Dalat
Trip Start
Jun 01, 2008
1
10
40
Trip End
Aug 27, 2008
Dalat,
Vietnam
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
So after our last entry, we had to stay in Mui Ne for the rest of the morning since our bus got cancelled to go to Dalat. So we just chilled by the sea in the hammocks and grabbed some food. I know ...tough life! So the bus finally came and it was tiny. Sean and I took the last two spots in the bus and we thought we were good to go...but no. We stopped several hotels after that to pick up more people, of which a family of 5!! So everybody piled up in the bus. Very legal as per Canada's law...ahah!! anyways, so on we went to Dalat through the mountains. We were in first gear the whole going up the windy road. It ended up being shorter than we thought so we were happy and just took the hotel right beside the bus stop when we arrived in Dalat as it was recommended by the lonely planet.
Yesterday, we went on a private motorbike tour through the country to experience "real" Vietnam. We had one guide for both us and he spoke pretty good english. He explained to us the origin of Dalat and its history. Then he brought us in the country to see gardens and meet some people. He then brought us to his home in the country where we had a delicious meal made by his mom!! WE also stopped at silk factory, mushroom farm, minority villages and other vegetable farms. It was simply awesome!! the guide was really good and we really enjoyed our day. We also tasted some fruits that we never had seen before. I would definitely recommend this tour to anybody. Oh yes, we also stopped at a pretty big waterfall and a pagoda (where buddhists meditate) where there was a giant smiling buddha. The tour lasted the whole day and we were quite tired by the end. Sitting on the back of a motorbike is not that comfy...especially for Sean as he is bigger. In the evening, our guide brought us to a bar where there was Vietnamese singing. Priceless, the girl was all dressed in a sexy cowgirl outfit!! She kept sending us "I Love You" messages from the stage!!
Today, we took it easy and woke up later. We went to walk around the market and teh lake the summer palace of the last king of Vietnam and finally we went to what is called the crazy house. It actually is a crazy house. This Vietnamese woman studied Architecture in Moscow and then came back here to design this house. It is huge and straight out of a fantasy book. The house has been on construction for 18 years now and it's still not done. It is reaaly hard to describe it and I'm afraid you will have to wait and see the pictures to understand. We then went back to the hotel to relax for a bit because we had walked for about 6 hours. Andra and Stefan stayed at the same hotel as well so we jsut hung out with them tonight. Tomorrow, we are taking the morning bus to Nha Trang, that is if it shows up.
Dalat is truly amazing. French people developped this city about 60years ago when they still lived in Vietnam. It has a lot of french architecture and there are lots of bakeries everywhere. There is even a small eiffel tour in the middle of the city! The climate here is also really good. It nice and sunny but cooler than anywhere else in Vietnam since we are in the mountains.
have been in Vietnam, Sean is complimented from everybody. They keep going up to him and say handsome boy , handsome boy. Even men compliment him on his look! Soon enough I will have to watch him ;P!!
The climate here is really good for growing vegetables and fruits and they are everywhere. Its avocado season apparently and there are tons!! We love it.!
More news to come...
