Sat, Jan 20 – to Mang Den

 

Breakfast at 6 AM.  We managed to get some baguettes as we’re aching for bread instead of rice.  We set off at 6:30 and headed back northeast an hour to the roadside primary forest we found two days ago.  It was cold at 4400’, but as the sun rose, it became pleasant and was unusually clear - as it was yesterday – I can’t imagine how much more difficult the steep hike to the hide would have been if it had been wet and/or raining – we probably would have given up and missed those birds! 

This was by the side of the road - it looks threatening but apparently means don’t mess with the forest.

We saw a brilliant yellow and

red Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird!  A really fantastic bird – please Google it!  (Called in our bird guide Gould’s Sunbird, although Mrs. Gould was the better artist of Mr. & Mrs., so why not honor her!).   

 

Hil and the jolly hotel ladies

We walked a ways and finally returned to our hotel at eleven and packed up.  The sweet young girls that cook and clean insisted on taking Hil’s and my photo along with them – much giggling! They were very impressed or just amused at how much taller we are - a full head or more.

We set off south, eventually reaching the city of Kon Tum, a very long city of small buildings and amazingly planted center strip – miles of carefully trimmed palms and cycads in one part, and small evergreens and flowers in others.  At must have cost a bundle to put in and to maintain!   

Government sign

Landscaped center strip

We pulled into a supermarket parking area and Bom and Tiem pulled out their little stove to heat water for coffee and tea while we picnicked in the car on the baguettes, Laughing Cow cheese, peanut butter and, for David, Vegemite, which I tried..and it isn’t too bad!

Lovely canyon as we crossed the bridge over it

Grey chinned Minivet

About three we turned off the highway and started northeast into mountains to Mang Den.  David was last here in 2017 where the only hotel was much worse than last night’s according to him.   Now we passed a lot of construction, new hotels, and cars full of Vietnamese tourists picnicking near ponds or admiring flowerbeds.   The government is promoting this location as a vacation/backpacking/nature area.   We found the Golden Boutique Hotel, a very pleasant place to stay, surrounded by pines.   We all went to our rooms, stripped and showered after two days in Tu Ro Mong!   The bed in our room is incredibly soft and comfortable!!

Camellia though leaves are very different

Very nice hotel - the Golden Boutique in Mang Den

At 6:30 we met up for dinner.  The staff in the near empty dining room were very enthusiastic, but lacked much English so we didn’t know what to expect, but the chef is obviously a pro and we had very good dinners.   Bob and I both had honey-glazed smoked duck which came with perfectly cooked veggies and mashed potatoes – hit the spot!   Back to collapse on our wonderful beds!