–November 5,

Last night it rained all night long, sometimes very hard. I didn't get out of bed until 0730. We got about and to breakfast by 0800. It is still raining. We had one plate of banana and chocolate drizzle crepes and one of omelet with a baguette, cucumber, tomato, and laughing cow cheese. Two other couples came down just as we were finishing. They were going on a walking tour today. One couple was from India, the other not sure, we think European(?).

Finished we back to our room and watched the Chiefs. WOO-HOO!!! Then we were able to WhatsApp video with Jeff's sister and her husband. BTW, it was her birthday in our time zone, but not hers yet. We wished her Happy Birthday anyway, and we talked quite awhile as we had not been able to speak with them for three weeks.

Around 1300, Jeff went down to see about getting lunch delivered, when two guys from Czech Republic came in on scooters. They have worked their way up from Saigon on some scooters, and said they have had rain practically every day! They are young, 24, but seem pretty upbeat even though the plague of rain that seems to follow them. They ordered lunch from the same place as Jeff. We continued talking with them through lunch. We had Mango Salad; Garlic Cheese Bread; and Bun Nam Bo, which was a bowl of pork with greens, pineapple, peanuts, and noodles. They gave us some crisp- things, and fruit again. The young men had some noodle dishes as well. The other two couples returned sometime in there and said they were only allowed in one cave – the other cave was shut down due to too much rain. We are hoping to those caves tomorrow, but it does not look good.

After lunch, we went back to our room and I started this blog. Jeff read and went our to get me a cider and us some chocolate. When he came back we had a snack supper of the fruit and crisps leftover from lunch, and our last package of crackers. I had peanut M&Ms, and he had a Almond Dk Choc Snickers bar. Then I finished up blogging. Bed by 2130.

—–November 6,

I woke up at 0630, Jeff woke by 0500. We got around and to breakfast by 0730. We had ramen noddles with broccoli, green onion and an egg. We also had a banana with Jeff having hot tea and me coffee. We had seen the Indian couple eating them yesterday so we asked for this breakfast instead. It was a nice change.

After breakfast our host sorted us out with one of his scooters and ponchos. We are going to Dong Thien Duong – Paradise Cave. We put on the ponchos before we begin as it was starting to drizzle. Of course, it is! Why would it change? (as it has been raining much of our time here)

We set off going the route our host said to go. The other way is closed due to flooding. We stopped for petrol, then resumed on. We went through a light shower and almost stopped due to the rain, but could not see any real cafes. So we motored on and followed a river that turned into a mighty, rushing torrent at one place – incredible power as it crashed against it's banks.

We arrived at Paradise Cave by 0930. We were directed to parking, which cost 5,000 Dong (20 cents). We went to the ticket booth – admission was 265,000 Dong each ($10.44). This included an electric buggy ride, that was not negotiable. The slogan of Paradise Cave –Palace Inside the Karst. I thought it was a great slogan with a picture of a mountain hollowed out with cave stalagmite formations enveloped in the hollow place. Anyway, we boarded the electric buggy and were taken 1.6km – basically one mile – to the 523 steps up to the entrance. (Actually, they have you take a ramp up and the steps down.) At the entrance is a restroom and an area to regroup before entering. We drank some water and caught our breathe, then entered.

It was amazing from the start. It was good we had just gathered our breathe, because the first view blew my breathe away. This cave is a beautiful behemoth. According to their flyer:

    “With a length of 31.4km (19.5 miles), Paradise Cave was evaluated as the most beautiful and longest dry cave in Asia by the British Caving Association. It has been creating continuously by the nature over 350 million years. Inside the cave, it gathers all kinds of stalactites and stalagmites in the world. It was ranked at international level in terms of science and high aesthetics. All such marvellousness is awaiting you to discover and enjoy…”

Aside from the “chinglish”, this is a good description. Our ticket let's us go along a wooden boardwalk that meanders up & down, winding though and around so many formations one km (0.6 mile), and then we return. We walked and were just awed. The whole cave is naturally set up in seeming grandiose rooms or chambers, with lighting for dramatic effect and has a flowing stream of water wandering through it. There have been signs put in naming some of the formations: “Ancient Tower”, or “Lotus Tower” (which I thought seemed to be a Christmas Tree) were two I remember.

One other thing, that Jeff and I noticed, were broken off big chunks of either stalactites or stalagmites that had been severed millennia or eons ago and have other formations building on top of them!! We were both taken aback by this cave, and spent 90 minutes inside. So glad we did our kayak tour first. It would not have been as special if we had reversed the tour days.

We left and returned on the electric buggy to our scooter. We returned back to town, stopping once again to take in the swollen river, and we actually… had sunshine for a small stretch. When we arrived into town we paused for lunch. We went to Tree House where we had the Pizza delivered from our second night here. I had a most interesting sandwich– Roast Pumpkin with sweet spiced apple butter, caramelized onions, and half walnuts on rye bread. It was super delicious! Jeff had a better rendition of Beef Stew with rice. I drank a Long Island Iced Tea, Jeff Hot Ginger Tea – with big chunks of ginger, and we split a big water. It was 350,000 Dong with 50,000 tip (Total $15.76).

Then I blogged and Jeff read. Around 1730 we ordered a pizza from Tree House. It arrived — we had a bacon, spinach, caramelized onion, and feta. Jeff had Saigon beer and me a Coke. Then we caught up on reviews and watched You tube. Plan on bed by 2200, the latest! Tomorrow we move on.