The day starts with a visit to an tourist elephant-riding place. I forgo the opportunity to go riding but I love being up close with these animals. There is a ‘knowing’ in their eyes that gives this animal a special place in my psyche. It’s no wonder they feature so highly in eastern mythology and religion. They are special.
We then go onto some waterfalls that are popular with the local tourists before we get to a curious place. We call into a home where they have pet pythons. They’re beautiful. I get to hold one. Also petted is a huge scorpion that the boy just picks up by the tail and places on his hand. This is a huge scorpion by Australian standards with large nippers and long tail. I’m amazed at seeing this. It’s a pet and doesn’t bite…apparently. I don’t have a nurse!
The boys grandfather isn’t here but he fought proudly in the War. He has the injuries to prove it and he doesn’t mind showing off the scars. He has plenty of medals for his work as a VC. He likes to tell the story about a time in the War when bomb landed right near him but failed to explode! He likes to go off into the jungle by himself. He rides his bike about 15 kilometers to get to the jungle and will lose himself for days. The pet snakes were gathered by him from one of these jungle escapes, when they were babies. I’m disappointed not to meet him. He is out in the jungle right now.
Some of the hilly countryside we are passing through is obviously scared and Hero tells me it is from the Agent Orange. There is a tree they grow on these hills to try and fix the problem. These trees bring health back to the soil and can be harvested for wood.
The day ends at a city called Buon Ma Thuot. It’s a fast-developing city in the central highlands in the middle if coffee country. As well as being a major trading place for the region, it sits on the juncture of many key highways that go in all directions. This made this city a significant strategic location during the War. Controllers of this place had important access to any direction. The VC gained control early in 1975 and six weeks later they were in Saigon, winning the War. This is off the tourist trail and I don’t see any other foreigners in my walk around.
angusmccoll 
love the updates McColl….especially love reading about the places i have been too!! so jeelus
No doubt about you, Angus. You have got a talent of writing. I can see that you are enjoying the cultural, people and food?? Keep writing and lots of photos. Cairns is quite cool at night at the moment. It is a full moon tonight and can not believe it was nearly 2 weeks ago that we experienced the solar eclipse. Take care. Janie
How come no blogging Ol’ McColl? Have you been kidnapped by elephant-riding, banjo-playing mountain folk?
Where the fucarya Muff.
Not funny