Okay, the water’s not blue but this is still lovely:
Tad afraid of heights? Then hang on tight…
Poor, regal beasts:
Arrive at the limestone caves:
Tour caves so vast even the slightly claustrophobic are comfortable:
Learn the difference between stalactites (the mineral drippings suspended from the ceiling):
And stalagmites (deposits rising off the floor, built up from ceiling drips):
Tour guides delight in showing things like this stalagmite (not what they call it) to tourists, shining lights on it to be sure no one can miss the reference:
Now see them everywhere:
Soldiers hiding here left their mark:
Emerge back into the sunlight high above Halong Bay with all the tourist boats and some locals’ homes:
Walk “home” to your boat:
A moment out of time, a French legacy, The Dalat Palace:
When you first arrive, after a long day of travel, you are seated here and served champagne:
before being given the (giant) key to your room:
At the breakfast buffet, you can build your own Pho (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pho):
Or build a delicate omelet on a baguette:
From your balcony, the grounds and lake beckon:
And so you take the stairs to enjoy a cool and unique day in Dalat: