Tay Ninh Province

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Hi All,

I had an eventful day yesterday, grouped up with 3 other people to rent a car (+ driver) to visit some sights in Tay Ninh Province. Tay Ningh is about 100km NW of HCMC and it is appearently the hottest province in the country.

We started the day by visiting CuChui tunnels which have been in existance for about 50 years, first being used to thwart French re-colonization attemps after the war and later on as resistance to US-backed Saigon troops. The tunnels were ingenious in resisting various attacks by US which has much greater firepower as well as technology.

Moving on, we went to the Co Dai Holy See which is the Vatican of CoDaism. CoDaism is a fusion of religious philosphies of the East and the West including Buddisim, Confucianism, Taoism, Christainity and Islam. I am sure I won't be able to give a proper explaination of it so I won't even attempt to do so. There should be info floating around on the net and you can always "google" it.

Finally, we rounded out the day by spending some time at the park at Nui Ba Den (Black Lady Mountain) which is a very pleasent park at the foot of the mountain which is about 850m above ground level. We also managed to take the chair-lift up the mountain where the temperature was much more bearable. There were come cave temples as well as an ornate Chinese-looking temple.

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Photos

Hidden tunnel
Can you spot the entrence to the tunnel?

Hidden tunnel
Stefan in the tunnel. Its quite small and I dont' think I can fit in it.

Guerrillas
Having tea with the local friendly freedom fighters.

Real Guns!
Check out the machine gun with live rounds. You can shoot all sorts of guns here from a desert eagle to US issue M-16 and of course, the AKs.

Crawling throught tunnels
Its dark, cramped and very claustrophobic. I don't know how VC soilders survived underground for years even though their physical stature was smaller.

Guerrilas
V for victory!

Big Foot
Literally this time.

Crocs
I wrestled this one to the ground before promptly chased out by the shopkeeper.

Co Dai Temple
Looks kinda like a cathedral with its twin towers in the front.

Co Dai Temple
Frontal view.

Co Dai Temple
All the windows were like this one.

Divine Eye
Kinda neat looking...

Mural
This mural greets you at the enterance of the temple.

Into the hall
At the side enterance to the great hall.

Chair Lifts
Up the mountain, takes 17min and costs 25 000 Dong each way. Not too bad, as the alternative on foot will take 3 hours each way. Oh the scenery is amazing.

Roller coaster ride
On the way down, it looks really neat but it was closed by the time we were ready to come down 5:45pm. Damn the lazy hours!

The rescue rangers
Reduced to carrying trash baskets at the park at the foot of Nui Ba Den.

Nui Ba Den
Monkeying around

Nui Ba Den
Reclining Buddah

Nui Ba Den
Overlooking the temples and the rice paddies beyond

Nui Ba Den
At the foot of the mountain with my commarades

Nui Ba Den
After a streneous climb to the top (about 30 steps from where the chairlift drop you)

Comments

[Darwin]

Your blog helps these late night work hours go by so much faster. Those tunnels look so wicked! hahaha you look like such a rebel with that machine gun.... you're no rambo but you'd at least give him a couple shots b4 he finishes you off.