Da Lat

We've now been in Da Lat two nights, and it is, in many respects, unlike anything we have seen in Vietnam this trip. Of course, it is a couple hundred kilometres off the ocean and 1500 meters higher in elevation, but also of a very different climate. This morning while walking, I was dressed in shoes, jeans and three layers on top, complete with a wind breaker,  and despite this, I was chilled.

Agriculture is big here, though where tropical fruits and rice dominate production in the coastal areas, this is a land of strawberries, potatoes, leafy greens and root vegetables, and flowers, flowers, flowers.

It is temperate enough here that the use of green houses is extensive and they don't dick around, as can be seen in the photo below, taken just on the edge of town.

The topography here, unlike the monotone flatness of the lowlands, is all up and down - steep hill sides and deep valley lands, everywhere greened in young pines. The pine forests were planted by man after the indigenous forests were obliterated - thanks to our pals in the US army and Dow Chemical - by the use of Agent Orange. There are hills close by that still show the original, mixed species jungle, but it was not long ago that the hills here were bare earth, punctuated by dead, denuded tree stalks. The monoculture that has been introduced could easily be confused with the mountainsides in BC, the pine forests up Princeton way. 

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Yesterday Kim and I joined one of our housemates, Manfred, on a hike. The guest house offers a map of Da Lat and a suggested walking tour.  The tour took us through town, high up a central hilltop where we engaged a cable car to carry us across a wide valley to the next peak where lies a Pagoda. Nearby is a lake, and further out a waterfall. From the Pagoda a road leads back to town. Here are some photos of our day.

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The Eiffel Tower.....

.....the view from atop the central hill top, out over the forest.....

.....and over the town.....

.....and farms.....

.....the Pagoda.....

.....some of the topiary in the gardens.....

.....the monk's residence.....

.....the Koi pond.....

.....and another temple on the site.

Once we were back in town (the hike was about 25 kilometres) we were starving. The first restaurant that we came across boasted these dishes. 

Surprisingly, we opted to eat elsewhere.

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More from Da Lat to come.