Romain on the Minsk...
Today, Romain and I are leaving Hanoi on motorbike...a real adventure! We're going to do the "Northwest Loop" in Vietnam, and visit a bunch of minority hill tribes. Neither of us have really done motorbiking before, but a lesson from the shop owner gets us on the road! LOL, this is a 125cc bike, with 4 gears that you shift with a clutch...should be interesting! Thankfully, we are getting transferred onto the highway, and get to avoid the messy traffic of central Hanoi.
The past couple weeks have been amazing!! Vietnam is such a beautiful country, with lots of friendly people and tasty gastronomic delights. I was in HCMC for National Day, and there was an anti-climactic display of fireworks. I met a bunch of people and we headed out to the aptly named Apocalypse Now Club...about half the people there were prostitues I think! It is really scary that the industry operates so openly.
Woo, canyoning is awesome!! Yep..that's me there! LOL
I caught a bus to Mountainous Dalat, located in the central highlands...beautiful waterfalls!! I went abseiling/canyoning down 5 waterfalls nearDatalana falls and it was SOO crazy! No matter how many times you go down, getting past that "edge" feeling is scary... ha ha, the last waterfall we tackled was called the "washing machine"...the water pounding down on your body is ridiculous.
Next, I visited the coastal city of Nha Trang...
beautiful beach resort town with a party boat trip...but since most people have just gone back to school (including hoardes of Vietnamese tourists), I was the first person at the "floating bar". Ha ha, bad mulberry wine from Dalat mixed with some tasty sea water. yum! Nha Trang also has some relaxing mineral mud baths and I was pounded into jelly by a trained masseur. So good.The light was playing a game in the islands near Nha Trang...
The local market in Hoi An...all the ladies still wear the conical hats!!
An overnight bus landed me in Hoi An, a quaint little town that oozes Old World Charm. Shophouses are built with Chinese, Japanese and even Arabic influences, and there are loads of French Colonial buildings too. Hoi An is famed for its tailors as well! I had two suits and a few dress sirts made...they fit PERFECTLY. It is SO awesome!!! The Cau Dai beach in Hoi An was 20 meteres wide and I dunno, endlessly long. The sand was silkly and the coconut trees made it picture perfect. A beautiful 20 minute bike ride from town. The food in Hoi An was amazing too!! Lots of great seafood (I inadvertently ate baby shark! set menu...eep! It is very "meaty" and only has a bit of fishy taste) and satays.
Look Mom, it's your name...on a shophouse in Hoi An.
A most gorgeous sunset in Hanoi....Then, an 18 hour bus got me to Hanoi...capital of Vietnam! We're off to visit the elegant rice paddy fields and get mobbed by little children in traditional garb. Don't worry, I'll be super careful on the motorbike.
1 comment:
Yo Mary
All I can say after reading your latest adventure is: Mary Mary, quite contrary.
Tell me, was there a defining moment in your life that "jerked" you into such a let-your-hair-down type adventure?
Did they ask you to sign your life off at the motorbike rental place? Did you put me in your insurance policy as your beneficiary?
It'll be interesting to see how you look like now. You must be pretty tanned and lean by now? Hair's longer? Or did you have a Vietnam haircut as well?
Last week, AK asked where you were. I passed on your blog link to her and reminded her to check it out periodically.
Take care, my love. Come back in one piece - in your tailor-made Vietnam suit!
Love
AP
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