Well it’s Saturday 26 March and here we are in the 5 star “Sofitel Dalat Palace”. Dalat was built totally by the French in 1893 as a resort area to escape the heat of Saigon. So lots of beautiful old French style villas and this hotel is one of the many attractive buildings.

The bus ride up took all yesterday and it was fine. We stopped at a tea plantation as they were picking. The women have baskets on their backs and razor blades strapped on each index finger over their gloves to slice the stalks of the leaves. It takes an hour for them to fill the basket with about 9 - 10 kilos and they get paid 10,000 dong (90 cents) for kilo! They were all laughing at us as we were intrigued how quick they were and of course wewere all taking their photos.

Picking Tea		Fish Farms

Stopped at a nice restaurant high up in the mountains for lunch and passed a village where they all live on thewater in huts with their fish ponds full of catfish. They were all linked together, so you would have to get on well with your neighbours. They all had TV antennas and one thin power line to land for everyone to share.

This evening we had dinner in the hotel dining room and it was quite magnificent with beautiful French style furniture and food to match.

Tomorrow we start our day at the old Summer Palace of the last ruler of Vietnam. An interesting day is planned with a stop at an embroidery factory where I hope to buy a nice tablecloth or some embroidery art works for our bedroom at home.

When we arrived in DaLat one of the sites we visited was a Pagoda where Vien Tuk (the 'crazy monk') lives. He is quite 'manic' and paints profusely and writes poetry - been doing it for 50 years – so you can imagine how many drawings, etc he has in his 'house' and workshop! Bought his little book as a souvenir.

With the “Mad Monk”		View of Dalat from Hotel

Dalat was established by the French in 1893 so lots of beautiful old French style buildings. Our hotel wassituated on the lake with beautiful gardens. We visited the silk embroidery factory where we had a tour. The girls aretrained for 5 years before they are employed by the company. It takes one girl 6 months to complete a picture. We bought 2 'paintings' which were only US$40 each - very cheap considering the workmanship.

The Summer Palace is a real art deco museum- left as it was when Bao Dai departed for France in the mid 40's. Walked through the fresh food market and saw live fish and eels in huge bowls. Lots of meat, fish and chicken not refrigerated covered with flies!!! At least it was undercover.

Bao Dai’s Summer Palace		Markets Dalat

The bus down the mountain from Dalat took 2 hours. Luckily I had my wrist bands on to prevent travel sickness- not good. Ross had bought us rolls and salad at the market and we stopped at a village cafe where the lady provided the drinks etc for our 'picnic'. Geoff provided the wine, a Dalat Red purchased at the markets for 30,000 dong (A$2.50). Not bad for the price.

A Drop of Dalat Red

Visited the Poklongarai Cham Towers built in the 13th century and stopped at a Cham village where they share their house with their family, pigs, chickens etc. The Cham people originated from India and number now only about 100,000 in total in Vietnam. They are mainly only found in this district. The children and adults were as fascinated with us as we were with them. We caused a near riot aswe distributed lollies to them.

Poklongarai Cham Towers		Cham Village People

We passed lots of rice paddies, mango orchards, cattle and even a few sheep on our way into Cam Ran Bay.