Dalat
Trip Start
Feb 18, 2009
1
24
42
Trip End
Aug 10, 2009
Dalat,
Vietnam
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
My hotel in Dalat was very nice... two highlights... the first was the shower! It was the type with the multiple shower heads... SO nice! The other was the breakfast... mango, pineapple, grapefruit, passion fruit, papaya, banana, dragon fruit, watermelon, baguettes with... get this... PEANUT BUTTER, cold cuts, moo cheese, eggs and orange juice... all this included with the price of the room ($20US). My first night (13 April 09) I after supper I went to a place called Saigon Nite (a bar recommended in the Lonely Planet). I met Damien (Aussie) and we played a couple games of pool. I fell in love with the place and the owner was a real sweet guy. He played some great tunes too... something I really miss but thank goodness for my iPod!
The following morning (14 April 09) I walked to a place called Hang Nga Crazy House ('a guesthouse in the form of a giant surreal artwork'). It was built by Mrs. Dang Viet Nga who acquired her architecture degree in Moscow. Other buildings in Dalat have been torn down because they were not appreciated by the Dalat People's Committee but fortunately for Mrs. Nga, her father was Ho Chi Minh's successor so the house has been spared. I absolutely loved it... it's totally crazy and really kitsch but it brings out the adventurous kid in you! It was built using a child's imagination and reminds me of some fantasy movie for kids.
Later (after the rain... which comes every afternoon) I went for a run around Xuan Huong Lake and made a stop at the Dalat Palace Golf Club (voted the best course in Vietnam). Wanted to buy Jean-Guy a golf shirt but did not anticipate it would be as expensive as back home and I didn't take enough money so unfortunately he will only receive a towel! It is a beautiful course... especially after the rain.
That night I had supper at Peace Café (a local hangout where the Easy Riders of Dalat try and convince tourists to take a trip with them). Met a couple from Oxford who were teaching in Saigon and also staying at the same hotel... found out their room had a jacuzzi tub! Lucky! Later went back to Saigon Nite and played Connect Four with the owner... it was so nice of him to entertain me as no one else was there! Man do I suck at that game!!
Comments
HI MICH.
ˇHola! - I hope you remember that, ha, ha. How are things? -I am so, so happy to see that you are having a super time. - Have been meaning to write, but life happens in too many ways and keeps me busy. - Thanks for keeping in touch. Happy belated anniversary, by the way. - Take care my good friend, hope all is well and keep having the time of your life. Hugs, Ximena.