Pleasant day in Dalat

Dalat is a charming mountain town.  In the morning we rode around on the bikes visiting a few of the attractions.  First we went to the train station built by the French when they developed Dalat.  Chien got a little confused with his English which he does not usually do.  He kept saying we were going to a gas station and I kept wondering what could be so interesting about a gas station.  But the French train station was very nice.

Then we went to the ceramic pagoda.  The pagodas I have seen are so garish by my standards.  They are painted in bright colors and the statues wear loud clothing.  There is usually a wardrobe room as someone changes the clothes on the statues regularly.  There are also often neon lights so I think I am walking into a casino.  The ceramic pagoda looked like it was created by Gaudi on steroids.  In the complex there was also the tallest female Buddha made of flowers and the biggest something else as well.  Oh, the main pagoda is made of ceramics.  Hence the name.







Sometimes I think they are putting me on.

We rode to a cable car to take us to another temple, but the cable care was closed for repairs.  Oh, well.  And then to one of the many waterfalls in the area.  There is a mini roller coaster to the falls, so while we had a long walk down, we had a quick ride back instead of hiking up.

There is quite a lot of traffic in Dalat which I could not have managed three days ago, but I can turn now and weave around circles like the locals - almost.  I do everything considerably slower, but I get there.

And that was it for today.  I had a free afternoon.  I walked around Dalat for a while, and then had a little time to myself.  After dinner, Chien and I walked around the night market.  Just a pleasant day.

Oh, my travel problem du jour.  Well, actually, yesterday's.  When I went to unpack in Dalat, I realized that I had not zipped close the compartment of my duffel that I keep cords in, and the cord to charge my iphone was missing.  I didn't think I would be able to find an Apple store in Dalat, but Chien took me to a phone store.  It's an iphone 5; you really have that?  No problem.  How much is it?  $8.  I was shocked.  Last time I lost the charger for my laptop, it cost me $80 at the Apple store in New York.  I thought $8 was a bargain price for being an idiot.  When we plugged it in, nothing happened at first.  Then the phone gave me a message that it recognized that I was using an unauthorized device.  That's why it was $8.  Duh!  I just bought a Chinese rip-off, something I would not do at home.  But it is charging, so I am going with it for now.

Since I have a private tour, yesterday I asked Chien if they could extend my tour for one more day so he could take me to Cam Ranh Bay, about forty five kilometers from Nha Trang.  Chien, Huy, and Tom then went into a long, long huddle.  Finally he came back and wanted to clarify if I wanted the three of them or the tour company.  Everyone in Vietnam is an entrepreneur.  I told him I didn't care, but since I wanted to go by motorbike, it seemed like he might have to tell the company.  It took quite a few phone calls, but I think I have it arranged.  My three squires will stay with me for one more day to take me to Cam Ranh Bay.  They haven't told me yet what this will cost, but I was going to pay someone to take me there anyway.  I'd rather go with Chien who is a good guide and I trust.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the highlight of this week:  170 kilometer ride down the mountain switchbacks to the beach at Nha Trang.