D-day for Teams TMD and CSG!!! The assault on Marble Mountain began at 0900 hours. Their mission.. to map the attractions of Marble Mountain by creating a library of panoramic views.
Progress was slow at first. We tested all the photos and ‘stitchings’ to ensure good quality. The constant movement of tourists did not help the situation. After the first couple of hotspots, both teams established a smooth rhythm, leapfrogging each other to increase the pace, improve efficiency and to share the sole spirit level. These are the roles of our team members.
Team CSG
Caishi: Photographer, quality control.
Siewling: Hotspot advisor, quality control.
Gary: Hotspot mapper and coordinator
Team TMD
Tomoko: Photographer, quality control.
Marie: Hotspot advisor, quality control.
Donric: Logistics coordinator and setup.
Both teams were also supported by Keng Boon, Yonghao and Kanghao with their laptops and technical expertise. Dealing with tourists and terrain took plenty of skill. Most were quite accommodating to our requests for an unobstructed view. We felt if DTB could lend us an official to aid us in these matters, our panoramic quality would be much better; to DTB’s benefit. A 360 panoramic bird’s eye view of the scenic mountains and city would be much more spectacular and breathtaking without the obtrusive head of a tourist.
Some terrain spots were worth battling the steep climb, strong winds and perilous terrain to set up our tripod and capture the perfect view. Teams CSG and TMD completed their mission of 17 panoramic views covering all 5 spots in almost 4 hours. We returned to DTU for a short break to freshen up, recharge our equipment and most importantly, LUNCH!!!!
After lunch, all 18 of us squeezed into the usual tiny van and we headed up to Monkey Mountain located at the Northern tip of Danang. Little did we expect the surprise we were in for. We travelled up the narrow winding roads barely wide enough for a motorcycle to squeeze past without careening off the edge of the mountain. As we travelled higher, the weather was cooler and the mist surrounded us. Our little van sped through the mountain roads, turning it into a roller coaster ride. The guide (provided by DTB) failed to turn up. Needless to say, we got lost but decided to explore the mountain on our own. We reached a steep hill our van couldn’t climb and had to reverse all the way down. Some were bemused by the nervous look on the driver’s face. Others were even more terrified. The breaking point was the attempted 3 point turn on the single lane with a steep cliff by the side.
Some of the girls suggested alighting the van as it performed this dangerous maneuver but no attention was paid. Fortunately, all went well and we sped downhill to locate the alternate route. The smell of burnt clutch and brakes filled the van. We took a short break at a gas station to allow the engine to cool down and recover. As daylight was running short, we decided to conquer Monkey mountain tomorrow. We did take a panoramic view of a temple overlooking the sea. This five storey Goddess of Mercy was erected to protect the fishermen.
Tired and hungry, we headed back to prepare for D-Day2.
Goddess of Mercy at Marble Mountain
Cave entrance (Van Thong Cave) aka “Hell”
Temple overlooking sea
Giant Goddess of Mercy
View of the coast from the temple
Goddess of Mercy at Marble Mountain
Cave entrance (Van Thong Cave) aka “Hell” 
Giant Goddess of Mercy
View of the coast from the temple