Friday 6th - Dam That River

The scenery is much the same as Laos except I’ve timed it badly (winter) and it’s overcast the whole way making the exposure on the photos harder to get right, apologies. Today there was a lot of dams as we ride along the river, both operating and being built.

I did go and see “O beautiful one” before we left so at least he held the rain back for the whole three days. Also in the tiny backwater areas where we stop for lunch they have electricity here as opposed to Laos so I can have a cold beer for lunch!

We stopped at this little tin shed on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere where these guys were making the most amazing wood carvings.

After one last huge dam we stop in Kham Duc, population 2,500 with enough time for a back relieving massage after the 120km before mountain deer and a few beers for dinner in a local restaurant.

Thursday 5th - Minorities

Mr Hoa and I left Hoi An at nine and were in the mountains by eleven for the one part of Vietnam I haven’t seen yet, the central highlands along the Ho Chi Minh trail.

We are riding little 125cc motorbikes on sealed roads the whole way so this trip was much more comfortable though similar to the one I did in Laos especially without the back pack, my overnight bag is strapped on his bike, freeing me up. We stop in and hangout in a few minority villages where the people are always smiling and happy to see a westerner and shouting "Hello!"

We stay in small towns at two star hotels that are comfortable and clean and as good as the ones in Hoi An so that’s a relief at the end of a riding day. This is the view from my room on the first night and dinner in Ba Rao, population 2000, after riding 110km.

Rain Lunch Massage Pack

Woke to the sound of rain, it’s going to be a dull day in Hoi An. After buffet breakfast it has slowed to a light sprinkle so I go for a walk.

I find a temple and take some time to thank “O beautiful one” then head to the river for lunch and a couple of beers. 

The rain sets in again late afternoon so I wile away an hour with another massage then drop in to Mr Hoa and sort the details for our four day bike trip and return to my room to pack. I’ll leave my backpack at his place and just take the small overnight bag for the trip. 

So I will be absent for a few days from the blog but return with an abundance of wonderful photos.

Bus Lagged

Well I had braced myself for an agonising experience for the bus ride up here to Hoi An, the Vietnamese “sleeper” buses are the worst in Asia, so with the worst expectations it turned out not too bad. Not to say it was good but it wasn’t as physically painful as it could have been. 

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.

Goodbye Nha Trang

An early entry for today, it’s mid afternoon and I need to pack for the overnight bus trip to Hoi An tonight – that I just know I am going to enjoy – not!

I had a good breakfast and a horrible massage before one last coffee at the sailing club then gave in to the colonel and had KFC for lunch, classy.

And A New One Just Begun.

A pretty lazy start to the year. Went out for breakfast and booked a ticket to Hoi An for Monday night, yes a painful overnight bus ride, not looking forward to that. 

Spent some time looking through an art gallery, some amazing pieces of local work. 

I attempted to update the software on my iPhone as advised by iTunes which then went on to delete all the information from my phone, argh! It took me all afternoon to reload everything.  

That’s ok it rained on and off through the day into the night, amazing timing, if it was like this yesterday NYE would have been disastrous.  

I treated myself at the restaurant I went to on the first night I got here which must’ve been about a week ago now and had another Australian sirloin, yeah! 

So I sleep to the sound of the ocean and rain, man I’ve been having some incredible dreams, mostly of you my friends……………and home. Thank you to those that sent their communiqués of well wishes, it means a lot from here.

Happy New Year

29th

30th

31st

After dinner throngs of people went down to the main party area with incredibly loud DJ music

Two boats pulled up near the shore and after the countdown...............