From Saigon we flew to Da Lat, a city in the Central Highlands. What a refreshing change of scenery. Da Lat is situated at about 5,000 feet above sea level and its average daytime temperature is about 70 F all year around – leading to its nickname, City of Eternal Spring. After 90 degrees with high humidity, this felt like heaven. The French developed the city as a resort town and even built an artificial lake that is in the center.
We had two days in Da Lat and it was not hard to fill them, especially with a flower festival underway. There were flowers nearly everywhere.
We made the obligatory stop at Crazy House Da Lat – a wacky house built by someone with Gaudi envy. The "house" is a behemoth that towers over the neighborhood and is a labyrinth of bridges and tunnels with views of the city below.
It was an interesting experience that made you feel like you were in a drug-induced dream.
We also took the time to walk the entire perimeter of the city's small lake (about seven kilometers around) enjoying the scenery and flower displays.
We then had a mellow New Year's Eve – a pho dinner that cost all of $6.
On New Year's Day, we took a restored vintage train from Da Lat to Trai Mat, about seven kilometers away, to visit the Linh Phuoc Pagoda. While the train ride wasn't the most scenic, the pagoda was a highly colorful place.
Da Lat is the center of an agricultural region, and you could see the fertile countryside from the pagoda.
On to Danang.
Shana and Jeff
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