Evason Ana Mandara Villas Dalat

... We all hoped the driver would be smart enough to let the traffic up front clear up so that he can pick up enough speed and momentum to go uphill in one shot. Thankfully, he did - when he pressed the gas, Pierre started shouting at the top of his lungs "GO! GO! GO! GO! GOOOOO!!!!!" (no he's not shy when it comes to transportation !)startling the driver into action and urging him on. When we got to the top of the hill, everyone sighed in relief ...

... for money at $20 a night (the ensuite shower is fantastic) and that's before I've had the breakfasts which are supposed to be REALLY good. <br><br>After nearly 2 weeks in Saigon, it really feels good to be here, I feel like my trip has begun. I am dependant upon myself now and I can't wait to get up and out tomorrow (after lingering over the breakfast of course..).

... it to the bottom with some very bruised knees and was very shaky but it was a great experience. I opted not to go again, but Drew couldn't wait to give it a second go! His second attempt was pretty smooth (he's such a pro) and he seemed to enjoy it no end...<br><br>The day ended with yet more trekking followed by a 7m jump into a lake. I don't think 7m sounds that high but it really is! We both did it twice...<br><br>It was so much fun canyoning but we were both totally battered and ...

... and the surrounding areas the day after. <br><br>And was it ever worth it! We saw coffee farms, tried locally brewed whiskey, played with local ethnic minority kids, Niall even tried the local tobacco. We went all over by motorbike, got peed on and loved every minute of it.So much so that we signed up for a five day tour starting tomorrow from here to Hanoi. The one thing that was no so much fun was every Easy Rider who we didnt book with ...

... food lovers paradise. We have been eating loads of seafood here as its lovely (and cheap cheap!) and I just would never think of eating Octapus, squid or catfish. We ate some baby shrimp in a jelly like substance and you could see their little eyes poking through!! Crunch crunch! After lunch it was our final ride down the mountains where it started to rain and as the clouds rolled in through the valleys a little lighting storm started and it was just bliss. As you ...

... pirated version, as most dvds are in SE Asia).<br><br>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<br>let alone checking out the sights. We didn't have enough time to get<br>out to any of the indigenous villages but we were happy with our fun<br>filled day. <br><br>We ended up going out for a late night snack our<br>last night and were once again surprised that it was such a high tourist<br>season,yet the whole town was dead by 10pm. We finally found a place<br>still open with vietnamese tourists still ...

... encourage them to hurry up...all this while the plane is taxing down the runway!<br><br>After a short flight, we begin our descent into the mountainous area surrounding Dalat. From up above the landscape looks like a patchwork quilt of browns, reds and shades of green pieced together. No skyscrapers, no busy highways, and best of all, no motorbikes in site! Woo hoo! We land at an itty bitty building, posing as an ...

... impressive local waterfall, which we looked over first to appreciate its power. <br><br> <br><br>After that the guys asked us if we wanted to walk down underneath the falls to get a different perspective, which sounded cool, so off we set, climbing over loads of ...

... a motorbike, but a proper motorcycle. We were speeding along and really leaning into the turns...good time! I know that it's just the "stupid boy" in me, but I want a motorcycle now. <br><br>I had a great dinner &amp; drinks last night with another American and an Irish couple. I have to admit that Brad was the first American that I've met on the road that I really hit it off with. Don't read anything sexual into it...I've just found ...