Dalat to Na Trang

After visiting the cultural icons of Dalat in the morning, we had a free afternoon, used by most to have an afternoon siesta. In the late afternoon we went for a walk and watched a street parade celebrating the 40th anniversary of the end of the "american" war. It is generally referred to as the "american' war, to differentiate it from the previous wars with the "French", the "Chinese" and the "Mongolian" wars. This place has had a history of wars and invaders going back thousands of years. So they all fairly happy now to be running their own country. Viet Nam literally means  Viet Man as Nam is Vietnamese for man.

The cultural activities went on into the darkness with a stage set up in the city market area. We could hear it from our window at the hotel. These activities will be going on all over Vietnam during April, with the 30th of April being the official 40th anniversary, I suppose that was the date of the fall of Saigon.

More of the Lake

Uncle Ho again

Dragons

Not sure what these masks are about??

Lots of colour and movement.

This morning, after breakfast at what is a very ordinary hotel, we headed off on the bikes again, this time two bikes decided to breakdown, but after some short delays, we all got to our destination of Na Trang, by the sea this afternoon. The ride was easier today, not as long and in general much better roads (although there was patches of roadwork). Dalat is at a decent altitude 1500 mts, so it was a cool start about 8am, we travelled through mostly mountainous agricultural areas, then over another range and finally descending down towards the sea. A long part of the mountain section was through jungle, with big teak trees and lots of colourful flowering trees, yellows and purples and oranges.

As we descended down the heat really kicked in and it only abated as we neared the sea. You could smell the ocean as we approached, passing through rice fields as it was being harvested, so there was rice dust everywhere. In the narrow parts of the roads or where there is roadworks (or when they want to pass) buses come right over onto the wrong side of the road against oncoming traffic and you just get out of the way. They are bigger, biggest wins. They do not hesitate and wait for a break to safely pass, if they are the biggest thing, they just pull out and pass and everyone else scatters. Lots of Fun.

One of our stops by the side of the road on route to Na Trang.

Na Trang is called the Gold Coast of Vietnam, it is by the sea and has many cruise ships visit and hotels all along the sea shore. It is also very popular with Russian tourists, the hotel we are staying in (big improvement over last night) has signs in Russian, Vietnamese and English, in that order. One of the group thought we might be the only english speaking guests, but I am not convinced.

Most of us went to to Hotel Pool this afternoon after the ride here and a shower. A few cold beers while sitting in the pool was a nice way to spend the afternoon.  Tonight most us went to dinner at a local BBQ eatery where you cook your own food over charcoal burners. Very Smoky, but delicious and cheap. Beer supplied by the San Miguel (Philippino beer) girls (pic coming later maybe).

The Beach (across the road from Hotel)

Twisting by the pool

Views from the Pool area at Hotel

It is getting late and I cannot figure out how to get the Photos from the restaurant, taken with my phone, uploaded to share. That is tomorrows challenge. There is one more challenge I need to do, I need to get a photo of a local on a scooter with the family aboard. Someone said they that have seen six on a scooter, I have seen four, usually mum, dad and a couple of little kids, nearly babies, all riding on the scooter, the kids often seem to be sleeping. A woman was seen yesterday on a scooter, with a toddler on board, while texting on her phone and riding the scooter. Multitasking comes naturally here.

Tomorrow, it is snorkelling, Jet skiing, Parasailing and lunch, before a rest in the afternoon. On the bikes again the following morning.