DAY 6 Vietnam: Da Nang

Today, I had pretty much the same breakfast as the day before. But hey, if it works, it works right?.

I was then picked up by private transport, and went to “Sunworld Da Nang” , located in Ba Na Hills, which was a 40 minute drive from Sheraton Grand Da Nang, my hotel. The main reason for my travels there was to see the very popular instagram spot, Golden Hands Bridge!. To get to the bridge, I went on a cable car, which takes about 15-20 minutes and gives you an incredible view of the jungles below, that is, if it isn’t fogged up, which it was!. The fog really added to the effect of the crowd pulling bridge. There were ,as you can expect, a lot of people , but that was okay.

However, there was much more to be seen than the main attraction (Golden Hands Bridge). There is French colonial architecture , Pagodas and differently themed gardens that includes a maze, giant chessboard and ceramic musical instruments to name a few . Strolling through, I honestly felt like I was in Alice in Wonderland! It just had this amazing aura about it , and definitely feels like the closest thing to heaven on Earth.

After wrapping up my visit to Sunworld Da Nang , I went to Marble Mountain, which is a lot closer to my hotel and affords you views of Da Nang City. You can either walk, (which takes an hour) or take a glass elevator up (which I did). You need to pay before you go up and also before you leave.After getting out of the elevator, I saw a seven story pagoda and fountain with lilly pads with small fish and frogs that call it home as well as a three story pagoda and temples inhabited by Buddhist monks. Thus, Marble Mountain is of particular significance for Buddhists. There are also several caves, of which one I went inside and climbed out of to get to the very top. After finding myself lost, I got on the right track again and left.

Dinner tonight was at the hotel where there was a meat buffet. I enjoyed some Masala chicken, fried calamari, bok choy and steamed rice, finished off with some extremely delicious chocolate mousse (I had three cups) sorry not sorry. The life of a sweet tooth!.

#day6inadanang #travelblogger

The breathtaking Golden Hands Bridge. A very popular Instagram location.

Posing on a Giant Chessboard

aMAZing

Mini pond with lilly pads at Marble Mountain

Seven story pagoda!

Inside a cave at Marble Mountain! Claustrophobes avoid.

DAY 5 Vietnam: Da Nang

Today, I enjoyed a mostly Vietnamese breakfast today (save the French chocolate croissant and Frosted Flakes) with prawn dumplings and steamed rice, with the standard latte to kick start my day!.Taking advantage of the best weather of my stay in Da Nang, I headed to the pool and got myself a nice sunbed overlooking the South China Sea and tanning.

I enjoyed some fish and chips at the poolside restaurant “La Plage” and enjoyed some fish and chips before being offered a refreshing ice tea by one of the poolside attendants, (who are very friendly). After tanning some more, I then went back to the hotel.

Dinner tonight was at Green House , which I had been to a couple of nights ago as the food was superb!.

Palm trees (which are my favourite) on the hotel beach

Beautiful black shell

Embracing the sea

DAY 4 Vietnam: Da Nang

Breakfast this morning consisted of fruit loops with bacon, dumplings and ginger tea!

I then got a private car to see the Chau Linh Ung Bai-But Pagoda , which is located about 9 kilometres from downtown Da Nang, in the Son Tra Mountains (home to an abundant monkey population) and its beautiful Buddhist shrines reeking on the scent of incense. Be aware when entering any of the shrines , if you have a singlet or shorts, you will be provided with a fabric cloth to cover your shoulders or legs out of respect, and have to take your shoes off. Entering the shrines is extremely peaceful and I could see people praying. I also was in awe of the towering Lady Buddha, (the tallest in Vietnam) and the main shrine itself .

Shortly after, I headed to Hoi An, to grab a late lunch/early dinner at the Italian restaurant “Good Morning Vietnam” where I enjoyed an amazing spaghetti bolagnaise which hit the spot perfectly!. Later on, I headed to the riverside to view the Vietnamese custom of countless small lanterns being lit up and then being put on the river for good luck, which attracted huge crowds as you can imagine!. The streets usually filed with motorcyclists was quiet as curfews meant the streets were free from all the hustle and bustle of motorbikes and motor scooters present during the day.

A eventful day indeed…

One of the resident monkeys at Chau Linh Ung Bai But!

Inside the "Lady Buddha"

Lady Buddha

Worshippers praying in the main shrine

Lanterns in Hoi An for the Lantern Festival