An unexpected and welcome surprise

by Anya Jogie (Canada)

I didn't expect to find Vietnam

There’s something magnetic sometimes that draws you to a place. It’s almost as if you were meant to be in that particular place at that particular time. Last June I set out on a much anticipated 100 day solo voyage around South-East Asia. Being plan averse I was guided solely by the list of countries I wished to explore, and the alotted time I was afforded in total for my trip. By day 45 I found myself in Vietnam. I entered through the capital, Hanoi, located in the North known for its bustling Old Quarter popular for commerce, good eats, precarious yet adrenaline boosting street crossings, and rich culture. The streets are quite narrow and sidewalks often filled with makeshift restaurants and vendors offering a plethora of discounted products. It’s the perfect realization of organized chaos and a real treat to the senses. After about a week of exploring Hanoi, upon the strong recommendations of both locals and other backpackers, it was suggested that I visit Da Nang in Central Vietnam. As the fourth largest city of this South-East Asian nation, Da Nang is well-known for being a relaxation hub noted for its high-end resorts and bevy of distinctive restaurants. One of its’ main attractions, My Khe Beach, stretches an impressive twenty miles. The beach is fairly wide and as such there is no shortage of places to lay and enjoy the surf. I visited Da Nang twice within a week and on either occasion saw an alternate view of the city. The coastal side is quiet and shuts down fairly early at night while the metropolitan side can be quite lively bursting with chic cafes and bars along the main arteries. This is particularly true on the weekends. On a Monday morning after having experienced what the coast and city had to offer, I was longing for a visit to the mountains. After indulging in a delightful breakfast of Banh-Mi and egg coffee, I hopped on a local bus to make my way to the Marble Mountains. The mountains, located about thirty minutes from the downtown core, are a cluster of five limestone and marble hills situated mid-way between Hoi An and Da Nang. Known as the five element mountains they are named after water, wood, fire, metal and earth. The site includes various tunnels, caves, peaks and look out points to discover. Arriving at the base of the mountains I was met with the option of either entering Hell Cave or ascending Son Mountain. I chose to do both in that order for the total cost of about 6USD. As you enter Hell Cave, to the left, you will happen upon a curious staircase leading to the top of what appears to be a light shining down. Naturally my inquisitive nature got the best of me and I proceeded to climb up. I was not disappointed. The view at the top is quite something to behold as you are blessed with a 360 degree view overlooking Da Nang. Thinking this would be the highlight of the day I was content and had scant expectations of Son Mountain. Little did I know then, this day would become one of the most memorable in my travel history thus far. As I ascended Son Mountain I could hear melodic chanting pervading the air. There was something incredibly calming about being there. I sat on a bench close to the temple from which the monks were chanting. To add to the ambiance, just across, lay a very impressive 70ft. Lady Buddha marble statue. An older gentleman with kind eyes sat next to me. We smiled gently at each other but did not speak. We shared this odd yet beautiful moment of connection and profound peace from being in this place which I can only now describe as magical. To say I didn’t expect to find this would be an understatement. I stayed far longer than expected because I felt it was where I needed to be at the time. It was a reminder to me of the beauty of spontaneity in travel and the incredible connections we can share with others we may not know.