Dalat
Wow... Dalat was incredible. I would've gladly spent longer here and missed Nha Trang for it.
The bus there may not have been the most comfortable ride of my life (literally got lifted off my seat a few times- just a bit bumpy!), but the town itself was so beautiful.
Being a small mountain town, the temperature drop was quite a shock to the system. Oh to be cold! It was brilliant. I think it was not that cold but because my body had been sweltering hot for the past 5 months or so, it wasn't used to it. I loved it! The town was so lovely.
From our hotel room on the 4th floor we could see over the tops of the colourful rooftops, arranged higglety-pigglety up and down the slopes of the mountain. So much greenery as well. We ventured out at night, where everybody was wandering the streets, the cafe's, and the market where the boys bought silly little toys to play with. At the market they sold woolen clothes and hats! In Vietnam! It was strange seeing them there.
The next day I had the most exquisite day, beginning with one of the most amazing strawberry and yoghurt drinks in the world (so amazing I had to have another one!). We slowly made our way down to the lake, and sat at a cafe and ordered 4 pots of different types of tea. I tries them all but as soon as they got 'less then hot' I tipped them over the side in to the lake.
We came across some horse and carts and decided to take a leisurely trip around the lake. It was such a beautiful day. Then we found a nice spot at the lake and relaxed. David had a kind of shuttlecock thing that you use a lot like a hackysack. It took a little while to get used to but we managed! At the start we were all playing, then Amy and Jack would sit down.. Then a couple of Vietnamese girls joined in. Throughout the afternoon different people would come and join in and others would leave. It was sooo cool!! I, of course, played the entire time. Until it started to rain. As soon as it stopped I was outside again, enjoying the day.
I had so much energy that night and no where to put it. We went to a cool restaurant and all the staff were awesome- all boys ;) When we left, every single staff member said goodbye to me! So nice.
After dinner Amy, Simon and Jack went home and David and I went to dingy bar and hung out and talked for a couple of hours- I had too much energy to sleep... so I talked! Haha.. Oh, and had some blue curacao.. mmm.
Dalat was, as I said, exquisite, and by far one of my favourite places..
Next destination: Ho Chi Minh City... or as the older locals still call it: Saigon
The bus there may not have been the most comfortable ride of my life (literally got lifted off my seat a few times- just a bit bumpy!), but the town itself was so beautiful.
Being a small mountain town, the temperature drop was quite a shock to the system. Oh to be cold! It was brilliant. I think it was not that cold but because my body had been sweltering hot for the past 5 months or so, it wasn't used to it. I loved it! The town was so lovely.
From our hotel room on the 4th floor we could see over the tops of the colourful rooftops, arranged higglety-pigglety up and down the slopes of the mountain. So much greenery as well. We ventured out at night, where everybody was wandering the streets, the cafe's, and the market where the boys bought silly little toys to play with. At the market they sold woolen clothes and hats! In Vietnam! It was strange seeing them there.
The next day I had the most exquisite day, beginning with one of the most amazing strawberry and yoghurt drinks in the world (so amazing I had to have another one!). We slowly made our way down to the lake, and sat at a cafe and ordered 4 pots of different types of tea. I tries them all but as soon as they got 'less then hot' I tipped them over the side in to the lake.
We came across some horse and carts and decided to take a leisurely trip around the lake. It was such a beautiful day. Then we found a nice spot at the lake and relaxed. David had a kind of shuttlecock thing that you use a lot like a hackysack. It took a little while to get used to but we managed! At the start we were all playing, then Amy and Jack would sit down.. Then a couple of Vietnamese girls joined in. Throughout the afternoon different people would come and join in and others would leave. It was sooo cool!! I, of course, played the entire time. Until it started to rain. As soon as it stopped I was outside again, enjoying the day.
I had so much energy that night and no where to put it. We went to a cool restaurant and all the staff were awesome- all boys ;) When we left, every single staff member said goodbye to me! So nice.
After dinner Amy, Simon and Jack went home and David and I went to dingy bar and hung out and talked for a couple of hours- I had too much energy to sleep... so I talked! Haha.. Oh, and had some blue curacao.. mmm.
Dalat was, as I said, exquisite, and by far one of my favourite places..
Next destination: Ho Chi Minh City... or as the older locals still call it: Saigon