2008 Blogs

Cat Tien National Park

01/08/2009

Greetings from Cat Tien National Park.  After orientation at the New World Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on January 6, we boarded a bus that carried us north on Highways 1 and 20 (and others that I failed to note) for four hours.  At times the roads felt a bit like a washboard, and the driver kept his hand on the horn as he passed bicycles and motorcycles and the occasional car or truck.  The scenery was breathtaking.

 

It's late at night, so I will write more about the trip another day, but if you'd like to see some pictures, go to my Picasa site at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/jpasset1 and click on Cat Tien National Park and Ho Chi Minh City.  While at the park I learned that geckos like to click-click-click in the night, and can be rather loud when they are in your room.  The park also is home to some rescued Asiatic Black Bears, as you will see.

Tomorrow I fly to Nha Trang where I will be met by my host, Ms. Hong, and settled into the dormitory for foreign teachers.  I'm looking forward to unpacking my suitcase (after trekking in the forest) and doing some laundry.  In case you are wondering, the leech socks are oversize socks that you put on over your socks and pant legs.  You lace them at the top to keep the leeches from going up your pant legs.  (And yes, I did get a leech on them).  The whole thing then fits inside your shoe, which makes me glad that mine were extra large.  Thanks, Dr. W. for seeing to that!