Dalat Road Trip

On Sunday evening we were having Pizza in town with our friends when we were invited to go with them up to the mountain town of Dalat for two days.  Wanting to see more of the country we agreed.  They picked us up at 7:30 Am on Monday and off we went.  There were six of us including the driver.  Mary, who is in the furniture business had to make  several stops on the trip to take New Year's gifts to several of there furniture stores.  Our first stop was a small roadside stand selling Pho (pronounced fir) which is the usual Vietnamese breakfast of noodle soup to which you add, sprouts, mint leaves, lime, and chili sauce, if desired.  It usually also includes pork in it.  It is quite filling.  I am getting good with the chop sticks.    Lunch was also a roadside stopping place for tourist.  There we had rice, of course, a bowl of fish and beef and another veggie type soup.  We bought fruit from the market next door.  Our next stop was a coffee shop, to wait, while Mary continued her visits in another town.  I enjoyed a scoop of coconut ice cream that came in a coconut.  As we continued on the road, we began climbing the mountain.  It was only a two lane road and those trucks are really big.  Did I mention that our driver kept his hand on the horn most of the time.  I had a ringing in my ears all day and then after we arrived I was still hearing horns.  We found out later that he drives a big truck for the furniture company and prefers that to the mini van we were in.  As he got use to the van his speed picked up and his daring in passing oncoming traffic. Our dinner, which we were told was small, until we arrived and then we would have a larger meal.  Mark and I opted to wait, they ate duck, rice soup and veggies, their version of a light meal.  We finally arrived around 8:30. We were exhausted so we checked into a beautiful hotel and went and found some hamburgers next door at a western cafe.  One bowl of rice a day is our limit.  

Dalat is a beautiful town, it reminds us of a town in Calif called Big Bear.  They have a lake and even their own version of the Eiffel Tower.  It was also very cold, probably in the 40's and the wind was blowing.  We had not been this cold since last Dec in Acton.  They only had a small portable heater in the room for warmth.  Brr...They also have many trails for hiking.  Chris I thought of you and Jeanette.   You would like it there.

We only had two hours to spend there before we had to begin the trip home.  They took us to an outdoor market which sold all the beautiful flowers and fruits and veggies they are famous for. Our van was a lot fuller coming home with our goodies.  

We stopped at two different homes of students that Mark had in his Nov class.  The first was off a dirt road, they had to meet us to show us the way.  The wife was in town with her sister who had just had a baby.  They have seven children of their own and they grow tea.  The two girls did a dance that they had performed at their Christmas Celebration.    It was so cute.  They made us feel so welcome.

The second family grows coffee and served us some while we visited.  They have ten children, six grandchildren and one on the way.  She is only 49 yrs old, and she ministers at two different churches.  Her life is quite full.  These people have so much joy and concern for the unsaved.  We were blessed to be there.   

It was a long time to be in a car but the joy of being with those families was well worth it.  I think next time we will fly up and spend some more time exploring the area.