Sunday 18th December This morning we left Saigon and caught the 8hr bus ride to Dalat way up in the mountains, in the region appropriately named the Central Highlands. The weather when we leave Saigon is a cosy 25 degrees and a little overcast. We are expecting it to be a little cold in Dalat but hear it is a pretty nice place to spend a few days. We leave with our Irish buddy Fergus at 8 in the morning. Which actually turns out to be around 9 by the time the bus turns up. Fergus turns out to be a demon at scrabble as well and Amy is off form and comes a distant third. We seem to be handling the long bus journeys pretty well. If someone had offered us an 8 hr bus ride back home before we left then we would have just laughed in their face. The journey is broken up pretty well with stops around every two hours which gives the ears a break from the horn blowing on the way up. The scenery on the way to Dalat is pretty spectacular and Dalat itself is also very nice and picturesque with big tall trees, beautiful valleys and mountains all around. The air is damp and cool and all the locals are acting like it's about minus 15 - wearing coats, scarves, hats etc... We are of course wearing flip flops, shorts and T-shirts. We arrived in Dalat around 4pm and decide to walk to our chosen hotel. We turn down offers of 7 dorrar a night just because the Lonely Planet says our chosen hotel is particularly good. And, after all whatever the Lonely planet says goes according to most travellers. That is one thing that you cannot get away from here, every person touring around uses the Lonely Planet at a bible and if you are a good local business and are not in it then tough sh**. It is pretty bad (and we are not really any different) as unfortunately too often people have their heads buried in the book and just simply do not look around them to take in all the sights, sounds and smells around them. The 'Lonely Planet' must be one of the most successful companies ever as we have only seen a few 'Rough Guides' and other guides. It has really dawned on us that in fact we are not really blazing a trail through South East Asia as basically every Tom, d*** and Harry are following the same route. It strikes you even more when walking down a backstreet and a couple of elderly Dutch ladies (ok, about 55 years old) in front of you are discussing their next adventure and stop off point (with lonely planet in one hand and day-sack in the other). So that's right everyone if these two old grannies (and Stu and Amy) can do it then you lot can too. It's not really that difficult. We check into our hotel and immediately head for a local bar to watch the final of the world club championship (Fergus is a mad keen Liverpool fan). Now I thought that I was a little bit football crazy but Fergus, man he is one stressed out bunny when it comes to footy, (ok for those really observant ones amongst you, you are right, Spurs have never been anywhere near the final of this competition) We meet the 'zany' Mr Dung (as described in the LP so it must be true!!) and have a great time being entertained by him. I play him at pool and win only by him potting the black and Amy loses to him at connect 4. Several times. The pub is dark and dingy but serves good beer and we are the only people in there. Fergus is amazingly not too pissed off at Liverpool losing even though they totally deserved to win. Dinner consists of pork stuffed squid for Stu, which is amazingly tasty, and Amy has caramelised fish. Can't remember how much it cost us but it was a meagre amount. The footy fest continues as we watch Spurs draw 3-3 with 'Boro and then watch Chelsea beat Arsenal. Great. Monday 19th December The weather is pretty miserable again today (about 18 degrees and threatening to pee it down at any time) We are woken up by some British kids screaming at 6am and then at 8am the building work next door nearly throws us out of bed (still it says it's good in the Lonely Planet so it must be true!!) We have a pretty frustrating day waiting for the weather to clear up. We walk up to the golf course and are dying to have a game (25 dorrar for a game including clothes, shoes, clubs and caddie) but it's just too wet. In the afternoon we go to see the 'crazy house' which, well, is um, crazy. Not really sure how to describe it apart from the fact that it's pretty tacky and has themed roams like the 'bear' room and the 'termite' room. You'll have to wait for the photos.. Myself and Fergus decide to go play Mr Dung at pool after dinner and we have a great time playing whilst listening to Abba at full volume. We decide to go trekking and kayaking in the morning even if the weather is poor as we have had such a disappointing day. Tuesday 20th December A reasonably early start and the weather does not look too threatening. We have great fun kayaking in a huge reservoir. I mostly splash water all over myself, and Amy and I try to work well as a team in our twin boat. We kayak down a small stream doing our best to avoid overground and underwater obstacles which proves to be good fun. The meal at Lunchtime is simply fantastic. The tofu and pork and the veggies and salad are just divine and the setting in the woods is lovely. Yet again we are the only people in the restaurant. The trek up a large hill in the afternoon is a little more arduous (I end up carrying Amy for the last part, ouch! Only kidding) and the views from the top are rather nice and definitely worth the effort. The trek down is nearly as difficult as up as the ground is wet underfoot. Amy decides to take a bit of a tumble (taking out the guide as well). She is fine and when we catch up with the guide at the bottom of the hill he looks a bit battered and bruised. ;) We had brave ideas to play golf in the afternoon but the heavens open and we call it a day for activities. Further games of pool in the evening and we decide there and then to get out of the town and travel to Nha Trang. Even if it is raining there at least it will be warmer. Surely the travelling lark has to be better than sitting around and waiting for it to stop raining? Of course we'll keep you posted, we have not let the weather get us down. Apparently it is one of the worst starts to a dry season ever in Vietnam with tropical storms battering the North and South of the country. Anyway, hope you all had a great Christmas, Lots of love Stu & Amy.