We were picked up from our hotel by a lively group of 3 young Vietnamese guys. Our main guide spoke English quite well, and was pretty hilarious. He joked about how tired us westerners are in the morning - over here everyone seems to wake up at dawn, we were yawning and asking for coffee at 8:30. He joked about one of the other guys being a ladyboy. He joked about two friends being on their honeymoon. Etc, etc. It was early.
We drove about 45 minutes out of the city and into the wilderness. There were three pairs of tourists - one couple from England / US, two friends from New Zealand and Australia, and Tomas and I. We were given harnesses, life jackets, helmets. And then we had a very quick, vaguely incomprehensible lesson in how to repel down cliffs.
After practicing on some steep hills, we were "ready" to go into the canyon. I didn't feel ready.
But I survived! (I'm the one on the left.)
We landed in the water. We had been told we would get wet today - but we weren't exactly told the extent of it. Basically, we were trekking through streams and waterfalls in our shoes and clothes. That kind of wet.
At points, we had to lay down and go over the waterfalls, water slide style. Had to. Got to! After some initial trepidation (Wait, aren't there rocks? Will I get sucked under? Really? We go down backwards and head first?) it turned out to be great fun.
After some more trekking (and wading, and floating) we got to a much bigger waterfall, where we were meant to repel down the waterfall itself. It was so. Scary.
You are holding your weight on this rope and trying to walk backwards down a vertical rock face. The vertical rock face is slippery. It is also covered in water. The water is rushing over you, trying to push you down the waterfall. You cannot let go. There is water pouring into your face and your 5$ sneakers were the wrong choice but you cannot let go, you are in this, you lowered yourself into a damn waterfall and now you have to follow through.
It was exhilarating. It was incredible. When you get three meters from the bottom, you let go and fall backwards into the water. Splash! I'm alive! I did it! Holy shit!
At the bottom, our guides prepared a delicious and much needed lunch of ban mi, vietnamese sandwiches. I was too hungry to take a picture before eating. Here are the dregs...
After a satisfying lunch, when we were just about dry, it was off again through the jungle. We got to a cliff, and this time, the plan was to just jump off of it. Oh! Haha! Yeah, we just jump? Ok.
I felt less than graceful. I have never jumped off a cliff before. Not literally. It is insane how long it takes you to actually hit the water. It was such a crazy adrenaline rush, I practically ran back up to jump off again. So cool!
We floated down the stream a bit more, and got to the last repelling of the day. This one was truly nuts. From the top, you could not see at all what the cliff was like. You could hear the waterfall, but you couldn't really see it. The instructions from our guide made no sense. Yet, over we went.
Once you got far enough down, the water start hitting you so hard it makes you spin on the rope and lose your footing. The locals call it, "the washing machine".
Yep. The Washing Machine.
Afterwards, soaking and exhausted, we climbed out of the canyon for about 30 minutes. The day's only casualties were my terror, and our guide's right shoe, both left in the waterfalls, somewhere.
In the evening we went out for drinks with two of our fellow canyoners. It's amazing how fast you make friends under the right circumstances.
Tomorrow morning, we are off to Nha Trang, a coastal city with a big strip of beach. Back to relaxation mode!
Until next time,
Jessica
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Dalat
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