Mai's Travel Journal: Chapter 16 - Da Lat

Saturday, 23 October 2004

I woke up early but did not know where to start or what to do. First, I asked for directions to the provincial post office, found a map and then asked for directions to the Provincial Party office. It was quite far, but I was determined to walk in order to watch the mountain scenery, which people usually admired as beautiful, but “too sad”.

From the post office to the Chicken Cathedral, there was only a cross walk. I decided to go over there for a walk. It was lucky because I had the chance to meet two little boys, Đức and Hùng. Hùng told me that his mom had taught him how to use the computer at home and browse the Internet. He learned English through the net with his mom – that was an opportunity. The Chicken Cathedral was beautiful and I was lucky to visit it.

I followed the map to the Provincial Party office. It was a beautiful place, but quiet. I didn't meet anyone so I returned, stopping by at Da Lat train station on my way back.

The architecture here was beautiful, but quite old. There was something wild and quite deserted about it. I kept on looking around until a train came and the station became quite busy with tourists. The driver who I'd just got acquainted with was happy to let me on the train to Trại Mát. I got to sit in the driver's cabin with him! I didn't know where Trại Mát was but I was quite sure that it would be interesting. That's how I got started.

In front of me there was a person walking by herself. I hurried to catch up to her and said “hello”. That's how I made a new friend, Vân, a student of the teacher's college of Da Lat. She showed me around the markets and vegetable sellers in Da Lat. I knew more about everyday Da Lat, “a Da Lat of vegetables next to a Da Lat of flowers”, like people used to say.

I still had a lot of time here. I needed to look for an Internet cafe. “I will continue with my diary, that's not too bad!” – I thought.

Sunday, 24 October 2004

I was fiddling with the computer for almost the whole morning. I was really lucky because just after I sent my diary, there was no more connection to the Internet. He he…, there isn't much between success and failure.

I started to wander around the markets just as Vân had shown me. I finished one area and started the next, then came back, asking all kinds of stories of anyone who was not too busy to stop. Here, things got exchanged very quickly, especially production.

I returned to the computer, clicking away. Sometimes, I stopped and wondered, is this too simple and boring? Am I on the right track? I did not try to find the answer because I had quickly returned to the monitor and keyboard. I knew that I had used my time and that was the important point.

I looked at the vendor streets, where things were placed everywhere. Everyone was busy, some were selling, some were choosing, some were looking. Looking, agreeing and buying continued until 9pm. Then, the market abandoned the space to the packing and transporting of fruits and vegetables, especially persimmons. From here, persimmons were carefully selected, packed and sold to all of the provinces in the country, and even exported to other countries. These persimmons also contributed to the promotion of culture and improving our country's development.

Monday, 25 October 2004

I was prepared for a day full of plans and moves, but sometimes things fall out of plan and I was fortunate enough to be at peace with the changes. Having experience with 17 different changes comes in handy sometimes!

I wandered around the village of Hòa Bình for the whole morning. Then I wandered into the vegetable and fruit markets. I didn't know how I could be so good at wandering, but the feeling of just wandering and looking around was very pleasant. That was the first time I saw so many huge potatoes, really long and beautiful eggplants, funny looking pumpkins and also vegetables that were so green.

The dried stacks of garlic and onions hanging around, the fresh red tomatoes and even the beans compelled me to buy them and cook a big meal. How long has it been since I have cooked a meal? I had never counted how many days my journey had been but I did that at this market. Wasn't that too weird?

I got lost in a vegetarian restaurant. I say lost because I did not know that I was eating vegetarian food until almost the end of the meal. That was the most memorable meal and for me it was an extraordinary souvenir.

Chapter 16 - Da Lat - Photo Gallery

Photos: Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai
(select image to enlarge)

1. My first friend in Da Lat.
2. Hung and Duc, two new little friends that I met in Da Lat.

3. Trai Mat, a stop for touring trains in Da Lat.

4. Selecting fruits for packing.
5. This fruit boxes will be distributed to many places.
6. Preparing boxes for fruit packing.

7. Helping children in Hoa Binh village.
8. The children practice with their doctor in the morning and go to classes in the afternoon.