Friday was adventure and a lots of laughter.
We took the first local bus that came by which was not the right one but still arrived at our destination as planned. This bus was old and decrepit and was used mostly for transporting goods from the countryside to the city markets. It was loaded with bethel leave bags and other produce, and didn't stop frequently at the bus stops. We gave it a nickname "express bus" and agreed that the unexpected is more adventurous. Everything about this bus made us laugh!
We had to change bus in Phan Thiet to get to Takou Mountain about 30km away, passing true mostly dragon fruit farms. The ticket seller tried not to give me back the change but didn't succeed; and she forgot to tell the driver to stop for us when/where we were supposed to get off. Luckily, we only had to walk back a short distance.
Tà Cú (or Takou) Mountain in Bình Thuận Province has a picturesque scenery of the mountain’s rainforest and the largest statue of a reclining Buddha in Vietnam.
We took a cable car up to see the white stone statue of Thich Ca Nhap Niet Ban (Buddha entering Nirvana) just below the summit of the almost-700-meter-high mountain. This statue is 49 meters long and 18 meters high surrounded by wild vegetation and lots of birds. It was erected in 1962 and the pagodas were built in the late 19th century. There were also other statues of different Buddhas on lower levels.
I am glad we visited this mountain even though we couldn't say "wow, but we had a change of scenery and a peaceful time up there, not to mention we had a cardiovascular workout as we tstill had to climb 100 plus steps each of 2 levels. It was too hot and humid to even consider trekking.
Watching the locals who came to have family picnics there; being up high, hiding in quiet shady spots, listening to the birds, the wind whispered through the bamboo patches, the gong and chanting sounds from temples afar helped us experience "nirvana".
The bus rides home were also pleasant. The bus driver had to add water to the radiator while the bus was in motion, quite an accomplishment. In between two rides, we stopped at a 3-level Western style mall. The grocery department had some interesting sections that catered to the local cultural needs. What a zoo there!
Our willingness to mix with the locals and explore the unknown gave us excitement and awe.
We took the first local bus that came by which was not the right one but still arrived at our destination as planned. This bus was old and decrepit and was used mostly for transporting goods from the countryside to the city markets. It was loaded with bethel leave bags and other produce, and didn't stop frequently at the bus stops. We gave it a nickname "express bus" and agreed that the unexpected is more adventurous. Everything about this bus made us laugh!
We took a cable car up to see the white stone statue of Thich Ca Nhap Niet Ban (Buddha entering Nirvana) just below the summit of the almost-700-meter-high mountain. This statue is 49 meters long and 18 meters high surrounded by wild vegetation and lots of birds. It was erected in 1962 and the pagodas were built in the late 19th century. There were also other statues of different Buddhas on lower levels.
I also had to laugh when you described the "express bus". The reclining buddha was indeed awesome. It always amazes me what man is capable of building. Perhaps you and G were also entering nirvana. Cười là tốt cho tâm hồn. Giữ an toàn và tốt. Eleanor
ReplyDeletehi, how do you commute to and from Phan Thiet? How much is the cost of the bus ride? Is it easy to catch a bus from and to Phan Thiet? and how much is the entrance fee and gondola ride? thank you.
ReplyDelete