours eating and walking around Dalats streets.

It is such a charming city at night. Its little streets are alive and filled with people. Little caf� type eatery's can be found. I've never been to France, probably never will but when I think of France Dalat always comes to mind. Those who have been to both would probably throw a won ton or bread stick at me and call me stupid. Hey, as long as it's something to eat I'm happy.

Maybe you could throw me a beer afterwards!

Beers N Cheers toya...shane