Wooly Hats, Fur Collars, & Honeymoons

Our first destination with the Open Tour Ticket was Dalat, a city 1500 metres above sea level, built by the French to escape the oppressive heat of Saigon when it was the capital of French Indochina. Another bus journey to remember. We set off first thing in an older vehicle, and it quickly became apparent that it was a bit clapped out, even on the flat our driver had trouble finding some gears. Loads of different companies run Open Tour buses, and every one of them heading to Dalat overtook us. The flat was bad enough, but once we started to climb, funtime!!! At times the driver couldn't find the low gear, then he would have to stop, select first gear, and start again with a rattle. That was, after he had rolled back about five yards. Little school girls in bicycles overtook us. Nobody told us how steep this road was going to be. It was scheduled to arrive at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we limped into Dalat at 5:30.


We had booked a room through the bus company for 11 pounds, which believe it or not, seemed as steep as the road up, but it mostly saves some hassle. Minutes after getting off the bus anyone without rooms were being offered them for 5 pounds per night. Eileen asked to see one in the hotel opposite, and it was just fine, it also included breakfast, and free internet use. So we knew if our hotel didn't offer us a reduction after the first night, we would move AGAIN!!!!!
Our hotel, which actually was really nice had a beauty salon, so after the mega journey, we treated ourselves to a full body massage for 4 pounds each. GREAT!!!!



On our first night we went for a meal, couldn't believe how cold it is here!!. All the local Vietnamese were wrapped up in Wooly hats, Fur Collars, gloves, and boots. We shivered in between bites of food. Back in our room, which luckily had two large beds, we slept under both duvets. Normally all we need is our silk sleeping bag liners.
Our hotel wouldn't give us a good enough discount, so we moved to the Hoang Cung CM Guest House, which had a bigger room for 5 pounds per night.



Dalat is a traditional honeymoon location for Vietnamese couples. It has a mini Eiffel Tower, Lake with swan boats, horse carriages, and cable car. It a really nice place. We intended to hire bicycles again to tour the city, but we ended up with a tandem, which was good fun. We pedalled to the lake, railway station, Golf club, and the Crazy House. Well, we didn't quite pedal to all of them, some we had to walk up a steep hill to, especially the golf course.

Dalat Palace Golf Club, as far as I am aware is the oldest in the country. Since I've been golf celibate for 10 weeks, I thought it was worth a look around. Ended up chatting to some caddies, all female. It seemed to me that it was similiar to many Clubs in the Glasgow area like Drumpellier, Dullater, or Hilton Park. What suprised me most was the price of green fees, 45 pounds for a midweek round, although a caddy for 8 pounds is great value.
At the moment Vietnam only has 14 Golf Clubs with 27 in the planning including one on the border with Cambodia called the Friendship Resort, which will have 9 holes in each country. The 18th hole will play as a par 5 with the tee shot played to a fairway in Vietnam, then the 2nd shot plays over water on to a fairway in Cambodia. The third shot is played on to an island green, which has the border running through the middle allowing the pin position to be placed in either country.

After a stop at Dalat Railway Station, which is also supposed to be the oldest in the country, we cycled to the Crazy House. Don't know what to say about it, except to say that it is well named. It has rooms, which can be booked as a guest house, but be prepared for bus loads of tourists gawping every day. Each room has its' own design, such as the bear room, tiger room, kangeroo. Kids would love them, and it has a great view. Actually it is not yet finished , due to be completed in 2010.

The weather is fine during the day, although the locals can still be seen wrapped up in wooly hats, gloves, and fur collars. The nights are just too cold, it reminds us of Scotland, can't have that, so we are cutting our stay short, and heading for Nha Trang, on the coast.

On our last evening, we dined at the Art Cafe, which appears in the Roughguides book for Vietnam. It was full of fellow travellers, who i'm sure also picked it from a guide book. They hold an amazing power over establishments all over the world. Everywhere we've been so far, travellers with lonely planet books in hand, seek out recommended hotels and restaurants. These are usually busy whilst others, who are not in them, or have a poor write up, struggle to attract customers.


Forgot to mention my visit to the barbers in Ho Chi Minh City, a good haircut and a close shave with an open cut-throat razor for 40,000 Vietnamese Dong. The current rate is 33,000 Dong to the pound. Howzat for value!!

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