The day was late, and beginning to grow dark.
The mountaintop was quiet; the village nearly deserted. Those who would stay overnight atop the mountain stayed indoors, keeping warm and dry inside their comfortable rooms.
We set off through the cold, misty pine forest, up a steep path of stair, higher up the mountain to where the White Tower waited for us.
A quiet tea house looked dry, warm, and inviting. The afternoon was cold and wet, but we continued on.
Up the mountain, at the highest point on Ba Na Hill, stood the White Tower. I'm not actually sure of the real name of the temple, but it's a holy site on top of Ba Na Hill, and from the temple, you can look back over the village.
The mountaintop felt so different after the day-trippers had left. We had the whole place to ourselves, never seeing a soul - except for the temple caretaker - until we were back down in the French Village. This made it feel like such a beautiful, peaceful, and authentic experience for us.
And it was cold! Like, really cold! The temperature was maybe in the 50s F, but it was windy and rainy. For the first time in Vietnam, I actually needed to wear my jacket.
Also, I wonder if anyone knows what this fruit is called? I've only seen it here in Vietnam, and only as an offering inside the temples. I don't even know how to look it up online. It's weird and cool looking, though. I would really be interested in learning what it is!
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