Blogs from Da Lat, Lam Dong, Central Highlands, Vietnam, Asia - page 8

After Mui Ne, we got a bus to Da lat in the Central Highlands. We had planned to go canyoning in the mountains but Gabrielle had caught a cold so instead we just did some sightseeing around town. The first thing that we noticed when getting off the bus was how cold it was. Situated high in the mountains, the altitude brought in icy mornings and evenings. The quaint, hilly town also felt more like you were in the French Alps rather than Vietnam. The streets were very pleasant to stroll around which is part of the reason why Da lat is known for being a retreat for Vietnamese honeymooners. The other reason would be the picturesque, natural surroundings around the town, where the mountainsides are filled with tall trees. The area has lots of lakes, ... read more

Happy New Year to One and All! Well, it's been a long time since the last update and my golly gosh a lot has happened. It's set to be the longest blog entry ever, so get yourself a cuppa and myself and the Mrs will take turns to update you on the last month's shenanigans..... Hoi An We went to Hoi An for Lucy's birthday (and an excuse for another holiday). It's a little old town that has got a bit too touristy but it's still very, very pretty. It's famed for it's tailor shops (there's literally hundreds of them), and so, when in Rome and all that. We both picked up a made to measure coat each. We had thought they would be suitable for English winters but following the road test just before Christmas, ... read more

Greetings! I started my Round The World backpacking journey October 10, 2006, 50 months ago today. Prior to leaving on this trip, I had traveled and seen much of South East Asia every year since my first time to Thailand back in 2003 (back when I was a naive "suitcaser"), but this time I wanted to see and experience much more, and on a much deeper level. In some ways, 4 years and two months later, I feel I have accomplished this so-called goal, though there is still so much to see and do, people to meet, foods to try and adventures that await. 50 months on the road is a long time. Yes, I have been back "home," but only for short stints, much like a stopover in any country before heading back out again ... read more

Our first stop was Dalat, right up in the highlands, and the first very noticeable change was the temperature - for the first time in a while we were chilly! I can't think of a better way to describe Dalat than 'charming', although that sounds slightly patronising. It's a little town in the middle of the highlands and so set out that you can look out over it at night and just see a flurry of lights. It feels like a bizarre combination of east meets west - the locals still have stalls lined up along the streets, although they are interspersed with games arcades and restaurants. There is even a radio mast built to look like a mini Eiffel Tower. We enjoyed the local claypot dishes and very much enjoyed the local Dalat wine which ... read more

Dalat - truly Autumnal weather which reminded me of the good and bad bits of Wales. Lots of rain, cold weather in beautiful surroundings. Stayed in a place called 'The Pink House' - the owner Rot gay as a window, but very charming in his own right. Booked an 'off-the-beaten-track' tour for my birthday. This consisted of driving around the mountains on a scooter. Woke up at 6 after getting to bed at around 2.30 the night before. Fair to say I was in a slight grump to begin with. The pounding rain outside didn't help matters. Our tour guide, Sun, was also a smiling, giggling fruit-case which helped with any rain-induced misery. Set off at 7am. Quickly realised the faster I drove, the more the rain would physically hurt my face. Arrived at a cricket ... read more