Hmong
The Hmong, one of the many ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands, live in long houses like the one pictured. We had the opportunity to visit a young family with our Easy Rider as interpreter.
To see the photos of the first day of our Easy Ride click here. **This includes photos of Dalat and surrounding areas. To my uncles who were stationed somewhere around there: After seeing the environment you were fighting in, I am so grateful you all made it home alive. Well done.
The Hmong, one of the many ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands, live in long houses like the one pictured. We had the opportunity to visit a young family with our Easy Rider as interpreter.
The pagodas we’ve been visiting are stunning multicolored kitschy delights – I love them! If it weren’t for the devotees praying in them, I might have mistaken them for tourist-minded replicas of the real thing. But no, this is how the Vietnamese Buddhists in the Central Highlands roll. Click through to see the kitschy fabulousness
Not only do the Vietnamese Buddhists believe in the ordinary male Buddha, they also pay mind to a Lady Buddha. According to legend there was a woman who was rejected from a pagoda for being a woman. At that time only men were allowed to become Buddhist monks. The following day she returned in monk’s [...]
The protein from the silk worms and snakes in this very tasty looking treat makes the men strong. Strength is all fine and good, but its name – Happy Water – is actually derived from how the ladies feel after the men drink it. Hm.
Just a short note to let you know that we’re still on our Easy Ride – alive, safe and having an absolutely amazing experience. The internet options thus far have been nonexistent but we promise updates as soon as we reach Hoi An. FYI: We followed your vote and decided to tour for 6 days, rather [...]
Wife: “Oh, honey, I’m so glad we decided to come to Dalat on our honeymoon.” Husband: “I know. It’s divine. Sweetcakes, let’s take a romantic spin around the lake in that funky, pissed off chicken.” Wife: “Oh lovebuns, you’re so crazy! Husband: “I live on the edge, darling.” Wife: “OK! Let’s do it, but we [...]
His Royal Highness Bacon wanted me to thank you all for voting for him. He sends his love and wants you to know that it’s the love of the fans that keeps him going. Right.
Dalat is located in the southern part of Vietnam’s Central Highlands. We arrived yesterday and happily welcomed the drop in both temperature and humidity (I got a chance to walk around in my jeans again – yay!) The landscape changed dramatically from Mui Ne, our last stop,
Street food stalls are intimidating. For the most part there are no signs and no real way of knowing what you’re ordering – just a glass divider between you, the vendor and the food. We’ve been on the road for almost a month now and think we have mastered the technique of ordering: 1. Slowly [...]
A funny thing happens when you’re touring Vietnam. You start to notice the same tourist faces in each town you visit. They’re the same people you rode with on the Open Tour buses. They take the same organized tours with you to sand dunes or waterfalls . You’re in a tourist bubble you can’t escape.
We thought the reason to come to Mui Ne was to have some relaxing beach time. It took us about a day to realize that the real reason to go here is the superb seafood. That big guy in the middle is a lobster. He’s flanked by two gigantic tiger prawns that we had [...]
We thought about staying at this place, but then we saw what was included in the price.
Mui Ne is well known for its fish sauce. What, you ask, is fish sauce? In short, it’s the juices created from fermented fish. It’s Southeast Asia’s version of the salt westerners use to season their food. The process goes something like this: