DALAT: translation: Want to come back. We boarded our minibus for the long climb to Dalat. We climbed mountainous roads (elevation 1500 meters) through pine forests and more greenhouses than we had ever seen. After checking into our 1 ½ star hotel (great value for the money) we walked past the central market and along the shore of a long lake in the center of town. We had the lake to our right and the Dalat International Golf Course to our left. At the end of the lake we discovered the Dalat floral gardens. Amazing how many flowers were already in bloom even though it is only early spring. We took taxis back to the hotel where the committee (Chairman of the board, Meeda Beew, translation: Mr. Bill) decided to go for a cable car ride. ... read more

We celebrated Bill's birthday by overindulging (again) in good food and drink. After our strenuous but enjoyable hike we had an excellent night's sleep. After much discussion, the committee reluctantly decided to take one more trek. Our sore legs soon felt better as we encountered new and interesting things. A water powered rice husker, soap stone carver, the beginnings of a communtiy house being built, a vat of cardamum juice that we tasted, meters of cloth drying after being dyed by Hmong women using indigo plants. Cat Cat was an very interesting village. A beautiful water fall was waiting for us at the end of the village. 1200 feet down and 1200 feet back up. We were offered motorbike rides to the top but opted to walk inspired, courtesy of Lynda and Roger, who were singing ... read more

Valentine's Day and The 15th No gifts on V Day!!!! Darn it. Went off to the Old Quarter to explore. Discovered many, many people live in Hanoi. In the street market you can buy any and everything, including live fish, eels and BBQ meats including, yuck, dog. The aisles were just wide enough for people, but it didn't stop motorcycles from passing through, almost over top of us. Each street had a different flavor depending on what you were looking for. After exploring in the hot sun, finding cold beer in the little open air pub was priceless. We went to Hoan Kiem Lake to see the Ngoc Son Temple Pagoda on an island in the lake. We searched for the legendary golden turtle, only to find one little deceased one, but a couple of live ... read more