Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the mrlukeniktravels blog coming from Da Lat, Vietnam. Since last week I have been heading north through the country, eventual destination: Hanoi. I write in the cool air of the Central Highlands, a welcome change to the heat of the city or coast. Being here in the wet season there is plenty of rain and sometimes a little sunshine. The advantage of the rain is that the waterfalls are especially impressive. More on that later. I am enjoying Vietnam a lot, here is some of what I’ve been up to.
When you think Vietnam, do you think sand dunes? These are near Mui Ne, on the edge of the South China Sea.
Upon leaving Ho Chi Minh City I travelled up to Mui Ne on the coast. I was glad to see the sea again the last time being Krabi, Thailand. The journey itself was pretty smooth and uneventful, the bus being only 20 minutes late. This is good by Vietnamese standards! Buses and trains here are often delayed, it’s just part of the experience. Being far less compact than Cambodia, it takes more time to get from A to B in Vietnam. I’ve had this experience in Thailand so I am prepared. Arriving in Mui Ne, torrential rain was falling. The uphill route to my hostel had become a stream with pretty deep water. I got so wet, not the best introduction to the town. By the next morning the rain had stopped and I was off out to see the sand dunes during the sunrise. This was a great experience as I got see a little of the local area. Other than sand dunes, I visited a local fishing village and a Fairy Stream. I am still at a loss as to what part distinguishes this stream from any other stream. Being back by 9am meant a very long day but also making the most of the cool morning air. The rest of the day was spent at the beach, a nice day to relax.
Early morning fishing for shrimps and crabs.
The next morning it was back on a bus and up into the hills of the Central Highlands and Da Lat. This journey was bumpier than the previous one, the roads more twisting and potholed. It reminded me of my journey into the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia a few months ago. After a five hour trip I had arrived. It was strange to not instantly miss the air-conditioning once off the bus. Once settled into my new hostel I headed out to explore the local area. This included visiting Datanla Waterfall. So far, not exciting. However, reaching the bottom of the valley involved riding on a rollercoaster! The further forward the lever was pushed the faster the car went. There were signs advising braking on the corners but, dear reader, I did not heed all of them. All the way down there was the sounds of shrieks and shouts around me, it was great fun. Returning to the hostel it was time for dinner, a great way to meet people and have some good conversations. This is what travel is all about, meeting new people, sharing experiences, advice and stories.
Looking up at the sand cliffs along the Fairy Stream.
The next morning dawned grey, as always. This day I took a tour around the local area as it was too wet to enjoy riding a motorbike. I visited a number of waterfalls as well as a silk factory, cricket farm and bee hives. It was really interesting to see the industry of the area which is predominately horticulture. The Central Highlands provide the flowers for the beautiful displays seen in temples, weddings and Vietnamese New Year (Tet). Large poly-tunnels are interspersed with coffee plantations and Mulberry groves for farming silk worms. A nearby pagoda provided shelter from the inclement weather- I seem to keep returning to the theme of weather! This was a busy day with plenty of distance covered in a minibus as well as soaking up the information given by the guide, quite tiring. That said, I enjoyed a day getting out into the countryside and spending some time enjoying nature. As I mentioned earlier, the waterfalls are spectacular at the moment as they are almost at full capacity. It will be a few months before a raging torrent is reduced to a gentle flow during the dry season.
Pongour Falls in a panoramic shot. There certainly is plenty of water flowing over them! Legend tells the water is the hair of a local Kho tribeswoman who protected her village and its fauna.
I write this post as I am preparing to board a night bus to my next destination. I have a feeling it is going to be a long night. Travelling overnight means I should, hopefully, arrive at my next stop at a decent time tomorrow afternoon. It is also all part of the travelling to experience different forms of transport and have something to look back on in future. I certainly won’t forget my Greyhound Bus experiences whilst travelling across Canada in a hurry! At least these buses allow you to lie down, rather than lying on the floor or across seats. Hopefully I will be more comfortable than that. I have been on sleeper buses during the daytime in Vietnam so I have already got a feel for them. By that end of the journey I shall be back on the coast and into the warm weather again. I have enjoyed the respite, albeit brief, in Da Lat and the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
Looking out across a coffee plantation near Da Lat. Such a nice view!
This is nearly the end point for this week’s post from the Central Highlands. As mentioned above, next week I shall be further north and back on the coast. Time to explore some historic ruins and other delights in the centre of the country. From now until next time, you can follow me on Twitter using the handle @mrlukeniktravel. My Instagram handle is @mrlukeniktravels for a few snapshots of the country around me. If you would like to get emails directly as I post blogs then you can subscribe to it using the button below. Finally, as always, stay safe and travel on!
Silkworm cocoons waiting to be spun into silk at a small factory which exports all over the world.