Lazy morning this morning, late breakfast as we are not sure when our next meal will be.
Last walk around the grounds. Some pretty lotus in bloom.
We have enjoyed our time here. Great breakfasts, beautiful room, free tea coffee and cakes at 3pm, and 2 happy hours a day. If you are looking for a relaxing spot this would be somewhere to consider. Only disappointment was red flag every day at the beach, we are more beach people than pool people.
Check out at front desk, no surcharge for using credit card and we paid for our jeep tour through the hotel as well. Checking out they send someone to check your room, mini bar not used , bathrobes not stolen etc. First time we have ever stayed in a hotel that you could buy anything, a price list for robes and everything else you could take right to the do not disturb sign.
Front desk refers to notes from yesterday, calls our bus company and confirms where to drop us off. Taxi arranged and we are let off 2km down the road at a church. Silly me looked at reviews for our bus company An Phu,, all that did was get me worried about the trip. So good omen to start, church pickup. Not much shade so we cross the street to a little vendor shop,she pulls 2 chairs and a table out and insists we wait in the shade. We wave down the bus right on time and we are on our way to Da Lat.
Well on our way to Da Lat is generous. We are the first ones on the bus , we were pretty sure where we were staying meant we would be first or last. I think we stopped at every backpacker spot in Mui Ne. 1.5 hours in and we finally are full but haven't left Mui Ne yet. Nearly forgot to mention , we are both on top bunk. I was dreading getting up and down, but not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
Totally different clientele this time. Saigon to Mui Ne we were the only ones that spoke English. This bus we are probably 80% tourists. Again we are bringing the average age up.
One hour left and surprised to say I am actually glad we did this route by bus. The driver has not been 'overly' crazy. The roads are crazy windy coming up the mountains and he has obviously driven them many times by where he is laying on the horn as a warning we are coming. I'm going with he is an experienced driver and the rosary on the dash can't hurt!
Rest stop was a little scary. We all get off the bus for rest stop and I notice the driver and helper have gone around the back of the bus and opened up the panels to the engine and are spraying water from a hose on it. Is this something we should be concerned about? Off they both go and leave everything open, I'm assuming to cool off after the climb up. Then a big truck pulls in and parks right behind the bus, he hops out and starts hosing down his tires, I assume for his brakes? He was coming downhill. We were going uphill I am going with they know what they are doing and all is fine. Decided best to take a couple of gravol at this point too, it is crazy and bumpy the last bit, and when Andre looks at google maps we still have a bit of windy stuff to go. Not sure anyone would like car sickness from the top bunk.
Arrived safely in Da Lat, some guy hanging out at the bus stop offered a ride to our hotel, his English was fantastic. He does tours now and picks up some extra money and I guess tries to get guide jobs by hanging out at the bus stop. Paid taxi guy off and discover our hotel has no elevator. Off we go to the top floor, they said they saved the best room for us, ha ha. 57 steps and we arrive in our room. It is a nice big room, with a nice balcony, and seems to be on a quiet street, we shall see later.
Off to find supper. Found a little hole in the wall with good reviews, we were the only 2 there, but had the best noodle dishes we have had since we have been here. The restaurant is on the 3rd floor, maybe seats 20, and we are sure they prepared everything once we ordered it. The smells coming up the stairs were amazing.
Explored the night market and walked a bit along the lake. Only purchase at the night market was a little bag for Andre to sort all his cords for electronic crap out better with. Andre spotted the Gelato stand in a flash but it was more like ice cream but he is not complaining. He got Green tea and I got avocado and young coconut. Also got breads for breakfast as it is not included here at the hotel.
Crossed the traffic to get to the traffic circle that is in located in front of the night market. They have a great display of statues made from flowers and vines of dancers. No crosswalk here need to pick a spot and go for it
Early night tonight, off on a tour tomorrow. Looking forward to a fun day without swans, Andre says we are doing the swans for sure....
Todays pictures: the bus pictures are a bit blurry as the windows were again dirty.
A little friend by the elevator this morning, they sure can move fast if they want!
I am behind reading your blog, trying to catch up. Love the pictures, especially the mountain views. Jacques
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