Riding an Elephant on the Road to Da Lat

(total mileage for today's ride: 50K)

We have left the ocean and are heading into the hills. I couldn't post last night although there was an Internet connection . . . dial up modem!! Even if I could have connected, which I couldn't - trust me I tried . . . it would have taken too long. But here I am today!

[you see propaganda billboards like this everywhere]

Before I went to sleep last night I took notes so I would remember everything that happened, or at least the highlights! We stayed in cute cottages on the lake. It was the most rustic lodging we've had so far, but like all the places we've stayed: first rate.

After leaving the ocean we took the van for an hour and half to the summit of the pass where we cycled down through lush forests and deep valleys. The people look slightly different than the coastal people. They are darker skinned and have broad foreheads and wide spaced eyes. We saw several children who had blond hair, maybe some American or European influence following the war? The children were beautiful and just like everywhere else, incredibly happy to see us, running to the road as we passed, jumping up and down and fanatically yelling, "Hello, hello, hello!" We did get a new variation today, we began to hear, "I love you" and "Good Morning" even though it was late in the afternoon!

The houses were simpler and many were wood structures instead of brick. This is also the area where you see free-range pigs. Many people had litters of pigs (not sure what you call a group of baby pigs) with the sow not far behind. Baby pigs are adorable but really frightened of us. I did get one good shot but they ran away as soon as we got close.

Yesterday was our first real rain. There is a father/daughter from California and Laura really wanted the rain. We northwesterns were trying to tell her that is what we ride in all the time and to stop wishing for rain. She got what she wanted but she's not allowed to wish for it anymore. She has a strong influence on the weather and the winds! We did get a bit of a tail wind, also something she wished for, and that worked out. She's a lot of fun and a strong rider too.

[the Hmong people in their boats]

After lunch my friend Jennifer and had to ride for nearly 20K before we could find an appropriate place for a 'singing bush' stop. It was hard to look at the scenery when you had other things on your mind!

This area is know for their coffee beans and our guide told us that Vietnam was the number one exporter of coffee beans last year. As a result of this many of the Vietnamese who grow coffee are becoming "rich" according to Nihm. You could see some grand houses by Vietnamese standards but the interesting thing is right next door would be a 'shanty' style house. It isn't like the United States where all the nice houses are on one street and the modest ones on another.

We had to ride through many herds of cows and one herd of water buffalo (my favorite!). You really needed to stay on your toes as you weave your way through the herd while also dodging the motorcycles and occasional bus! I told Riley, who I was riding with at the time, that unless I had experienced that with someone else I would have thought I made it up! Crazy yet fun.

The finale of the afternoon was my ride on an elephant!!!! The elephants in Vietnam are all working elephants. For one dollar US, I took a 40 minute ride on the elephant. The driver did not speak any English so I couldn't ask any questions, I certainly would have wanted to know the name of the elephant. Our journey took us across a large field, down a narrow road and then a path to a lake where we crossed the lake - the water reached up to the ears of the elephants and finally walked back to the farm area where they live. While riding the elephant would stop occasionally to pull down some bamboo or pput his trunk into the water for a drink. AMAZING! How many of you rode the elephant at Woodland Park Zoo in the early 60s? There was a time when elephant rides were available there. I was about six if I remember correctly. Your ride was around a short circle and this was the entire journey. I have lots of pictures of the other two people (Karla and Ron) who were riding next to me and Jennifer. I'll post the pictures of me when I get them.

Once again I will over use the words amazing, beautiful, incredible - this country is unbelievable. I feel so blessed to be here and to see all of this. I miss you all and carry you in my heart. Several times a day as I ride along I think of one of you and pretend that you're riding with me and seeing all the amazing things I see each second.