Da Lat adventure day

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Hi all -
We are just back at the hotel after a rather boring day - riding elephants, being calmed in a Buddhist temple (including beautiful gardens), roller coasting down to a lovely waterfall and visiting a minority village and school run by a lovely volunteer teacher who loves her job. Today's adventures were courtesy of Easy Rider - we were pillion passengers on motorbikes out into a spotless countryside sorrounded by forrested mountains and clean lakes under blue sky :-) What a delight to be in fresh air away from tourists!!!! And to top it off, a magnificent lunch with our guides.

Our elephant was called Lo and she was 30-years-old. Her handler was gentle with her and gave her time off to find some sweet grass as she made easy work of lugging her Western load up and down hills for about an hour beside a picturesque lake.

The temple was soothing, with Buddhist monks dressed in yellow robes busying themselves on a variety of tasks, including banging a gong and lighting incense. The gardens were immaculate, with lots of flowers and topiary (and no rubbish).

The minority village was amazing - it was clear from the response of the people that Western visitors are rare. They were very shy yet allowed us into their homes (very basic shelters - fire without chimneys and animals below the floor boards). We called in to a school run by a volunteer teacher where the villagers learn their own language as well as Vietnamese. The kids had shining eyes, big smiles and were very excited when they could see themselves in our photos!

We also saw many coffee plants which is the villagers' cash crop. The money from its sale buys rice and meat. They also grow papaya, mango, taro and manioc etc.

So, all in all, a magic day in Da Lat.

Love to all
Us2
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Photos

Cabbages
These cabbages were being unloaded to be taken to the markets in Da Lat.

Kids
These were the faces that greeted us as we approached the minority village school :-)

The Whole School
- apart from three latecomers. Note how some of the little ones are trying to burrow for safety.

High Powered Village Advertising
Marketing is everything - especially in a village with no electricity, therefore no TV. Not that you could buy a packet of chewing gum within 10km from here.

LV and new friend
She wanted to hold Vince's hand. She was very shy, but couldn't hide her excitement. She didn't want to be in the main action, she just wanted to stare at us.

Comments

[Joan]

Hi....
Still sounding all so good - what's the temp over there - notice you've jeans etc on!

[kiwitravellers]

Thanks
Thanks for your message Mai1. Hoi An was brilliant. So nice to be in a small place with some lovely old buildings.

[kiwitravellers]

Temperatures
Hi Joan - love getting your messages. Dalat is known for it's cooler climate, being up pretty high. Being winter here our highs have been around 26C. But riding round in the forests it's much cooler. The locals are all wearing jackets! Apparently it gets a bit warmer in summer, but not much and it's not humid. Everywhere else it's been getting steadily warmer, from needing a warm jacket in Sapa to shorts and teeshirt in Nha Trang. Expected temp in Saigon is 32 and humid! And that ends tonight's weather report!!!

[Ginny]

Your Dalat adventure day sounds like a real highlight. How neat that you found a place like that. Isn't it special when you can get off the beaten tourist track and find the soul of the country.