Thursday 05 November 2015

Misty start……..As I wake in the morning at daybreak I glance out the window and there’s a complete blanket of mist but by 7am that has cleared. With no time difference with Thailand to the west it get light early, not much after 5am. Breakfast is included this morning so I don’t have to worry about that but it’s still not clear what will happen today. There is the option to leave early if the weather is bad but so far despite low cloud it’s not raining. I decide to leave it till the morning to leave and buy a ticket to Nha Trang. I'll just see how it goes today. The temperature remains around 20C in the daytime. I check the tour list I have to try and identify some of the sites on Google Map: Whatever I do will have to be done independently now. OK the first location on the city tour is within walking distance. Let’s get that done first.

Dalat Cathedral……..Dalat Cathedral is located on a hillside just south of the lake ho Xuan Huong. Its spire can be seen clearly from the town. This is fine piece of French architecture as well as being the catholic religious centre of the town. Entering the cathedral is much stranger after visiting Buddhist temples for the most of my time in the Far East. I’m attracted to the stain glass windows which are from the 1930’s. I wonder when exactly the cathedral was built but it’s clear the French felt they were here to stay. The crypt is particularly revealing. It shows the extent to which Vietnamese people converted to Catholicism.

King Bao Dai’s Summer Palace…….. The King Bao Dai’s Summer Palace is located a bit further out off town. I see some younger tourists walking to it but I take a taxi. It’s cheap and won’t waste time. When I reach the palace it’s not a piece of architecture I would associate with a King but it's starting to rain again. Let’s have a look inside but first we have to fit covers over our shoes. The palace is on two levels and is big enough to accommodate the Royal Family. Fortunately there is just enough English to introduce me to King Bao Dai. The temple was built in 1933, designed by a French architect. OK that explains a lot. At least I know what era we are in here. King Bao Dai was the last king of his dynasty. All this is new to me. I never knew Vietnam had a king in colonial times. The palace, of course, was used as a summer residence. All of the rooms have been left just as they were so this is a little piece of history. It’s well worth the visit and I’m wiser learning about the life of the King. After the signing of the Geneva Convention in 1954 he went to France to live in exile. Entry is 20,000 dong.

Robin Hill Cable Car……..These first two sites are easy to reach and I’ve ticked them off at little cost. The next location to the southeast of the town is a different proposition. It’s just above the bus station where I arrived on Tuesday. Robin Hill Cable Car crosses hills that lead to Tuyan Lam or Paradise Lake. Here is the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist Meditation Monastery. The area is unspoilt in complete contrast to the town and at last offers the views I thought I’d come to see, across to the highlands along the western border with Cambodia. I get the feeling the whole of Dalat must have been like this in colonial times but sadly that’s not the case now. The cable car ride would not have been included in the city tour price but it seems good value so let’s go for it. Yes! Once aloft with the city out of view this does at least look a little bit like the Alps although I think Chris Froome wouldn’t be too impressed by the roads around here. But it’s a welcome change and I’m in a more positive mood. The cable car price is 100,000 dong.

Truc Lam Zen Buddhist Meditation Monastery…….. The Monastery is beautifully landscaped in gardens above the lake. The temple structures are all in Chinese Buddhist style. It’s a great place to come and relax despite the weather which is threatening all the time. By the time I’ve had a look around and walked down to the lake and back it’s gone midday. Back at the cable car station there’s no restaurant open, just a few people offering grilled snacks. Ok that will have to do for now. However I cannot do without transport and one lady kindly calls a taxi. There is one more site on the road back to town which is in poor condition but they're working on it.

Datania Waterfall……..At this point everything is a bonus. I hadn’t even expected to do what I’ve done so far independently. Datania Waterfall is not what I expected. I was told there is a walk down to the river but while the path is good, it’s quite a drop. I guess I should have realised there would be an entry fee as well. The taxi driver wants to wait while we look around so I’m keen not to hang around too much. At the falls I guess I spend fifteen minutes but getting back up using the steps is another matter. But in Vietnam if you have some money anything is possible. There is a roller coaster slide system down to the falls. The entry fee to the waterfall is 20,000 and for the slider 40,000 dong. I will take the up ride but these entrance fees are starting to mount up. It’s time to head back to the hotel.

Valley of Love…….When I arrive back at the hotel I’m just happy to sleep for an hour. I’ve calculated that I may have just broken even over the price of the city tour but then I’ve only covered part of it. What seems to have messed up the calculations are all the fees which are included in the tour price. They must get a generous group discount but on the other hand I’ve avoided the queues and been able to work to my own timetable. At 4pm I wonder whether it’s worth adding one more location to the north of the town. I figure it should be about 100,000 dong to go to the Valley of Love and back and I’d be happy with that. I call a taxi for the 6 km trip. When I reach the valley there’s another nice surprise: Another fee. The Valley of Love is a secluded valley with a lake, consisting only of parkland. It has a number of attractions which I will list in my review but they are all designed to help you part with your money. This late in the day there’s not much open but I take a stroll around if only to get some exercise. The Valley of Love has a bit of a theme park feel with the obvious focus on love. It’s not for me. Best head back before dark. That little excursion has cost me over 200,000 dong to add to the day’s total. That's now way over budget. I head back to the market area in Dalat looking for something to eat. I end up at the food court on the top floor of the shopping centre where the food is really cheap. As the center is large, build on the slope I exit at the top floor level to find I’m not far from my hotel which is just as well as it’s pouring down now. It’s best now that I finish my notes and have an early night. The bus leaves at 7.30 in the morning. Next Page.