Vietnam 2012 Look once, look twice, look three times, pray and cross the street.

Another rainy day in Dalat. It was my first breakfast at Thien An and the spread was magnificent. Didn't know what to have or not. Met a girl from Quebec Canada who is here for 2 months doing her Masters and is studying 3 tribal villages. After breakfast we were supposed to go on an Easyrider motorbike tour for the full day but as it was pouring we asked to change the day until later in our stay. Around lunch time we ventured out on the motorbike and this time headed for town and I bought a North Face jacket (waterproof) and then we headed for the local market. It is down in a large hollow area and they had some wonderful fruit jellies (strawberry, blackberry and aloe vera). The fresh produce was really fresh looking and Kevin kept asking the vendors for a taste of the strawberries. The best he has ever tasted and only $3 kg. On our way out of the market we bought some other dress jackets for $3. From here we headed around Xuan Houong Lake past the golf club and the Flower Garden and then headed to Lake of Sighs some 5 km out of town. Strolled around the grounds which had the biggest hydrangeas I have ever seen. Other flowers were inpatients, salvias.  There was a large number of hot houses we saw on the way that went as far as you could see. They were growing flowers, seedlings and all sorts. Headed back to hotel as it started to rain again. For tea we rode motorbike into town and went to Tu Anhs - Peace Cafe which was very nice and the hostess was very welcoming and the food was good. Strolled up to the market and Kevin bought a North Face Jacket and his cost less than mine. Bugga. He also decided to buy some reading glasses at a general store and next thing the optometrist was testing his eyes and making the glasses on the spot. Took about 20 minutes and only cost 250,000 dong or $12.50. Local people everywhere at market and the people selling the jackets were doing a roaring trade. I bought another one for $2.50. Let's hope the weather is better tomorrow.