Hello to dad,mom,johnn,stephen, grandmother and grandfather 2x, John Laramie, Celeste, Uncle Joe, Aunt Carole, David, Lehmann's, Sehn's, Ruffins, MacEnaney's, Day's, Reese'ss, Tim, Peter,Patrick, Mrs. Byrd, Mr. and Mrs. Kight, and Father Connel-whew, that was long. I hope that I didn't forget anyone! I miss you all and I can't wait to get back and to tell you all of my stories. There are too many of them to begin to put them on paper. I am in Da Lat, in the Central Highlands, and it is very beautiful-my favorite part of the country-I think. The mountains up here are incredible-all of you who climb with me would love it. The people in this country are very friendly, always with a smile. The air is fresh, the jungles, rivers, and wildlife are all so beautiful. To estimate it, I have taken about 16 rolls of film! I only wish you could all be here. It is like no place on earth. In the Mekong, the paddies and fields hold such an incredible array of greens and blues, it is amazing. In Phan Thiet, the beaches are incredible, as are the sand dunes. Tim- the country is even more beautiful in person than in your book, if you can imagine that. I have so many things to tell you all. John and Dad, even you would love it here. The beaches haven't even been discovered by outsiders yet, and they are as beautiful, in some places more, than the ones in Barbados. The reef was dotted with starfish, in all different colors. Yesterday, me and a couple other kids swam to a boulder that rose 20n feet out of the ocean and we jumped off of it for quite a while. It was so much fun. I have so much more to tell you. I have eaten snake(for you stephen, and it was delicous)dog-sorry hunter-cat, I think, and some other wild, literally, things. Grasshoppers taste like potato chips. In Bangkok, we were eating at this restaurant and elephants just happened to mosey on down the streeet, and to the people it is an every day thing. It is so different over here. I have come to appreciate the simplest things, like ice, so much more. I miss and love you all!! See you in a little bit.

Love,
Christophe T. Day

Mr.Dang: The images were taken yesterday and today in Ca Na Beach and Dalat.

The group is coming together. We travel in busses, vans, and boats together. We eat every meal together and tour the sites together. We're coming to know each other's expectations. A lot of the rough edges have been rubbed off. We're all learning life lessons - how to get along, how to speak to each other, the value of courtesy and the value of being on time - as well as the specifics of Vietnam. It's a happy. excited group

We're here in the highlands to see the Montagnard people. They're very small and dark, the men have mustaches and beards, the women weave beautiful cloth. Today we intend to go to one of their villages. Also on this morning agenda is a tour of the palace of the last king of Vietnam. Yesterday we took a boat tour of his hunting-grounds, which included elephants (but no elephant rides for us - we arrived too late. Closest we've gotten to an elephant is still in the Bangkok cafe at midnight when one stuck its trunk into the dining area.)

Today we have a seven hour bus ride from this 4,500 foot elevation back down to sweltering Saigon. I'm looking forward to Saigon though. Tomorrow is a free day. We've had a lot of tours. Tomorrow we shop and explore on our own, maybe revisit some of the places we've been before. I intend to rent a bicycle to go around. Vietnam is a land where the bicycle is still used as a primary means of transportation, and even as a means of conveyance. I've seen people riding down "unimproved" roads balancing a couple of car tires.

Everyone in the group has stayed in darn good health (TYJ). The boys have been troupers getting going really early every morning. No one has been left behind .

Happy Birthday Will!

Love to all.