Our plan for day 3 was to drive to Dalat in the central highlands. We knew we were in for a fairly long van ride, due partly to the traffic congestion in leaving Saigon. But we weren’t prepared for the impact of the post-season typhoon that swept through the area a few days ago. Although the van ride seemed endless, we were treated to an extended view of the consequences of poor road construction and mud slides. It felt like our van was in first gear for hours. Finally, at about 3:00 PM, we were rewarded with a 2 hour bike ride.

Most of the ride was through small towns where every single child was on the way home from school and needed to exchange “hello” with each of us. Sometimes they ignore me, since the master who is cycling behind me, is clearly more worthy.

Each town has a few formal dress shops with ball gowns in the windows that look like they are taken right from “King and I”. These dresses are rented to brides for their wedding days, when they change outfits numerous times.  They are in lavish contrast to the muddy streets and motorbike repair shops. Interestingly, I’ve only seen Caucasian mannequins in stores, some with brassy blond wigs and huge busts that are unlike anything I’ve seen on Vietnamese women.

Our ride took us by the beautiful Dambri waterfalls, and through many acres of farms and plantations. Passing cemeteries provides us with a burst of colorful tombs presided over by gilded gods and offerings of flowers and fruits. The elderly are revered, probably more in death than in life, and are often buried in prime real estate with wonderful scenic vistas. We arrived in Dalat at dusk.