Published: 15.01.2019
At 10:00 AM we will be picked up and start driving towards Da Nang. We will make a short stop at an aquaculture farm where all kinds of aquatic creatures are raised, such as oysters, shrimps, and various fish species. It's raining partially and everything is covered in a grey mist. After that, we will head up to the Hai Van Pass, which is also a watershed between the subtropical and tropical parts of Vietnam. The rain doesn't care about that, but it gets warmer and more humid.
We arrive in Da Nang, the former stronghold of the American military during the Vietnam War, but there is nothing left to see. We visit the Cham Museum. The Cham people ruled over central and southern Vietnam between the 2nd and 15th centuries, but suddenly disappeared, similar to the Incas in Peru and the Maya in Mexico. Today, there are only a few descendants left, who have nothing in common with the ancient Cham people. The Cham people were mostly Hindus, with only a few Buddhists. In the entrance hall, we hear Ivrith for the first time, a whole group of travelers.
The exhibits, collected by French archaeologists, are fantastically preserved and impress us with their wonderful decorations.
Afterwards, we have lunch at a real dive. Sabina looked at the hands of the old waitress and wanted to cancel her order, but the hunger won and it was actually good.
On the way from Da Nang to Hoi An, we make a stop at the five marble mountains of central Vietnam, which are no longer allowed to be mined by decree of the government in order to preserve nature. We take an elevator up to the most important of these mountains and are simply amazed. We didn't expect such splendor, all statues made of marble in the most beautiful colors, and then a magnificent pagoda and much more. We had to climb many steps in some places and were exhausted.
Finally, we head to the hotel where we will spend three nights, a resort that leaves me speechless. For those who think Sani is fancy, this is a pathetic hut in comparison.
One more thing, that's why Sabina is rarely seen. She has become a star photographer and doesn't let me touch the photos anymore. I have to say, her pictures are fantastic, but I can't possibly upload all of them.