Da Lat, (pictures back)

Well, a short bus ride from Nha Trang, only 200km, took just 7 hours! After we left town the road surface got really bumpy and then we started climbing into the mountains, from sea level to about 5,000 feet where I am now. The road for the last 20k was just hairpin bends but our bus kept overtaking all the way up. Being so high it is beautiful in the day and nice and fresh in the evening. Lonely Planet (thanks Yvonne, just invaluable) describes it as alpine and it is, fir trees, French architecture, chair lifts the lot.

Stopped for lunch on the way at a roadside cafe and you are right Michael, it is frangipani and this was in their garden, scent was overpowering.



Took a look at the first golf course I have even seen in Vietnam, Royal?why? Da Lat. It did look beautifully kept, fantastic views and I thought about playing but the loan clubs are crap and they wanted $130 for a round!! So settled for a genuine Easy Rider tomorrow for $25 for the day and we are going to see all sorts.

The market here is a bit special and the flowers just spectacular. I added this picture just for Helen.



Can now see the blog, have found a card reader and am adding pictures to earlier posts. Will take some time to catch up though but have a look back through for changes.

Easy Riders

Get your motors running....well a 150cc Honda anyway. Met up with an Easy Rider in Nha Trang, Mr Binh, they have a portfolio of comments from satisfied customers and take tourists around for the dat/days on their bikes. In Da Lat they are on Harleys but here the humble Honda suffices.

Mr Binh speaks pretty good English and took me to Bo Ha waterfalls, a ruined Cham tower in Nha Trang and a couple of other beauty spots, 5 pounds for the day.





This is a bit like Blackpool, it has its sleezy side and it is full of Europeans but it is such a beautiful place. The bay is a big horseshoe shape with mountains rising on all sides reminding me a bit of Marbella but more beautiful, more lush and 3 dimensional.

On the walk to the waterfall we saw lizards, snakes (one big one at least 5 feet long), birds (a species of kingfisher I have never seen before) and fish.
We passed through typical famland and villages that look as though they have been the same for generations except for the addition of satellite dishes.

I am off as planned to Da Lat on the 7.30 bus, aim to spend 2 days there and then get an Easy Rider to Saigon. Well thats the plan, I am starting to think now about timing the return to Bangkok for my flight on 12th and still have a lot to fit in.

Internet is still a pain. I can not view the blog or see any comments but hope to add some photos later...I can edit and post new blogs but can't see it so hope it comes out OK.