view the broad map with a meters above the sea level graph

Di Lin was a basin of 900m above sea level. At daybreak, it was covered by morning fog. It was worth having chosen the room with a good view.

Today's breakfast was "Banh mi", which is meats and vegetables sandwiched between pieces of French bread. A storekeeper made it skillfully there and then. The French bread is delicate and tender like a warm rice cake.

There was a production area of highland vegetables. The scenery swept away like Shinshu in Japan.

With five kilometer to go, the slant became gentle and I could see the city skyline ahead.

I arrived at Da Lat of 1500m meters high. There was the summer resort when the country was ruled over by France.

Da Lat Station. In the past, this station connected shore part with 84km, named 'Da Lat = Thap Cham Railway' and then disused by suffered damage from the Vietnam War. Now restored as sightseeing train service an interval with 7km away to Trai Mat Station.

80.4km / 297.2km

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The Vietnamese guest house,"Nha Nghi" provided bed without breakfast. I checked out at 6:00 and have begun to pedal.
The uniform of the high school girl in this town is "ao dai", but unfortunately, because Vietnamese people were sensitive to cold , there were many people who put on a jacket.

I drank "Ca phe sua" as a substitute for the breakfast.
It dropped inspissated Vietnamese style coffee on condensed milk and diluted it with ice.


After cycled 50km, 7-8% of slopes continued and climbed the plateau of 800meters high.
I went up the slope and found a teahouse at long last.


The plateau is cool and cultivation of the tea seems to be prosperous.
Today's lunch was a combination rice meal, called "Com", of 3 dollars.



Temperature was around 25 degrees. A comfortable plateau spread out for cycling.
I chose the large room where the view was good.



108.9km / 216.8km

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After days of lounging at the Continental Saigon Hotel in HCMC, I started touring to Hanoi. I select all the hotels, go along with the situation. I'll look for one in the town where I arrived at that evening. Because there are many guest houses called "Nha Nghi" in Vietnam, I'll suffice as. As for the elegant breakfast in the well-established hotel, this was the last.

I Cycled Route 1 through HCMC to Bien Hoa.

It was a Vietnamese popular rice noodle, called "pho".

The kilometer post of the national highway was French style

Traffic decreased and I cycled in moderate ups and downs comfortably. Naturally it was hot, but was easier to ride than the midsummer in Japan.

Past 4:00 p.m. and I cycled in search for a hotel.

An uphill slope to DaLat "1500meters high", begins at the next day. 107.9km

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I cycled around the Fuji Five Lakes because Tokyo was still hot. I brought my bike in a bag on the train and arrived at Gotemba Station at 7:55. I went up 650m to Kagosaka Pass, 1104m above sea level, on the prefectural border. Afterwards the course was mainly downhill. I had a long rest at the mountain pass and cycled down to the Yamanakako Lake in one go.

Unfortunately Mt. Fuji was covered in cloud all day long.

I observed the old houses that had been restored in the Saiko Lakeside museum. 20 thatched roof houses were built here.

In the evening, I cycled high-speed downhill to Fuji Station via Shojinko Lake and Motosuko Lake. I cycled 121.88km today.

view the broad map with a meters above the sea level graph

Intense rain fell after midnight. Weather news said, in Wuling which I passed four days ago, snow was piled up 20cm. Out of the goodwill of the hotel, I recieved a lift to the Miaoli station.

Afterwards, the rain became gentle, so I cycled to the West Coast on the shore of the Straits of Taiwan. I stayed at the fishing port town, Nanliao. The weather was fine the next day. I rode on the cycling road along the beach in bright sunlight.

I arrived at the mouth of Danshuei River in the afternoon. To Taipei, which was the goal of the tour, it was another 20km.

Many young students were cycling on the Bali Left Bank cycling road. It was a weekday afternoon today. After school, they had come to ride together.

Taiwan is a splendid country for cyclists.

DST: 97.10Km / AV: 15.28Km / TM: 6:21

view the broad map with a meters above the sea level graph

The tour of Taiwan reached its final phase. I rode for three days, heading north to Taipei.

I avoided Root Route 3, with its high traffic density, and rode the prefectural road No.129 that threaded over the hills.

I stayed at the same hotel at 石門客棧 where I stayed last year. There is restaurant & cottage adjacent to a strawberry field and a pear farm.

In the evening, the fog settled in and this view became the fantastic scene.

DST: 47.87Km / AV: 15.12Km / TM: 3:09

I stayed consecutively in Taichung, today was a rest day. My friend Andrew was guide throughout the city by bike. A bicycle lane is shown clearly on the highway.

He guided me to a bicycle parts market and a pilot shop of Topeak.

DST: 18.47Km / AV: 13.54Km/ TM: 1:21