Vietnam: Lang Bian Mountain

I awoke this morning to the sounds of birds chirping outside my window, and a brief peek through the curtains confirmed that yesterday's storms had made way for a sunny and cool Wednesday. Erin and I quickly got dressed, had breakfast, and hopped on our sporty green rented motorbike. I took the reins first, and we were soon happily motoring out of Dalat and into the beautiful surrounding countryside.

We rode for about fifteen kilometers out of town to Lat Village, the base of Lang Bian Mountain. We spent the next four hours hiking up, and then down, the steep terrain (half of it quite slippery, thanks to yesterday's downpour). Along the way, we passed wild horses grazing, beautiful views, and very few people. It was an extremely peaceful hike, and quite a welcome change from both the steamy beaches and city hustle.

Upon reaching the bottom of Lang Bian, Erin and I had lunch before climbing back onto the motorbike for a ride through more of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. For a couple hours, we sped through the winding country roads, taking in the beauty of the green rice paddies, sparkling lakes, and rolling hills. As the skies darkened and a light sprinkle began to nip our faces, we decided to head back to Dalat.

Once in town (and after leaving the rain clouds behind us), we set off in search of some hot coffee, but not before managing to put a hole in our back tire (I was not driving this time!!). We quickly got it patched for about thirty cents, drank some coffee, and finally came back home. We quickly took showers, watched some MTV (we are officially addicted...it is amazing what a treat television can be while traveling!), and had dinner at our favorite restaurant in Dalat.

Now I am stuck in the internet cafe, Night #2 of finally putting photos on my blog...uploading photos is a very time-consuming and frustrating task, but it is my fault for waiting so long to do it. If I do not have a nervous breakdown tonight, then tomorrow morning Erin and I are sadly leaving the serenity and chilly climate of Datang and heading back to the beach, a five-hour ride northeast to Nha Trang.