Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
The road to Dalat from Mui Ne was insane...the windiest roads, if you can even call them roads, as often most of the road didn't exist! A lot of huge pot holes, which could even be bomb craters! But absolutely stunning views across the mountains, rice fields, and coffee plantations.
We arrived just after sun set and were not expecting to feel the cold! We were dressed in our shorts and t-shirts, whilst the locals around us were in jeans, jumpers, coats, wooly hats and scarfs!
We grabbed a nice freshly cooked corn on the cob from a street vendor, to help warm us up, and followed directions to a lonely planet recommended hostel, which turned out to be shut. So, after walking around for a little bit we stumbled across a very friendly and welcoming hostel (Phuong Hanh hostel), where we bartered for a private room with en suite for $9 a night.
To get to know the area we decided to find the market and try the local street food. One of the best things about travelling this country is that it seems each town/city/new place has its own delicousey, whether it be food or drink. We were drawn to a lady with a trolley full of various kabab sticks, so went for some chicken, quail eggs, beef parcels, and a whole sparrow. Chris also fancied some sea food, but just as he was about to order, we heard people shouting 'police!police!', and within seconds a large market area full of food stalls, and an array of plastic tables and chairs, had disappeared as the police drove around the corner. Only a short while later however, they had all set back up again and Chris had a plate of clams. Not quite full, we looked around for something sweet and came across a little stall selling hot drinks and cakes. We chose a selection of cakes, and washed them down with a hot peanut drink - very warming and yummy!
Having been non stop for a while we allowed ourselves a lie in and lazy morning strolling around Dalat. Such a beautiful place, up in the mountains, a lovely big lake, and French colonial buildings. It reminded us of a French ski resort in the summer.
We hired a moped for the afternoon and went exploring. Dalat was pretty crazy for driving, but Chris was excellent, especially with my navigating taking us several wrong turns (confusing my lefts and rights!). But I did eventually get us to Datanla waterfalls, 7Km away. With the option to walk or take a 'roller coaster' down the mountain, obviously we took the latter. It's a cross between a tabogen, luge, and roller coaster, as a tabogen sits on metal tracks but you're in control of the stopping and starting. Clearly I would not be trusted being in control, so Chris took charge and made sure we had a pretty scary and exhilarating ride down to the waterfalls.
The waterfalls were beautiful, and a short climb down a path led to another large waterfall and views down the mountains.
We made the 7Km journey back to Dalat, and then 10Km South East to find the Dragon Pagoda. A 100m long Dragon decorated in all different coloured ceramic. Just riding around the countryside was so lovely, seeing all the coffee plantations and flower farms, and constantly being waved at by locals. It made me realise that a motorbike is definitely the best way to see the area, much more at one with nature and the local people, compared to being sat on a tour bus gazing out of a glass window.
We then headed back to the city to visit the 'crazy house'. As it is named, it is pretty crazy. A building where Alice in Wonderland meets Gaudi. Then, taking a gamble with time, we raced 6Km South to find Truc Lam meditation centre. Arriving with 4 minutes until the gates shut, they kindly let us in, and we rushed up the stairs...where within an instant something hit us both and we felt an overwhelming sensation of relaxation and calming. It was incredibly peaceful, with just the sound of wind chimes, smell of incense burning, and absolutely stunning views over the mountains and lake. The gardens were full of exotic colourful flowers, including one of my favourites, the bird of paradise. It was a mixed blessing arriving late, as on one hand we had the place to ourselves, but on the other hand we would have liked to have spent a lot more time here.
We rode down to the lake to watch the sunset before heading back to the city.
After dinner we went back to our dessert lady, tried some different cakes and this time opted for the hot soya bean drink.
The next day we took a group tour out to the countryside. Our guide for the day was a very sweet, young Vietnamese lady, who spoke excellent English. The first stop was at a flower farm. Dalat is the biggest producer of flowers in Vietnam, and you can buy a dozen roses for just $1 here! We stopped by a minority village to meet an old man from the Kha tribe. Vietnam has 54 different groups of people, with 84% of the population being Vietnamese. He had a small patch of land with a few coffee trees and some live stock out the back - apparently black pigs are the most tastey!
Next stop was a cricket farm (for eating), which also brewed rice wine, and had crocodiles, guinie pigs (for pets or eating), rabbits, porcupines (for eating), and monkeys (as pets). A weird and random stop off to be honest.
We moved on to a silk worm factory, and saw how silk was taken from the silk worm cacoons and produced into silk.
Then we arrived at Elephant waterfalls. A short climb down provided us with incredible views of the biggest waterfall we had seen yet. It was stunning. We also met some ladies silk weaving, creating scarfs, bags, throws etc. Very talented and a very time consuming job.
Our last stop before lunch was the Linh An Pagoda, aka the 'Happy Buddha', and happy he was! This huge Buddha had a massive smile on him.
Lunch was all locally produced food and prepared by locals. Then we went for afternoon coffee at a coffee plantation. Vietnam is the worlds second largest exporter of coffee. The main types of coffee, going from the most expensive to the cheapest, include: moka, arabica, cherry, and robusta, with weasel produced versions of each coffee bean adding extra taste and value. The Vietnamese use weasels to sniff out and eat the very best of the coffee beans. They do not digest the actual bean, just the outer layer, and so they poo out the cluster of beans, which are then cleaned and roasted, ready to use.
We sat overlooking the plantation and mountain range drinking a weasel moka coffee and robusta coffee. Proper coffee drinkers now!
Our final stop of the day was the Old Railway Station, which is not used for travel anymore, just a tourist attraction.
We asked to be dropped off at the lake side so we could take a stroll, enjoying the last warmth from the sun. We were joined by a Canadian man, Fletcher, who was keen to grab a cheeky beer with us and tell us all his stories and recommendations for SEA.
We went back to our dessert lady again to try the third and final hot drink, green bean - my least favourite. Dalat is also known for its strawberries, so on our way to her we bought some strawberries and some strawberry jam to eat with our cakes. Chris was keen to leave the jam with the dessert lady as a small gesture, which she seemed very grateful for.
We spent our final day in Dalat canyoning!! The day began on dry land at the Datanla waterfall (where we had been two days before), learning the basics of how to abseil. The first descent was an 18 metre dry abseil, but of course ending up in the water, which took your breath away when you entered, it was that cold! Then just for fun we got to jump off a large rock back into the water for a 'swim' under the waterfall, and a group photo. A short walk along slippery rocks and muddy ground, we entered back into the water and took it in turns going backwards down a 'waterslide'! It looked worse than it was, as it looked really bumpy and rough, but actually it was quite a smooth ride. Although Chris did get a tad bashed around.
Another short walk later and we took it in turns for the frontwards facing waterslide, a little more bumpy, and quite a submersion at the end.
The second abseil was another dry decent, 15 metres. Then the real canyoning began...a 25 metre abseil down a powerful waterfall. It was pretty nerve racking and tough going. To top it all off, we had to stop 4 metres from the end (we were told 4m but pretty sure it was higher!), bend our knees, and push ourselves backwards, letting go of all the ropes, and free falling into the water. Some people took the instruction of falling backwards quite literally, including Chris, who entered the water on his back! Others, like me, just jumped backwards, entering feet first.
Once everyone in the group had made it down we sat at the bottom and had a picnic - bread, meats, cheeses, salad, and plenty of fruit.
A short walk later we had arrived at a cliff jumping spot. The guides made sure to remove the men's abseil clasps to protect their man bits. An 11 metre jump (for the men!), and 7 metre jump (for the women!). The catch with the 11 metre jump was that you had to take a run up so that you jumped far enough away from the rocks beneath you! Being careful of course not to trip over any poking out rocks on your run up! Crazy! Chris got swept up in the moment and attacked the 11 metre jump, followed by the 7 metre jump, and I did the 7 metre jump. Great fun!
The final, and most difficult rappel, was a 16 metre decent into what's known as 'the washing machine'. Our instructions were to abseil until your feet don't reach the rock, then slowly lower yourself until you touch the water, and then let go...well easier said than done! This did not make any sense when you were actually doing it, as the waterfall was pounding down on you, so you had no idea when you would touch the water. I must have been under the water being washed and bashed around for about 15 seconds!
To warm us up we had a 20 minute hike back up the mountain and short drive back to the hostel for a nice hot shower!
The great thing about these experiences is the team bonding, and we made great friends with a couple from Ireland, Lynzie and Gary, who we went out for drinks with that evening. We found a very quirky bar called 100 Roofs, which was quite similar to the Crazy House, with weird and wacky decorations, and many hidden corners and levels.
Of course we paid one last visit to the dessert lady, ordering our favourite coconut cake, and mixing the peanut and soya drink.
The next morning we were up early to make the long, windy, journey down the mountains and over to Nha Trang.
- comments