Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Thought bus was due to leave at 8:30am to go to Da Lat but turns out it was 8:15am so once again had staff at hostel chasing us up to get us in gear..... Think they must be glad we are now off so they can have a rest from chasing around after us!!! Had pre-booked into a hotel in Da Lat and the coach actually driopped us off outside this particular hotel so very convenient, ended up with a lovely twin room very clean and spacious with a double bed each, TV, fridge and en-suite all for $4 each a night, bargain!! I love this country!!
Next morning we were up and out of hotel at 8am and headed to travel agents whcih we had booked up cayoning with the day before. Got a mini bus to what appeared like a national park and headed through this to some rocks where we did a couple practice abseils to ensure we were competent. I was winding Daz up because for those who know him he is not a small lad and all asians are so I was telling hiom the ropes probably wouldn't be up to it as they are not used to setting gear up for someone of his physique (see I can be polite to the fat git when I want!!!), Dz was ttally bricking it since he had not absiled before however needless to say I completed these like a true pro and Daz survived with no rope problems and we were off and ready to hit the real things. We ventured deeper into the mountains and did our first absail into a pool of water below, where we then swam into the waterfall, really good fu. We then did another small decent and we were told we could now do a water slide into water. This consisted of lying in water at top of river and being taken over boulders and rapids to a pool below (not entirely safe me thinks and anywhere else health and safety issues would deffinately not permit this being undertake. However here we ou in Da Lat and have signed a waiver saying we take full responsibility ofr our activities and off went, Awesome couple more of thoise please!! Antoher decent down into a river and time to stop for some lunch. After this we headed yet further into mountains and stopped at our final decent whcih was down the middle of a huge waterfall. Group in fornt went first and they seemed to be well kitted up with safety ropes and the works to get out into middle of river to be hooked up to ropes to begin the absale (differant spelling each time since I have become Les Dexic and dont know how to spell this activity of descending down rock walls). When we did ours it was a case of be careful and dont slip to get to middle of river..... but then why they care they had the magic bit of paper with our signature on, beautiful Vietnam no rule no regulation and best of all no health and safety, get in!! This waterfall was hard work to get down as water was constantly gushing ito face which made for some difficult breathing techniques at times, and at one point I found myself dangling upside down in waterfall trying to get the hell out of there. Finally got to bottom to be greeted by a laughing bunch of locals and a smug Darren who had descened the waterfall pretty much trouble free, thtats probably because for someone that size it was just like standing under a pwer shower!! (hope your reading this mate!!). On way back to mini bus we finished off with a freefall jump into a pool of water from quite a height which with everything else encountered that day was brilliant and topped the day off a treat, loved it.
After back in town we went for a coffee and got playing card games with some locals which was good fun and Daz taught them a game which they picked up straight away and that without being able to speak a world of English, Brilliant. Went and grabbed some dinner and then walking home we saw a couple local girls playing a keepy up game with a plastic spring shuttle c*** type device. We joined in and controlling this shuttle is not as easy as these locals make it appear. This is a popular game and form of exercise as I would discover throughout Vietnam and you cannot go a dy without seeing somebody playing this somewhere all of whom are very good at it.
The following day we headed back to the travel agents in morning to meet 'Tom' our guide from the day before who was going to be cycling with us to the beach town of Nha Trang. Loaded bags into mini bus and set off for a short drive to a point where we would begin our ride. Daz spent whole morning whinging about bike and how it was like a Raleigh Shopper, just right for you then you girl!! Tom the guide was unable to keep up with us and had to keep stopping for him, or for Daz to eat (he is always hungry?) we had a 25km down hill where we were swooping down roads overtaking cars and motorbikes all the way, brilliant fun................ Stopped along way and had some lunch and were followed the whole way by the mini bus, which was good because at one point there was uphills and the heat was intense so we loaded bikes up drove and then out we got again, thats my idea of a good bike ride!!! All the way Tom was teaching me phrases etc in Vietnamese so all in all a fantastic days ride to the beach. Once arrived Tom helped us find a guest house we then had a beer and said farewell. Tom said he was gutted to be leaving as he had really enjoyed day and we offered to put him up for night in hotel so he could come out that evening (well room was only $8!!). He was well up for it, but driver had commitments and had to get back to Da Lat so sadly they departed and myself and Daz headed out for a cuple post bike ride beers.
- comments