Welcome to a Tim Burton movie set in real life! Dalat’s Crazy House may not follow socialist architectural principles, but luckily it was designed by a daughter of a local Communist head honcho so it’s Wacadoo Wackadoo all the way to the land of multi-coloured birds. The architect is a Paris trained PhD, actually, and certainly one of a kind — even in the circus that is Dalat her building stands out. and yes, people can actually stay here — it’s not just a ride.
This is a dining area a.k.a. shrine to her dad and the Party.
May I take you to your room?
Careful on the stairs.
And don’t fall off a corridor.
Enjoy the skylight.
Look out from a corridor at the west wing.
And here we are. A tad cozy, but a fab mirror, don’t you think?
Want something a bit bigger? O.K.
And say hello to the security guard. Mr. G. Raffe.
All in all a really fun place, and a great spot to interrupt our tour of Vietnam. Over the next few posts I’m going to try blogging from a couple of current trips. May 15th I’m addressing 1,500 students in Chicago from Mayor Daley’s Book Club. CHANDA’S WARS was a selection across the board. Then on the 16th, Daniel and I head to France to the Cannes International Film Festival where CHANDA’S SECRETS is premiering as an Official Selection. We’ll be there May 17, 18 and 19, then on to Nice and Venice where I’m researching my next novel. So…. if I get a chance to blog on the road that’d be fun. (Otherwise — like if my days are just too packed, which may well be the case — I’ll show you some more of Vietnam and fill you in on Cannes when I get back.
Cheers,
Allan
