Vietnam - Da Lat

Sinh Giao (hmms - is that how you spell it?! haha) from Vietnam - Da Lat!

This week has been absolutely AMAZING! I am having the best time ever. I still can't believe that I'm here in South Vietnam. I wish there was more time to blog everything that I've seen, smelt, tasted and heard - but there's just no time at all!

Our seven day tour comes to an end tomorrow and I'll be in Soc Trang hanging out with the relos! It'll be the first time ever I'll see my Grandparents and all the many "15 or so" aunties and uncles and the many many "30 or so" cousins. Will definitely be an experience I won't forget.

I'm blogging at the moment in the Da Lat Post Office - which is so conveniently located opposite the 4-Star Novotel Da Lat Hotel! =) It's soooo slow - they still use dial up here, but I shouldn't complain cos I should be lucky that they even HAVE internet access here. And it's so cheap - only costs 2,000 dong/hour (which is equivalent to about $0.17/hr AU)!

The unforgettable differences that I've encountered while here in Vietnam include:

• Crazy traffic - seriously there are NO RULES here! Everyone just drives anywhere and only gives way to people if they think they're about to be hit. I was in total shock when I got into my first vehicle
• Ooo - crossing the roads are also EXTREMELY difficult. I almost nearly got ran over numerous times!
• Everything is SUPER CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP - no joke! I've bought soo much crap this week and it's only cost me so far $100AU!
• There are soo many beggars here and we're constantly being told to look after our belongings and be aware of pick-pocketers =P
• The lifestyle living here is simple and it makes you appreciate what you have back in Syd
• You have to BARGAIN ur ass off here. We look different (ie. tourists and not one of the locals) so when you ask them for the price of something - they always DOUBLE the real price. So you HAVE to BARGAIN or you'll get majorly ripped off!!!! Even if it is already super cheap! haha
• The food here is soo yummy - I've been eating like a pig! No joke - I reckon I will have gained an extra 2Kgs when I come back. I'll definitely miss the food here *pouts*
• The Craft & Arts are to envy - the things the people here actually make from hand is absolutely gorgeous!

Everywhere has been absolutely beautiful! I'm seriously considering the possibility of living here. If I had to choose between the places we've visited (Saigon, Nha Trang and Da Lat) - I would choose Da Lat. Da Lat = Mountains! The houses here are "French" developed and are really beautiful. The weather here is also very cool and not humid at all compared to the other places.

I can't wait to show you all the beautiful photos that I've taken - the places I've been too have been breath-taking, especially for a country that has suffered so much from the war.

Ok my itinerary today was:

• First stop to the top of a mountain (I seriously can't remember the name cos it's in complex Viet haha - will have to get back to you on the names of these places) where we got to see an AMAZING view of the little villages below in Da Lat. We were really high up, with a plane-like view below and it looked like we could touch the clouds!
• We then visited a Silk Embroidery Factory and actually see the talent and hand embroidering of the Vietnamese people. The work was absolutely beautiful - I can't stress the time, quality and effort that they put into their work (and once agan, super cheap!) A silk embroidered painting that takes 6months to embroider, everyday for 8 hours, costs only $100AU - and it's sooo gorgeous!
• We also visted the Love Valley - where back in the past, this valley separated two different villages and was the point of exchange of goods as well as "ahem" - men/women?! hehe it was THE place to find your true love!
• We had lunch at this really fancy restaurant and the food once again was absolutely amazing!
• The "Sighing" Lake was next - story goes that a man and a woman loved each other deeply but was not allowed to be together and hence, together they drowned themselves in the lake so that they could be together forever. Today when there is a lot of wind - you can hear a sighing sound. Quite sad actually. =)

I'm tired - so much blogging and it's 7pm here now. Time to go night shopping and eat yummy food. Will try and blog later. Til then - hope everyone is safe and happy in Sydney!

Lotsa *Hugs*

Jenn

P.S. Hi to all who commented on my last blog - I care!! =)