Your legs are crammed into a small space under the seat in front of you up to your knees (so the seats only recline about 150 degrees) with my overnight bag in there as well leaving little space for movement but the confusing thing was why would they build in a ridge right where your feet are?
Anyway, that aside, with a stop every three or so hours, nicotine and the ability to relieve myself without using the bus toilet made it a long but bearable journey.
Upon arrival I had some luck in that someone else was staying at my hotel who had arranged a shuttle straight to the hotel so I didn’t need to take a taxi. Also for two dollars I walked straight into a buffet breakfast and my room was ready by the time that was over.
It was a great relief to lay flat on my bed for a couple of hours snoozing on and off through “Magnolia” then I went to the “old quarter” for lunch by the river. I was heading back towards my hotel to find a Spa for a massage and had one of the best I’ve had for ages.
The whole point of coming here is to catch up with Mr Hoa, an “Easyrider” and after the last couple of years, to finally take him up on a few days riding inland on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the old road from the north to the south, close to the Laos border, including riding over the large mountain to the north of Danang – as seen on Top Gear.
Passing his house I discover it is a new business and he no longer lives there. On the walk back to my hotel to change I look up and we see each other with a big smile and handshake. He moved his family and business across the road and a bit closer to my hotel. We catch up on things over a coffee and arrange our trip in a couple of days.
I head back to my hotel and briefly go out for dinner then to bed, I am exhausted.
