After a good night’s sleep we tried the breakfast at our hotel, Les Sapins 60, which wasn’t bad at all. We had only done limited research about Dalat but decided we would scout the nearby areas by motorcycle today and wait with any longer tours. We rented a motorcycle for 5 USD, manual gears since it was half the price of an automatic and as Mona put it – How hard can it be? With yours truly responsible for reading the map and navigational issues in general and Mona head of traffic security we headed off. After a small incident which had no casualties or material damages Mona also learned how to brake. For a moment an old memory when I tried my brothers mini-motorcycle flashed before my eyes but this time things didn’t collide.

First stop was Hang Nga Crazy House. This is the creation of a (in)famous architect, and the best way to describe it would be Gaudi designing a Smurf village and tossing in some scenes from Alice in Wonderland. One of the architects prior creations, House with 100 roofs, had in the past been torn down for being considered non-socialist. I suspect some pretty good drugs were involved in the creative process and the government really didn’t want the loyal farmers to get any ideas. We thought it would be pretty cool to stay here, but as more tourists kept coming we passed on the idea – they do offer rooms but any resemblance of privacy is not included in the price.

We got out of Dalat and headed south on Highway 20, which isn’t the best description of the road to be honest. After a little while of scenic driving we arrived at Dantala Falls. We took the roller coaster down to the waterfall which was quite fun. We went further on, riding some cabin to get to yet another waterfall but this wasn’t really worth the time (and of course extra money). After that we continued south until we got to Prenn Pass, another waterfall turned into a theme park. We had lunch and bumped into some travelers from our hotel who was kind to lend us some sunblock. We considered going further south to Chicken Village (named so after their huge concrete chicken in the middle of the village) but decided we would head back to Dalat for some slacking and research instead.

Going to the supermarket for sunblock was quite painful as they insisted on playing an awful techno/sleazy version of Happy Birthday to you on single repeat. After dinner we talked with one of the staff about potential trips. We realized this was most likely the same lady who offered a way to expensive taxi. Starting at 250 USD for a tour to Lak lake and back (including a 4X4 Car but still) she dropped to 180 but we said we would consider this overnight.

We started the last morning in Hoi An by packing our bags and enjoying another fresh breakfast before checking out. Then fittings at cloth market, we were getting closer but still more adjustments needed to be done. We continued our tradition of biking, and I wondered what material the asses of bicyclists are made of, ’cause my delicate bony behind was starting to protest. While browsing we finally found a suitcase which looked it would last until we hit ground in Sweden as well as easy to spot on the conveyor belts.

Another round of fittings and this time it looked promising, just some final touches left. We were now planning for the last fitting 15 minutes before the taxi to the airport would leave (from our hotel), plenty of time for any potential hiccups. We had planned to have gyoza at the Japanese restaurant from yesterday but found that the owner had just started his preparations, which would take at least two hours which we didn’t have (fair to say, we had missed that they didn’t open until 17). Well well, we found a food stall just by the riverside which had put up some tables on the street as well. Mona ordered some grilled thin pork slices that one wrapped in rice-paper after tucking in a bit of salad and sauce – similar to fajitas. They were really nice, and I say that as a vegetarian. Mona had to re-order the dish. I had white rose and noodle soup myself in addition to some of Mona’s food.

After that lovely late lunch we went back to the cloth market and finally everything looked good enough, so we happily settled our bills before biking back to the hotel – to fill up the new suitcase completely with stuff bought in Hoi An, this city is dangerous. We got to the airport easily, security went smooth and suddenly we were in Dalat. There was an airport shuttle for 2 USD which worked like a charm (our hotel offered a pickup for 30 USD which we declined, not the ideal start as it felt they tried to rip us off). After a bit of walking and access to internet we could also find our hotel (which we didn’t have any address written down to and no one heard about the name we pronounced) and checked in. After a quick noodle soup at a place nearby Mona stumbled tired into our room, or actually someone else’s room. I promised not to mention when this happened the first time, but I can tell you that this was the second time this trip, and at least this time it wasn’t two middle-aged guys in boxers she walked in upon.

We woke up to early alarms, by 0800 we would be picked up by Love for life (not a local brach of some delusional pro-life organization) for a bicycle tour and we needed to have breakfast as well as pack all our stuff since we would need to change rooms sometime later during the day. It’s a hard life being on vacation. We were a group of seven people including the guide and we quickly made our way to the less trafficked roads. I had tried putting on Sunblock but could already feel it wasn’t evenly spread out. Well well, pandas can be good looking too I hear.

We were enjoying the countryside, stopped at temples and sights and the tour guide Han told of legends as well as explained their farming principles and pointed out different vegetables and herbs that we’re grown. His saying “No worry, No hurry” was very nice and there was one guy who took more photos than I did but I would conclude that both his girlfriend as well as Mona was rather patient with us stopping for photos every now and then. I think the quota photos of farmers or fishermen, especially old, are met for this vacation. It reminded me of Swedish politics where the age for retirement is discussed – and I do have to say people who worked hard their entire life look photogenic, so it could be of some comfort for those on the last years of their life that tourists may appreciate their labor.

As we got back to the city for lunch we started to recognize the area and to our pleasant surprise the venue chosen for lunch was Cafe 43. After lunch we headed back to start of the tour for another surprise – footpaths and massage with liniments. We however passed on the offer for a free boat ride since we had fittings to attend to. We were close to the finish line at A Dong Silk now, adjusting tiny bubbles on the rather slim vests took was not entirely done. As we went to the cloth market it was very visible that there was a difference in quality of craftsmanship and focus. My jacket had little in common with what I ordered but they got a list of things to change and we would be back tomorrow. Mona had quite a few adjustments herself but easier to fix. As we returned to A Dong Silk they made a few fast iterations while we were there and finally I had nothing to possibly complain about – it was perhaps 5 or 6 fittings in the end for the most difficult items. I realized as we were settling our debts that they had missed to charge for one vest but my conscience convinced me I’m a nice guy so I told them which they were very happy about. Before we left I took a photo of my assistant Thao and the tailor who had been more than patient with me.

We got back to the hotel, and realized we would need to buy another suitcase before we left to fit everything we have bought. After quickly arranging our accommodation in Dalat we headed out for the last dinner and chose a Japanese restaurant, Samurai Kitchen, near the Japanese bridge.

They didn’t have sushi and was out of gyoza, but they did have Shochu. I ordered two Shochu on the rocks in Japanese (the most used phrase from Ulf and my previous travels to Japan). This was understood by a lady at table next to us who was greaty impressed/humored. Mona was not as impressed by the Shochu however. The food was good, and the place very charming with only four tables. As we were done the staff offered to show us how to make origami birds which we thought would be fun. A little alcohol and chattering with the staff later we managed to create two birds before heading home.