Under Pressure

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Dear Blog,

I feel stressed. Have had numerous emails from other people who seem to be reading this blog other than you. I can't believe it. I thought I could trust you not to tell anyone. All this stuff is personal you know, and although it is censored slightly (I mean my mum might even read it one day) its pretty much the jumbling of my mind in type. But anyway, apparently people are on tenterhooks!!! I know how ridiculous, but quite flattering I suppose, so now I feel a certain amount of pressure to write something terribly witty and interesting, which is hard at the best of times, but particularly today in the baking heat, after a 12 hour train journey through which I had to endure a man snoring all night, and now a failed bartering attempt, is going to be quite difficult.

But anyway, I dont want to disappoint, so let me get back to it......

So, the next day we boarded the bus from Saigon to Dalat a small town in the highlands, and after 8 hours of the worst driving I have ever seen, (for example overtaking on blind hairpin bends overhanging a cliff), and unfortunately choosing to sit on the back row- bad mistake, we made it to the really pretty town of Dalat. After chilling out in the V cafe (which became a regular hangout over the next few days)for a while deciding where to stay and trying to avoid all the touts (unsuccesfully), we then set off for our chosen hotel. With the bible in hand (aka Lonely planet) we followed the map to a little hotel on the other side of town. But, and this is where my dad would be turning in his grave, the map was incorrect!!!! At first I was in denial that the LP could possibly be wrong, but alas it was and we were completely lost, and were by that time too hot and 'overtired'. So we bought a map, realised we were miles away and caught a cab and ended up in a pretty dingey hotel. Another black mark for the LP. Anyway, after a nice meal and a beer or two peace and harmony was restored and all was well in vietnam.

The next day we spent the morning changing hotels and moving to a nicer end of town, one which had pavements without massive holes in it and a bit more chilled out. Found a great place overlooking the lake, with net curtains wrapped around the four poster bed. This is quite common in Vietnam I have since discovered, with bright red polyester bed covers. Classy. Also, the bathrooms are wet rooms which sounds good but if the ventillation is rubbish then they end up smelling foul, as this one turned out to do. But anyway, hotel rooms aside spent the day walking around the lake and then watched the england/portugal match on the telly. I was very excited, and I think it rubbed off on Dave, sorry david, who was equally distraught on the late equaliser. But I had been telling him the whole match that they would, so I think he was quite impressed with my football pundit commentry. I even had to explain the offside trap rule thingy.

The next morning we wondered down to the lakefront for breakfast eager to see if we could get something other than dry baguettes and jam, when we tried to order bacon eggs and tomato we instead received eggs, chilli's and pate which resembled cat food. Oh yes, and a dry bagutette. But at least a cup of yellow lipton tea saved the day.

I have to cut this one short as the man in the hotel wants to use the computer

Bye for now Fogg x

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Photos

"Breakfast in Dalat"
Pity you can't see the cat food and chilli's

From Dalat to Nha Trang
We stopped at a gorgeous lookout. This is one of my favourite photos so far.

Comments

[Andy]

and
still hanging!!!!!!!!!

[Catrina]

Please
You don't know the off side rule! I don't know who you are trying to kid, poor David could be being ridiculed now by a proper football fan!!!