FootLoose in Asia This journal is primarily for family and friends to follow our progress on our SouthEast Asia adventure through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and possibly Malaysia and Myanmar (Burma). Hopefully there will also be some useful information to others planning a trip to thease areas.

Dalat, Vietnam – 3 to 5 February, 2007 As scheduled, we were picked up from our hotel early in the morning by a minibus. That in turn took us to the travel agents office where we waited for the big bus. While there we booked a hotel so we didn’t have to worry on arrival late in the day at Dalat. Our parting memory of Saigon was the car and motorbike horns blaring. They really need to have a continuous on button as it seems they are used for anything and nothing. The bus trip took seven hours and passed through some beautiful countryside of coffee and tea plantations up into the mountains ended at 1500 meters. It was a bit of a shock firstly to hit the cold air, and secondly to be told the hotel we booked and paid for was not available and had changed us to another hotel. Luckily J remembered from his internet research that the hotel we booked was a 3 star, and the one we were being changed to was a 2 star. J pointed this out and insisted on going to the hotel we originally booked. The outcome was us getting the VIP suite at no extra cost. It was close to dinner time when we arrived, so we decided to go for a walkabout to check out the town. Out came the coats and long sleeves shirts for the first time as the temperature must have been around the mid fifties Fahrenheit. As we were touring the streets, we saw the local market and decided to have a look around that. Just before we entered the market, we ran into a couple of the “Easy Riders” who were trying to book tours for the next day. The Easy Riders are a famous group of bikers, many of whom were doctors, teachers, and other professionals in South Vietnam before the war. After the communist takeover, they were sent to re-education camps, some for many years, and were not allowed to return to their previous careers. They have made quite a name for themselves around Dalat and carry glowing references from those who have used their services. We had heard of them prior to our arrival and wanted to use them for a tour if we were given the opportunity. As we were only had the one full day in Dalat, we booked a day tour for the next day with them right then. We continued on to the market and it was loaded with flowers grown in the area. There were also many stands selling heavy sweaters, coats, and hats due to the cold weather I the hills. D almost bought a knit hat to pull down over here ears, but decided she didn’t want to pack any more “stuff”. While talking with the Easy Riders, they gave us an excellent suggestion for dinner, and when we headed for the restaurant we came across a stage set up and some local singers and dancers performing. We guessed it was part of the advance preparations for the upcoming Tet (New Year). After watching this for a few minutes, we found the restaurant and had an excellent meal. We were not disappointed with our decision to seek out and use the Easy Riders for our local tour. Our day started when Chung and Hong picked us up at our hotel with their old Russian motorbikes, helmets and all. We headed out of town on a beautiful scenic and hilly road. We made many stops to mostly see the agriculture of the area. The farmers in this area used to grow mostly vegetables and rice, but have discovered there is more money in other crops such as flowers, coffee, and mushrooms. In addition to visiting each of these types of farms, we visited a local family who raised silk worms, toured a small factory where they removed the silk from the cocoons and did some silk weaving, and visited another local family who ran a noodle making business. In between we had lunch at a local family restaurant and had a spread of many dishes, including a fresh fish from their own fish ponds. This family also raises coffee and has a home still to make the local rice moonshine. They also raise some fat and happy pigs as the pigs are fed the mash from the still. Many of these stops that are not on the organized tours sold at the travel agents and hotels, and those that are, are usually at larger farms and factories where the personal experience is not present. We highly recommend the Easy Riders for anyone visiting Dalat. The next day we had decided to head out for Nha Trang. After the hotel issue in Dalat, we decided to use another bus company for this leg of our trip and were scheduled to be picked up early the morning. It should have been a sign when the driver picked us up and the minivan was already full of luggage and people. After shifting some of this around, to make room for us, we found there were supposed to be another two people to be picked up. Fortunately they didn’t show up, and the minibus trip was only a short distance to the office of the travel agent where we were transferred to a big bus. Next stop Nha Trang.