Central Highlands Road Trip, Part II

Eventually, our quiet, paved road unexpectedly turned to dirt, in part due to construction, but also by lack of sufficient traffic to presumably justify pavement.  The scenery was every bit as beautiful but it was a little more difficult to snap photos with one hand while dodging pot holes and driving with the other. 

Eventually we got thirsty again and, since we were pretty much out in the middle of nowhere, we had to rely on Mr Luong's unexpected Scooby snacks which consisted of Heineken (which is "the" imported beer to drink in Vietnam; no one quite knows why) and "Binh Phan" (sweet rice cakes with coconut) and "Tan Hung" (what amounted to sugar cookies). 

Fortunately, we found a nice, vacant storefront with an awning for shade, so we pulled in for our break.  Better still, the friendly general store owner next door invited us for a seat at the table he had out front. 

Mr Luong discussing our table arrangements with the general store owner
while Grandma #2 sleeps on an uncomfortable looking wooden bed.

Our host giving Mr Luong directions.  He was friendly and chatty.
Grandma's still asleep in the background.



As we were eating we were surrounded by a couple of small children, maybe 2 or 3 years old and buck naked.  Meanwhile, an older daughter, 7 maybe, paraded around with an infant in her arms while she played songs on the cell phone she had in her hand.  It was an amazing mix of old world and new world.

Infant in one arm, cell phone in the other;
naked toddler with dad nearby

A second daughter arriving home; we were obviously in an area of ethnic people who wore
very brightly colored clothing.  Unfortunately, you can't see much from these pictures.

All the while we were eating there were chicks and chickens (or are they ducks and ducklings?) pecking around the yard and beautiful peppers drying in the sun.

This was an orchard of some kind (the tall bushes in back).
No one knew what.

After 45 minutes or so, we hopped back on our bikes and continued for several miles along the same dirt road.  Along the way, we passed through a rag tag looking market in the town of Tang Rang.

After a few more miles, we came to a bridge.  Or what was a bridge.  The real bridge had been washed out and had been replaced by a hodgepodge of wooden boards in three different sections.  The first two weren't bad, but the end section was long, narrow and missing several planks, so it was a bit hairy getting up the courage to go, then not stopping once you started. 

Eventually we made it back to the main road at Route 26 where we headed east to Nha Trang.

Sorry.  Some things here just never grow old.  

A lineup of carts, all selling durian fruit, illegal in Singapore and most airplanes.
It's big, green and stinky!  How people eat, I have no idea, but you can smell it everywhere here this time of year.

Soon enough, we stopped for another bite to eat and had a selection of squid, chicken and a bunch of vegetables.

Note "Merry Christmas" poster in upper right

After more beautiful scenery and nearly 150 miles behind us, we finally arrived in Nha Trang and the beautiful, beachfront Six Senses Ana Mandara Resort.  It was no Dakruco Hotels, mind you, but it was n-i-i-c-c-c-e-e-e! 

Tomorrow: Day Two