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Vietnam 2012: “Ten toi la Momi »...made in Italy !
Hellò everybody I’m Maurizio (aka Momi)à Italy
This year for my vacation I chose the Vietnam, country that I’ve missed in 2007 by 100 km ( 62 miles) when I was riding with a little motorbike in Laos http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize51.jpg Why Vietnam ? First of all cause I’ve never been there, that’s always a good reason to visit a country. Further since I was child I was concerned with Vietnam. At the primary school (7 years old) for an italina composition with free title, I chose “The Vietnam War”. It was the 1969 and in 2 weeks I’ve read (on my father’s newspaper) an article about Vietnam War. My teacher wanted to talk with my father that explained that I was a little bit strange kid, quiet, not violent, but very interested to the strategy of the battle and war. The military logistic is for me a science: the war a madness. As most of the people I’ve seen a lot of movies: Apocalipse Now, The Green Berets, The Deer Hunter, Rambo, Hamburger Hill, Platoon, Coming Home ecc... This was probably the first war that came in to houses with real images. Around first days of April I found a very cheap flight Milan-Moscow-Hanoi for 559 €( 717 $) with Aeroflot . I run a little mechanical factory with my brother and so I can decide my week days with him. The problem was to avoid the worst monson days. I decided to start on 19 of May and come back on 13th of June Flight’s ok. Second thing: the bike. On internet I found a very professional agency in Hanoi, that was very helpfull and sent to me a lot of informations. Teh name is Flamingo Travel ( Vietnam Motorbike Rentals, Motorbike Tours Vietnam, Off Road Motorbike Tour, Motorbike Rent Hanoi ) : is a travel agency, that sell air and bus tickets, organizes tours , rent motorbike and also organizes motorbike tours. I chosen a bike very similar to my Suzuki DR 350 the Yamaha Serow 230 cc 21 €/day (28 $/day), 109 kg( 240 pounds) and with a good tank, 10 lt ( 2 gallons) http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize47.jpg Guide book : for a few years I’ve chosen the Footprint. Lucky ther’s the italian translation for Vietnam http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize48.jpg Map: on Amazon I found the Periplus 4,5 € ( 6 $) http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize49.jpg My first idea was to do the North Loop, with Dien Bien Phu, Meo Vac ( on the China border) and Halong Bay. Then ? How the hell could I know ? Maybe try to reach Ho Chi Min City in the south, cause Flamingo Travel was able to organze the drop off : in case of lackness of days is possibile to leave the bike in Ho Chi Min City and get the night train: 36 hours to come back in Hanoi. I’ll see in Vietnam, day by day. I had in mind 2 places: Huè the ancient capital of the Vietnam an the My Lai memorial, where undred of vietnamese civilians were killed by USA marines in 1968. I started from Milano on 19 of May and landed in Hanoi on 20th of May. I’ve ridden with the motorbike from 22th of May to 12th of June for 6.232 km ( 3.872 miles). This is my route...more or less: I didn’t use any GPS. http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/vietna10.jpg Expenses Vietnam Visa (made at the Hanoi Airport) -------------------38€ = 50 $ Milan-Hanoi flight (Aeroflot)--------------------------------------559€= 717 $ Motorbike rent (22 days)------------------------------------------472€= 605$ Travel insurance (england company on line)-----------------95€= 121 $ Food, accomodations, gas, souvenir ecc (in Vietnam)----470€= 603$ Flamingo Travel sent to me pics and mesurement of saddle bags, so I decided to use my light backpack of Ferrino top ut on the rack: they also provide the helmet. In this way I could start with less than 10 kg ( 22 pounds) of luggage http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize53.jpg my gym buddy the Beuto is always my personal chauffeur to reach train station or airport http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize54.jpg the Aeroflot’s menù was excellent http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize55.jpg I landed in Hanoi at 8.00 am. How reach the hostel ? By taxi ? Mhh too easy: try with local transports. Just outside the airport I get the bus 17 http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize56.jpg on the last stop the bridge that bring you to Hanoi is forbidden to pedestrians so I agree with a man on motorbike that for 0,77€= 1 $ bring me and my rucksack to the hostel http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize58.jpg 3,66 €/night( 4,69$/night), 6 bed dormitory, with breakfast and free beer in the afternoon (www.hostelworld.com) ...and just 60 mt ( 66 yards) from Flamingo Travel office http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize59.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize60.jpg I want to emphasize that the owner Mr Hung Nguyen was very helpfull, even during the trip: very professional also. Settled the rent contract, deposit and signed documents I started to visit Hanoi by foot. The capital is known as City of Lakes, so what’s better than Hoan Kiem Lake to begin ? http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize10.gif http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize63.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize64.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize65.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize68.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize67.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize66.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize69.jpg Ahh finally I could see the ceremony in that asian people show to divinities their detachment from material goods: they burn money ! Ok they are false bills, but doesn’t matter. Divinities dont know bills: brilliant idea. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize70.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize71.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resize72.jpg |
Looks like an awesome trip. Thanks for sharing.
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+1 fabulous photos thank you:thumbup1:
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May 22th: I wake up very early but it’s raining. Ok breakfast http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz122.jpg after this the rain stops, but the sky remain dark and stormy. I fix my luggage and I’m ready to go. Direction is west. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz123.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz124.jpg ohh a Golf Club http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz125.jpg always delicious the juice from sugar cane http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz126.jpg the landscape begins to change http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz127.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz128.jpg the sky is always dark but I begin to see a lot of bikers that stop to wear rain clothes...it’s better do the same thing, even if isn’t raining. I learn that time noise from sky and rain is very short in Vietnam, but nobody refuses to take refuge from the rain. I had a stop in to a gas station http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz129.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz130.jpg sometimes the rain makes streets into little river and that remind me the road Manali – Leh in India http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz131.jpg in the North of Vietnam there are a lot of monuments in USSR style http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz132.jpg around night I reach Son La that became my first stop in Vietnam. To sleep in Vietnam you can find two kind of accomodation. The hotel named khách sạn and the guest house (cheaper) nha nghi: both take care of your motorbike and put it directly in the hall. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz133.jpg The room is around 4 €= 5 $ After a quick shower I walked along the main road...ok every Vietnam city has a very big big central road and as in the former USSR cities that’s all. Right and left hotel, shops and restaurants. The owner was very happy to have a foreign client http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz134.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz135.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz136.jpg the food was excelent..this cats which I had given food are still alive http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz137.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/vietna12.jpg This morning I’d like to reach Dien Bien Phu, where in the 1954 came the big victory of the Viet Minh Army on the French Army and put an end to the Indocina War that has begun in the 1946: to know more please click on this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Indochina_War http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz139.jpg a very important thing. When you travel and decide to download pics from memory card to your notebook, remember to put again the card in the camera: could be very difficult do it when luggages are fixed on the motorbike http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz140.jpg the Vietnam jam, as in Africa and India is amix of vehicles, people and animals http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz141.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz143.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz142.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz144.jpg sometimes the vegetation has a green really incredible http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz145.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz146.jpg What you can do to dry quickly hay or rice ? Use the spaved road http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz147.jpg ohh the rain: i’m on the road but I see a little stand of fruit and a house, so I drive my motorbike in the backyard http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz148.jpg Is a property of a young guy that works as excavator driver: he has showed to me the operating manual. He’s at home with a friend that’s a teacher. They offered to me tea and fruit http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz149.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz150.jpg I arrived to Dien Bien Phu around 1 ,00 pm and so first I had lunch http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz151.jpg this is a celebration of the victory mhh this staircase remind me Odessa and the Potemkin staircase http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz152.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz153.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz154.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz155.jpg the war cemetery http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz156.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz157.jpg I meet a couple of Belgium tourists and we exchange informations on Vietnam: very intresting population. For one year and half they hadn’t a governement, but the country was going on. I started around 3 pm and I decided to arrive as far as possible: normally is a point that you can’t miss. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz158.jpg a stop for a drink...and rain again http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz159.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz160.jpg Along the road I bought a pillow from a Guest House. I’m short, but the bike is very little with a hard seat http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz161.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz162.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz163.jpg I reach Lai Chau around 7 pm and just one hotel has a room. First eat, the shower can wait http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz164.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz165.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz166.jpg the hotel has a big dining room with wi-fi free, table football, billiard and a room for the national pastime in Vietnam: the karaoke. Every bar, restaurant , private home has one http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz167.jpg around 2 am it’s enough: and this time the owner stops the people to sing. My room is very large and I could arrange clothes and luggage easily http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz168.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz169.jpg |
wow what a facinating blog!
Great photo's ,text most interesting.i enjoyed it very much.Noel:D
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http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/vietna13.jpg This morning I’ve in mind to reach with a very short distance Sapa, a city that’s a good starting point for some trekking. As in every city here in Vietnam the marketallows you to can see many different physiognomies http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz171.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz172.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz173.jpg from the architectural viewpoint Lai Chau isn’t unforgettable http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz174.jpg just pay attentino to roadsigns and everything goes smoothly http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz175.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz176.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz177.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz178.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz179.jpg No way ! One pillow isn’t enough: my butt is crying (me too). I didn’t see a lot of pillow shops on the roas....ohh it’s a mirage ? No this man sells pillows and sheet !!!!!! Yes: I bought one immediactly and the seller has helped me to fix it over the seat. Double pillow better than one. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz180.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz181.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz182.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz183.jpg Sapa is on altitude of 1600 mt( 1 miles...as the Denver Broncos Stadium, the Mile High), and during the French occupation became the summer vacation resort of the foreign diplomatics: her weather remind Alpes. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz184.jpg As in the 2010 in India when I arrived in manali the impressioni s the same: is a city totally full of restaurant souvenir shops, travel agency, england pub, bank, music club in western style...ok nothing wrong with this situation. I’m a tourist as other people and in vacation you’ve got the right to relax, but I don’t need of place like this. I decided to continue and reach Lao Cai a normal Vietnamese city, on the China border. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz185.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz185.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz186.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz187.jpg Just one problem: I can’t no more read the oil level: the little plastic window is completly dark. A very nice local mechanic called the Flamingo Travel in Hanoi, but read the level remained a mistery: they just said “Stop to put oil !” http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz188.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz189.jpg Lao Cai and ther’s yet sunlight http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz190.jpg …ok I had taken just the picture http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz191.jpg http://laocaistarhotel.com/Accommodation-product.aspx?cate=193 the range is from the Superior room ( 18 €=24$) to Vip Room ( 92€= 118 $). My hotel was 3,12€ =4$ a night. Lao Cai is just a transit city http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz192.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz193.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz194.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz195.jpg dinner http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz196.jpg my hotel room isn’t bad http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz197.jpg In the room I notice a big irritation with a big swelling. When you travel alone, is better to have some medical knoweledge: obviously is a sting. No problem I’ve got the spray, just put a little bit...AAAHHHHHHHH the pain is incredible. It isn’t a sting, but a friction of the sock on the skin...ok the liniment http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz198.jpg |
Vietnam
Bravissimo ,
I have to admit you are doing a really great job , good general explanation about your trip and great pictures too , keep it coming and enjoy it to the fullest. |
I too have enjoyed this episode.
Your problem makes me laugh,I had a ttr250 went on a long trip with my mates on road bikes got to within 250km from home pulled over ,mates stopped asked what i was doing? ,i replied im walking from here my butt is so sore!!!I sold it shortly afterwards brought a varadero which ive had for 12+ years.big bike a little on the heavy side for where you are travelling.Carry on!Noel:D
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Today I’ve planned to reach Ha Giang, a city wehr’s possible get the permit to travel in the North Area of Ha Giang region...it’s easy remember names of region and her capital in Vietnam: it’s the same. The road from Ha Giang to Meo Vac is a dream for a biker. The permit costs around 25 $, I think 10$ every people if you are a bunch of almost 4.
http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz199.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz200.jpg This was my first stop for a coffee http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz201.jpg I’ve never been in a Vietnam “bar” and I remained surprised by the way in that they prepare it. They put the coffee in the “Coffee maker” (made in a light aluminium), then this come on a glass, after hot water and you wait to filter it. Simple but intelligent: this could be a great souvenir. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz202.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz203.jpg gas station http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz204.jpg gas station’s workers http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz205.jpg gas station’s bathroom http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz206.jpg Could miss a stop due to the rain ? http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz207.jpg Vietnam road accident http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz208.jpg My hotel in Ha Giang: I’m lucky here it’s possibile get the permit http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz209.jpg Dinner http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz210.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz211.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz212.jpg The rice cooker…another candidate as souvenir http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz213.jpg I’ve never seen a hotel where cars and minibus have to cross the reception to go in the parking http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz214.jpg the permit: I can go to sleep http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz215.jpg ohh I’ve got to dry my clotes http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz216.jpg Today is Saturday: I’m going to Meo Vac http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz217.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz218.jpg As I’m going I understand the big difference between landscape in Europe and here. I’m on the mountains, the roads are very similar, good but narrow, but the landscape is something amazing: no pines no fir tree, but jungle. Sometimes I stop the bike just without a reason and I remain to look http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz219.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz220.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz222.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz223.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz224.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz225.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz226.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz227.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz228.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz229.jpg Vietnam-China border http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz230.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz231.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz232.jpg |
Around 1 pm i reach a little city:ok right time toh ave lunch. I’ve got two tin can of fish: if I can find some bread, that’s all I need. Ahh french bread: baguette
http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz233.jpg The city is little, but the Ho Chi Min picture is very large http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz234.jpg along a road I see some big buildings. They looks uninhabitated: a good place to take a rest and eat. Maybe a school or some guid hall. At the moment zero check point: maybe I had could avoid to pay the 25$ permit. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz235.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz236.jpg voilà baguette avec poisson http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz237.jpg I’m ready to go when appears a men : a keeper ? He cheers to me and then take out a cellphone. I don’t undertand why he’s taking a picture of my bike behind. He calls me pointig at the screen of his cellphone. Probably he likes to show to me the picture. Suddendly I understand that democracy is a little bit far from Vietnam. He has a list of plates, even mine. With the number of the plates of my bike ther’s the date of the permit. How many people are keeping me under surveillance ? http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz238.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz239.jpg I had a stop to take a picture, but I see 2 Black Hmong ( a Vietnam tribe) walking and bringing cattle. I hope to don’t have problems with this wild men: the problems in the comunication can get the encounter very dangerous. I turn with my camera...but they see me. My blood became cold, but they don’t care of me: I’m safe. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz240.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz241.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz242.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz243.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz244.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz245.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz246.jpg This time no risk with the locals: I use the zoom http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz247.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz248.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz249.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz250.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz251.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz252.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz253.jpg Finally Meo Vac: lucky, a Yamaha service http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz254.jpg To sleep I search in the little city and I meet 4 english bikers that I saw in Ha Giang. Their hotel is the only in the city: others accomodations are Guest House. Reception restaurant...12 $ (9,4 €) for room: Ahhhhhhh After a while I find my place 4$ (3,14 €) for the room. Ok http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz255.jpg The Guest House is run by a family: Father, mother and 4 daughters. The oldest is 14 years old and the mother is 34...ok at the age of 40 in Vietnam you can became grandfather http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz256.jpg The daughter that is 14 years old knows 10 english words, but my phrasebook helps a lot. After a shower I’m back in the hall and I notice the wonderful fish that they cooked for dinner. I point my finger on the fish and on me, to try to ask: “Can you cook one for me ?” They smile and invite me to eat with the family http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz257.jpg My efforts with chopsticks always are fun for asian people..and sometimes a friend of the family looks at me from outside. I could let pay a ticket for the show http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz258.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz259.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz260.jpg this isn’t the fifth daughter, but a friend from Ha Giang http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz261.jpg no way to can pay the dinner: I’m a guest of the family, and so I go to sleep. |
Some video
Despite is Sunday I woke up at 6 am. The sky is cloudy and this is normal in this days, but why should I start today ? Sunday means market and here is right beheind my Guest House. Ok today free day and let’s go to the Meo Vac market. I’m gonig on the right side of the vacation: every day I prpare a schedule that always change. Perfect. At 6,30 am I’m at the market http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz262.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz263.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz264.jpg As in every market/bazar of Asia since the first moment you’re overwhelmed from sounds and colors http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz264.jpg meat..looks fresh http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz265.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz266.jpg cheese http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz267.jpg sweets…mhh this remino me that it’s breakfast time http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz268.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz269.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz270.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz271.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz272.jpg |
two of the england bikers of Ha Giang
http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz273.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz274.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz276.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz277.jpg Life isn’t easy for vietnamese womens. Look at this young mom: she’s breastfeeding and serving clients at the same time. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz278.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz279.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz280.jpg furtively I tried to take a pic of this two children, but one had seen me and she had coverei the face. Immediately I thought “ very bad pic”, but after a while I changed opinion. One of my best shot . http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz281.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz282.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz283.jpg strange: they are selling gas and in the city there are 2 big gas station: ok it wasn’t gas , but something very similar to italian grappa, a kind of brandy distilled from wine or must. This should be distilled from rice. Vietnam is a great country, you can have an happy hour even before 8 am: I paid and they let me taste it http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz284.jpg cowbells http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz285.jpg How time flies: is noon. Time to lunch http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz286.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz287.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz288.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz289.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz290.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz291.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz292.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz293.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz294.jpg how many crafts you can see http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz295.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz297.jpg I was looking for somebody able to repair my boots, and at my guest house they wrote on a slip the phrase “ I need to repair my boots” in vietnamese http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz298.jpg I found the cobbler, but my boots are too thick for his machine http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz299.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz300.jpg I can try to repair myself: so I bought some superglue for tires Behind the market ther’s a place in that you can buy and sell every kind of animal http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz301.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz302.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz303.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz304.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz305.jpg Back to the Guest House and I can notice that everibody is very busy in preparation of the brunch...ok Vietnam brunch. Remember that today is Sunday http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz306.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz307.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz308.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz309.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz310.jpg They don’t want I help in any way: I’m the guest. Ok I can try to repair my boots: here’s the results http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz312.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz314.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz313.jpg Now I can read my guide, write my daily diary, relax...wrong the children come around me. Ok baby sittering for food ! http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz311.jpg paper and felr-tip pen http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz315.jpg they offered to me fresh fruit: note that even a little children in Vietnam is able to use a big knife http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz316.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz319.jpg they didn’t know the play to paint faces on the fingers http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz317.jpg One of the children showed me her hands: ok picture #1 http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz318.jpg we sat in the hall…20 people more or less..ok this means at least 20 rounds of drinks http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz320.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz321.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz322.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz323.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz324.jpg this is the Guest House owner http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz325.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz326.jpg after the brunch I helped to wash the dishes…every man was looking at me as a man from Mars: I was doing awomen job ! http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz328.jpg |
I relaxed for half hour ( ok I had more than 20 drinks), but the sky wasn’t bad and so I took the bike to go to visit a a little temple on the top of the hill and after I’ve driven out of the city, an the road, without a destination
http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz327.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz329.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz330.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz331.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz332.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz333.jpg finally a city: I don’t know both name and position http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz335.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz336.jpg always pay attentino on the road in Vietnam http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz337.jpg after some hours I was back to Meo Vac http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz338.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz339.jpg After lunch I begin to help with dishes, but the owner grab my arm and shake his head: ok is a women job, and I seat with him in the hall. After a while, in quick succession every children walked through the hall and every children said something to the father. He answered to everyone, always interrupting to read the newspaper. Finally even the wife went through the hall and said something. I watched this man , for some minutes, smoking and reading his newspaper but after I gave to mìhim a slap on the back. I showed to him one finger that means him and after 5 fingers that mean 4 children + 1 wife: he smiled and nod to me. Situation are the same all over the world: I can’t imagine The president of the USA, Barack Obama when the First Lady is angry...mhh even my brother is married but I can imagine the same situation Now I can go to sleep..ohh no before is better to tidy up the room http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz340.jpg |
This morning, I’m not very happy to start again, but I’ve got to drive. Unforgettable Meo Vac. I can’t tellyou where I had the stop over at the end of the day, cause it was dark and I have not seen any signal. I should have been more or less near Cao Bang.
http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/copia_10.jpg breakfast http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz341.jpg I can start http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz342.jpg I’m driving eastward. Full tank, sky not bad beautiful landscape, everything’s fine. But the world is a big balance, that follow the Murphy’s Law, and immediately comes the offset: the engine of my bike stops to work. http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/vietna16.jpg Big silence in the Vietnam mountains, just me and mt (not working) bike: what can I do ? First I take a picture http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz343.jpg With my mechanical skills, I’m able top ut gas in the tank, check oil level ( ok not here in Vietnam) inflate air in tires and check pressure, put oil on the chain transmission. So now I just can wait and try again to start: It has worked and the bike started again This is the second “technical pit stop” http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz344.jpg At the end of the day I had 10 pit stop, but after the fifth this situation looks like a sign from the sky that push me to keep going. Once I could heard the voice of Vietnam Divinities http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/englis10.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz347.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz348.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz349.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz349.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz351.jpg I’ts one o clock: to take a rest I went in the backyard of this desert school http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz352.jpg After a nap I met a family of teachers that also works in the school as caretakers http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz353.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz354.jpg In Vietnam working in the road maintenance is very hard: not a lot of machinery http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz355.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz356.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz357.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz358.jpg My t-shirt and my ass are burning: I’ve got to stop http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz359.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz360.jpg Dark It’s coming, but I’ve seen what in my map I marked with a ? http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz361.jpg They’ve got a bed and a place for my bike http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz362.jpg fresh food http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz363.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz364.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz365.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz366.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz367.jpg Do you think that in a restaurant, in Vietnam, a touris can remain alone without a drink ? ? http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz368.jpg I was lucky, just 6 people at the table. The Guest House/restaurant is also a karaoke point. In a little room downstairs ther’s everything http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz369.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz370.jpg |
This morning, with the sun it’s easier understand where I’m
http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz371.jpg Even today will be har reach Ha Long: in fact I’ll reach Dinh Lap http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/mappa_11.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz372.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz373.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz374.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz375.jpg Ohh finally a Vietnam Pin-up http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz376.jpg Gas station http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz377.jpg I reach Dinh Lap and first I look for a Guest House http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz378.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz379.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz380.jpg the room is really big http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz381.jpg even the bugs http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz382.jpg |
Today is May the 30 and I woke up very early the roosters of the city are still sleeping. Last night I was surprised by the sound of a trumpet that was playng some military music. This morning I can ear two voices, female and male that are speaking with a military background music. Shit, right near a barracks I had to find to sleep. When I was preparing the bike I understood that ther’s no one barracks, but public loudspeakers that are broacasting national governament programs.
For some minutes I rested near the bike, thinking how little we estimate in my country ( and in the rest of western world) the right to can speak free, to organize demonstration, read any newspaper and so on. I think that sometimes people that cover theirs faces and walk in to the streets breaking cars and shop windows should live for some month in this kind of country. Ok sorry for this digression, but at the age of 7 years I read the biography of Martin Luther King and even today I admire black and white people that in the 60’s walked along streets askings for human rhigts http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/mappa_12.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz383.jpg Ok I’m 120 km (75 miles9 far from Halong Bay: sounds reasonable to can reach it around noon. Ok it’s easy have resolutions: the difficult part is to comply with them. Suddendly I saw schoolchilds that are walking into the school. This is the first time that I can see this: ok I can reach Halong Bay even around 1 pm http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz384.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz385.jpg I look at the boys and it seems to me that the age goes from 4 to 13 year. Nobody speaks english, but some adult (teacher ?) invited me to take a tea. In my italian-Vietnamese phrasebook there are 4 names of job and one is techer: correct, they are teachers. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz386.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz387.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz388.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz389.jpg Finally I can comunicate. A teacher speaks alittle bit of english and she eplain to me that the school takes kids from 4 to 15 years old. Almost all the kids are very poor, from farmer families and someone has to walk for two hours to reach the school. This remind to me my father, that after the 2nd World War from 6 to 10 years old had to walk for 7 km ( 4 miles) to reach the primary school. Today is a special day: is the final day of the academic year, and there will be a party. I had seen a mike and two big loudspeakers and this is the reason. The teacher ask to me to remain as “ special guest”. Mhh my schedule includes to arrive in Ha Long Bay by noon...sorry schedule, but I’ve got to change something and I decided to remain http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz390.jpg I was sitting in the lateral desk, with the teachers http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz391.jpg the kids were lined up in rows, divided by age...a little bit military, imo http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz392.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz393.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz394.jpg One of the teachers goes to the mike and (I think) introduce the party http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz395.jpg After 5 minutes of speech the party starts. In turn little groups of kids perform songs, little ballets with some backgrounds music. I’m impressed: with very few material means they prepared a very nice exibition. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz396.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz397.jpg This little group was very funny: they were dancing pantomiming some animals http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz398.jpg |
After a hal hour of show a teacher, totally black dressed came to the mike and everibody
Hush...could be the principal. Whitout one expression on the face, she begins to speak. By the time the sun is coming out. After 30 minutes of speech some of the most littel kids begins to turn down the head and support each to other. Some teacher wake up: ohh I think they are bringing kids in the shadows of the trees...no teachers are bringing some umbrella to the most little kids to can protect from the sun ! http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz399.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz400.jpg One of the little girls looks at me desperately. I read my Italian-Vietnam phrasebook and write on a shit paper the words “Help” and “Get out” she smile. After the first hour finally thechers take little kids to the shadow of trees. Gradually all the kids move back to the shadow http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz401.jpg The principali s an Iron Woman and continue to read to the empty square: this is the situation after one hour and half http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz402.jpg Ok this i san insane situation and I begin to go away: the sound of the voice is alwys the same. But suddendly I understand what incredible experience I’m having. I’m not in a Vietnamese school, but as Pinocchio I’m in the belly of the whale, the belly of the monster. I’m speaking of the the orrible monster that with different colours and slogan you can find all over the world, always during the human history: the dictatorship. This person with the mike isn’t a principal: she is the voice and the arm of the government.. Ok the Vietnam of the present days is very very different from the Vietnam of the 70’s and 80’s but this situation reminds to me the dictatorships of Russia of Stalin, or the Cile of Pinochet, or the Cina of Mao or the Cambodia of Pol Pot, or the iran of Saddam Hussein. This is an amazing chance to experience first-hand the real life of the country: I’m lucky. After two hours (really) clouds cover the sun...and the teachers bring the kids on lines in the square. This Vietnamese kids are tough: all live. After 2 hours and 15 minutes the torture is finished and the teachers are preparing the shool award ceremony http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz403.jpg A teacher goes to the mike: I think to call the kids...ohh my God: another hal hour of speech !!!! Finally begins the award delivery and as in ever dictatorship the bureaucratic machine misfire. The awards aren’t correctly separated by ages and so after every group delivery the teachers had to check and most of the time change the award. With the awards the kids receive even some album that they can paint http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz404.jpg Ok the ceremony is over and I can go: I’m a little bit tired, but I think to these kids that had to come back home and probably help the family in the work. The principal smile at me, I smile too, but I’d like to can lash she and force to listen again her speech for almost ten times. Ok I can drive now...without forget the rain...I’m in the monsons time http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz405.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz406.jpg Ha Long http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz407.jpg Ha Long is a must see not only for foreign tourists, but for every Vietnam people. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz408.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz409.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz410.jpg The seafron is full of luxury hotel (real 5 star) , but my guidebook drive me to a road full of cheap placet: ok 7 $ for a night. I leave my stuffs in the room and go outside to undertand how it works the reservation of a boat journey in the bay. Ha Long is a seaside resort: very interesting to can see the Vietnam people on the beach. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz412.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz413.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz414.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz415.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz417.jpg Obviously is a no-topless zone http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz416.jpg I reach the point of embarkation. At the tourist office nobody speaks english, but a lot of people approach tome: I’m the only western tourist at the moment. Rates are from 20 to 100 $( 15 to 75 €). Ok a old woman tell to me 18 $, 4 hours of tour and two visit to the cave in the islands around the bay. Tomorrow at 8 am. Ok It’s dinner time, but befor to eat I want to see almost one 5 star hotel: just the hall. I choice one and in fact is a really 5 star location. Staffvery good dressed, english speaking, inside shops, gym, restaurants, piano bar ecc.. Ok after 10 minutes I get out and right outside the hotel, a young man comes close to me and in a not bad english asks to me “ Hey mister, would you like to have some funny boom boom tonight ?” He thinks that I’m a Hotle guest.Ok always you can find pimps near luxury places: maybe could be fun to speak with this guy. “ Would you like to have a nice girl mister ?” And he begin to show to me pictures of girls with a cellular phone...ok the screen is very big, more similar to a tablet: he’s a professional pimp. After some minutes I tell to him that I’d like to have fun, ( boom boom) but I need of 3 girls. He had a big big smile: low season and he can place not 1 but 3 girls at the same time. He asks why 3: I explain that I need of 3 girls and 2 big beds. Ok he understood: 2 girl togheter in one bed and me and the 3th girl in the other bed. “Almost correct my friend” I answer, but while the first 2 girls play togheter, the third has to rope me and cut my skin with a little special knife that I’ve got with me and hit my back with a whip or a belt. Now he’s looking at me with wide-eyed...stammer for a moment, but suddendly says:” Ok mister the price is higher, but ther’s a girl in Ha Long that does this kind of activity” I can’t belive it: in the North of Vietnam, the traditional Vietnam you can find sado maso fun. He shows me a picture with a masked girl hanging a whip. The problem is check if she’s free tonight. A short call and he says that tonight the girl isn’t avilable. Ok I answer: no problem, organze everything for tomorrow night, becuse I’m having a week of rest here in Ha Long . Ok for tomorrow at 6 pm and we shake the hands. Ok now is really time to eat http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz418.jpg |
Today I’ve got to have a cruise on the Bay: my hotel will keep my luggages till noon. Before 8 am I’m ready at the dock
http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz419.jpg my ticket clerk comes to me immediately http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz420.jpg Ok so is how it works: you’ve got to buy a ticket to visit caves and from the number of stop this people arrange the trip with the ship. In fact the panel with prices and itinerary is a little bit difficult to understand for western tourists http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz436.jpg Legend says that while Vietnam people were fighting against chinese Army in the bay of Halong Divinity sent some dragons and they began to spit diamonds that became rocks touching the water: so a barrier was created against the invaders and they remained to this day http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz421.jpg on my boat there are just two families and a couple http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz422.jpg start http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz423.jpg the bay is amazing http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz424.jpg At the first stop I had a picture with this ( I think) High school/First year university class and they applaud to me when I gave my camera to the teacher...ok some minutes as a rock star! http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz425.jpg first of my two visit to the caves http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz426.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz427.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz428.jpg a stop to visit a barge of fishermans http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz429.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz430.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz431.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz432.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz433.jpg ok I’m postin a lot of pics but the Halong Bay is something I’ve never seen before http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz434.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz435.jpg With a japanese accuracy, the boat bring us back at noon and I get my bike to go to take luggages and come back in Hanoi http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz437.jpg first of all the lunch http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz438.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz439.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz440.jpg Just 40 km ( 25 miles) before Hanoi, along an highway, two cops on motorbike stop me. With some english words they let me understand that this strech of the road is forbidden to motorbike. They had check just the motorbike documents and after they showed to me (with the cellular phone) an alternative route. I gesture to them my intention to go to the next exit and then go to the right road. Surprisingly they indicate to me the previous exit , about 80 mt (500 yards) back: wrong way down on a highway ? Ok It’s better to push the bike. They make no non with heads and hands. Just start the bike and drive...ok the police said so and I did in this way, wrong way down both, road and exit. Ahhh Vietnam. Back on the right road I stop to a little motorway cafè..you can always find one under the bridges of the street. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz441.jpg First thing when I arrived in Hanoi was to fix better the seat. The Flamingo’s mechanic seeing the pillows undertand my problem. They solved it with 5 $ ( 3,9 €). They cutted an used seat and had fixed the pad on the seat. Brilliant: I have now this in Italy: a great souvenir. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz442.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz443.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz444.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz445.jpg Today is Friday first of june and I’ll begin my trip to the south of Vietnam. I don’t know if will possible complete the come and back Hanoi-Ho Chi Min City, but in case of lack of time, the Flamingo Travel can arrange the drop off of the bike and I’ll can come back to Hanoi with the night train from Ho Chi Min City in 36 hours. To reach Ho Chi Min City I decide to follow as much as possible the Ho Chi Min Trail. This was a group of road (about 10) tha allowed the North Vietnam Army to transporte to the south armies and any kind of support to the military operations in the south during the Vietnam War. ...for more informations please click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_trail The trail run very close to the Laos border and in the mountain http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/mappa_13.jpg I can rest for the breakfast: for sure the Trail will be marked in a cleary way http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz446.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz447.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz448.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz449.jpg After 70 km (43 miles) I don’t know where I’m: ok lost in Vietnam. I can take it easy: nobody is coming along this road. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz450.jpg |
But it appears a women on a scooter and I stop her. With map and phrasebook she understand . She gesture to follow her and so we arrive to a crossroad. Here she indicate to turn right and go to Cho Ben and in Cho ben go to left. Ok very nice.
http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz452.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz451.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz453.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz454.jpg In this little city, I saw an internet point and with google maps I notice that the women was exact http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz454.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz455.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz456.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz457.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz458.jpg snack stop http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz459.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz460.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz461.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz462.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz463.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz464.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz465.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz466.jpg No school club: kids stay with the parents while they’re working http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz467.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz468.jpg It’s going dark so I stoped in Bai Tranh http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz469.jpg I found a Nha Nghi: on the signal ther’s the write Massage, but I didn’t notice at my arrival. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz470.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz471.jpg After dinner one of the girls that are working here comes back: ohh she washed hair and had dress ch’ange: maybe she’s meting with with some friends. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz474.jpg She sit at my table. With phrasebook I try to ask if she’s going to dance. No she answer to me hammering softly my knees with his fist. “ Do you play drums” I try to ask : no. Karaoke ? No. She say massage and point her finger in the direction of my room.. I smile but I say no. From her expression I can understand that she’s upset by my decision. She said in english “ I’m very good massage”, ok doesn’t matter. Her parents were upset to. Rooms are in a line. My window is open and I can see a car arrive and people going in a room. After 20 minutes the girls knocks on my window: she’s smiling and says “Massage massage” and went to the next room. In the morning I saw this panel that let better understand the services of this guest house http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz473.jpg dry in the sun (and on the road) rice and hay is a very common activity in this days http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz475.jpg I need to ch’ange my dollars in dong, but along the Ho Chi Min Path you don’t find big cities, but in this I saw a bank. No bancomat, but doesn’t matter, I can change my cash dollar. The bank is close: at 11 am ? Strange. Ther’s another one: even this is close. Ohhh today is Saturday, banks are close. At one crossroad I saw a luxury car and in front a jewellery store. The owner is very nice and change my dollars in dong. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz485.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz486.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz487.jpg This farmer,, during a rest lend to me an hammock http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz488.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz489.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz490.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz491.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz492.jpg my friend the rain. This time I take cover under a wodden shed used by some lumberjack http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz493.jpg I arrive in Dong Hoi a little bit late. I’m not sure wher’s the centre city. Near a bar a girl says to me that she can offer to me a room at her home. So we go with my bike. After 20 minute of turn left and right finally we reach her home. The room is without windows, a bed with a very thin mattress and she ask to me 7 dollar: ok good bye baby. Driving along a big road I see some accomodation. “ guest house are full, but finally I found a hotel that will be the most luxury accomodation of my vacation: I got this shot in the morning. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz494.jpg By an incredibile interpretation I convinced the girl of the reception to reduce the price of the room: 6 $ (4,7€)instead of 8 $(6,2€). The restaurant of the hotel is closed, but I had seen a little “restaurant” across the road. Very simple menù: just one course meal. Noodle. The owner asks to me as usual : “ An com ?” that means eat. It’s late, I’m tired and I don’t undertand the question. So, surprisingly he asks to me :”Essen ?” I can’t believe it: he speaks German. My memory of high school allow me to speak a basic German, enough to travel and so I could communicate with this man. He’s got even a good pronunciation...oh obviously I had to drink a toast. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz495.jpg before to go to sleep, I take a look at the hotel and….a room for the karaoke. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz497.jpg they are a family at the endo of a 4 days vacation. Vodka as rain and snack. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz498.jpg After the twentieth toast I began to spill the vodka in the fissures of the couch. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz499.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz500.jpg |
Un saluto da un connazionale.
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My target today is to reach Huè the ancient Imperial Capital of the Vietnam, builded in 1687. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/mappa_16.jpg With the daylight I can see something of Dong Hoi http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz501.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz502.jpg breakfast with an excellent vegetables sandwich http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz503.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz504.jpg At this pit stop I finally understood the problem in the reading the oil level: at the first change of oil the mechanic had put too much oil and so the little windows of plastic became of the same dark color and resulted impossible to read the level. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz505.jpg In Huè I had reserved a room in a hotel. To find it I stopped to the bus station, near the Ancient Imperial City. Insiade a Nha Nghi (no vacancy) a ten years old girl, using google translator on her laptop helped me to find the right address http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz506.jpg At 2 pm I was ready to visit the Ancient City http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz507.jpg Obviously the Forbidden City in Beijing (China) is bigger, but this in Huè is very pleasant to visit. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz508.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz509.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz510.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz511.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz512.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz513.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz514.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz515.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz516.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz517.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz518.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz519.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz520.jpg Ok no touristic tour on the elephant with vintage clothes http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz521.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz522.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz523.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz524.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz525.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz526.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz527.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz528.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz529.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz530.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz531.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz532.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz533.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz534.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz535.jpg The bombings of the Vietnam War left a mark on the Ancient City that is now in the list of the world heritage of Unesco http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz536.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz537.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz538.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz539.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz540.jpg After the visit I went around Huè that is divided in 2 separated parts. One is organized for tourists,with pizzeria, pubs and clubs. This side had some point of interest but nothing special. http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz541.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz542.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz544.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz545.jpg The other part is where live Vietnam people http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz543.jpg A rest in a bar on hte riverside http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz546.jpg Going around I had found the way to cut and replace the look used to secure the helmet to the bike http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz547.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz548.jpg for dinner the duck http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz549.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz550.jpg Very nice this little street market. No stalls, merchandises are putted on the round and the effect with lights was striking: as flowers floating on the river http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz551.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz552.jpg In the tourist side of Huè I like a lot this floating restaurant http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz553.jpg |
After Huè I had the last of my “scheduled” stops: the My Son Sanctuary. On the map I can just show more or less where I had the rest: I don’t know it exactly
http://imageshack.us/a/img826/5707/m...onghoimyla.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us In 1968, durino the Vietnam War in one of the boroughs of My Son ( his name is My Lai) a brutal mass murder of Vietnamese civilians (farmers) was did from United States Army http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_Massacre http://imageshack.us/a/img545/7711/resized1005622.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img411/3158/resized1005623.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us Vietnam tool gate: as in India motorbike, scooter and bicycle run tool free http://imageshack.us/a/img838/7595/resized1005625.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img109/7306/resized1005629.jpg A break with an Ice Coffe http://imageshack.us/a/img20/507/resized1005630.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us Again on the road, but after few minutes I heard a big noise: Ohh my God, a punture ? No I’m lucky cause the bike is running well. Why stop to check ? If the bike goes everything is fine…thia will be the most big mistake of my vacation: you’ll see why. Pit stop for a juice fruit...ok due the presence of hammocks the pit stop became a siesta http://imageshack.us/a/img528/7151/resized1005637.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img846/4710/resized1005636.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us I arrived at the Memorial in the first afternoon http://imageshack.us/a/img41/223/resized1005638.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us The Memorial entry http://imageshack.us/a/img43/3677/resized1005639.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us I’m the only visitor In a building ther’s a museum http://imageshack.us/a/img211/5803/resized1005641.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img26/5126/resized1005642.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img12/8829/resized1005643.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img821/4862/resized1005644.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img163/9938/resized1005645.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us This is the third time in my life that I visit a place like this. First was in Vilnius (Lithuania) wher’s a museum in memory of the genocide that Russian Army and the KGB did from late 40’s and 50’s: more than 150.000 people were killed or deported. Second time was in India in the city of Amritsar where , in 1919, the British Army shooted in the park of Jalianwalla Bagh ( a space closed by big walls) to indian people: almost 1516 killed or wounded(Jallianwala Bagh massacre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) The monument dedicated to people killed in My Lai http://imageshack.us/a/img96/1258/resized1005646.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us You can see just the foundations of the original http://imageshack.us/a/img689/4309/resized1005647.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img7/3081/resized1005648.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img708/5882/resized1005650.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img442/3726/resized1005652.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us In every house you can read the names of people killed http://imageshack.us/a/img831/8794/resized1005653.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img854/1601/resized1005655.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us In a moment of rest I took a look outside the fence. A ricefield with people working and children playng: probably the morning of 1968 was very similar. http://imageshack.us/a/img211/4067/resized1005656.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us It’s 3 pm, time to go. Before to start it’s better check the road with my map. And I want to go back on the Ho Chi Min Trail to continue towards Ho Chi Min City. The map, with the guide is in the left saddle bag...no: ok in the right..not even: in the rucksack ? Mhhh I don’t remember. After 20 minutes it’s clear that I don’t have map or guide. Ohhh do you remember the big noise after the Ice Coffee ? It was the pack with map and guide, fallen on the road. Ok: go back to search them ? Noo, I’ near a city it’s better try to look for another map. For the guide, this, in My Lai, was the last scheduled stop. From now I’ve got just geographical point of interest: the South of Vietnam ,Ho Chi Min City and so a map is enough. In a bar, a man speaks english and so explain to a guy to bring me to downtown, to buy a map. First we stopped to a stationery store. After 20 minutes thay showed me their only map: a geografical map, bigger than me, to use in the primary school. Ok it’s nice but bulky. After we finally found the map in a supermarket: is perfect, made by the Vietnam National Tourism Center. http://imageshack.us/a/img525/6094/resized1005657.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img11/5126/ordine623.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img40/7778/ordine624.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us Ok, again ready to go http://imageshack.us/a/img821/9462/resized1005658.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img687/34/resized1005660.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us http://imageshack.us/a/img696/8747/resized1005661.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us It’s dark, time to stop: if you can see a speed limit, you’ll find even a bed. http://imageshack.us/a/img69/7564/resized1005668.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us Bike in the hall http://imageshack.us/a/img525/7703/resized1005669.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us I slept here. http://imageshack.us/a/img440/9018/resized1005670.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us |
Vietnam
Congrat for keeping up with the report. Good to see you are taking the time to mix with the locals and enjoy what the country have to give you. bier
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Today is the 5th of June and is better for me to keep in mind that on 13th of June I’ll got the fly back to Italy. I continue to drive on the Ho Chi Min path
http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/mappa_18.jpg I’m in the mountains and the temperature is going down http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz554.jpg A stop top ut clothes on and…have a breackfast http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz555.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz556.jpg roads sign are always clear http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz557.jpg But better safe thab sorry: is better update my paper GPS http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz558.jpg Vietnam scooter http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz559.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz560.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz561.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz562.jpg I saw this meeting, but I could’nt undertend what was it http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz563.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz564.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz565.jpg This time I reach a city Gia Nghia but ther’s still sunlight and so I decided to go with the bike around it http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz566.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz567.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz568.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz569.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz570.jpg In an Internet Point I was able to write to my brother my position. Outside there were some kids around my bike. With a map I explained (more or less) my trip and...with faces on fingers we became friend http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz571.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz572.jpg this time I can see a Vietnam disco pub |
Today I want to reach Ho Chi Min City: yesterday I had reserved a room in an hotel: normally I use www.hostelworld.
http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/mappa_19.jpg a Vietnam Biker http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz573.jpg gum tree http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz574.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz575.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz576.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz577.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz578.jpg a coffee…the bar was in a total restyling http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz579.jpg the really first sign that I’m really closet o Ho Chi Min City : the neon of Metro http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz580.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz581.jpg Lucky: I’m on the Dien Bien Phu Boulevard and it’s on my map: reach the hostel was easy http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz582.jpg http://www.mymyarthouse.hostel.com/ http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz583.jpg check inn and luggage in the room http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz584.jpg Game plan: now my vacation is more geographical: so I’d like to can come back in Hanoi with the bike. For this reason I can dedicate just some hours to visit Ho Chi Min City: I can go in the most interetsing points of the City: I can use my map http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz585.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz586.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz587.jpg Luxury hotels are very common here…even my hostel at 4,8 € ( 6,2$) isn’t cheap http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz588.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz589.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz590.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz616.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz591.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz592.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz593.jpg very quiet this girl under the Vietnam flag http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz594.jpg http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz595.jpg kids can sleep in any situation http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz596.jpg is a little bit late, but I found a mechanic to ch’ange the oil http://i31.servimg.com/u/f31/13/01/39/46/resiz597.jpg Thursday 7 of June: I’ve got to remain focused on come back in Hanoi http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/mappa_11.jpg The way back begins with a typical Vietnam day…rain http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz456.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz457.jpg This time is better to ch’ange in good time my US dollar and in a bank http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz459.jpg The security guard looks at me when I stopped the bike in front of the bank: ok I understand to take out my muddy clothes..ohh I can even take my shoes out. Outside the bank ther’re some slipper for the clients . Ok inside the bank nobody speaks english, but it isn’t a problem for a tourist that’s travelling for 3 weeks in Vietnam,,,but to avoid pronunciation mistake I’ve written a slip http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz460.jpg In some minute I changed the $..the only strange thing was a man that from the moment I got in the bank to now always was looking at me:::mhh military police ? http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz461.jpg With my dong I greet everybody and I’m ready to go to my bike, when the man touch my shoulder and point hes finger at my slippers...My slippers ? Ohh my God this are his slippers !!! I bow and give back the slippers: he waited I had finished. http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz462.jpg This night I rest in Dak Song : very comfortable this little vietnamese cities: on the main road you can find everything: sleep, shops, mechanic, food. http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz463.jpg In the little restaurant I’ve chosen this dish http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz483.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz484.jpg In Vietnam is impossibile to avoid the social drinking http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz485.jpg I’m fine with food, but the owner brought to me another dish and insit I taste it. This meat isn’t boiled : could be hare or rabbit. When I’m outside the restaurant I notice for the first time the neon...ok the second dish was’nt cow and so... http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz486.jpg |
Friday 8 of June
http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/mappa_12.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz487.jpg salad breakfast http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz488.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz489.jpg a funeral http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz490.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz491.jpg not bad this car crash http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz492.jpg my foot rain protections work good, but sometimes I had to take out the shoes, cause they aren’t really transpiring http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz493.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz495.jpg sometime, durino my motorbike trips I had to stop to let go cows, buffalos, goats, but never goslings http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz496.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz497.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz498.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz499.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz500.jpg Nha Nghi (guest house) in Plei Can http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz501.jpg this time no toilet in the room http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz502.jpg motorbike in the reception http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz503.jpg no mistake for dinner: I can see wings http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz504.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz505.jpg Nice this days in that you’ve got just to drive: how many aspects of the normal life of the population you can notice http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/mappa_13.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz506.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz507.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz508.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz509.jpg the only pothole I’ve seen on the Ho Chi Min Path http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz510.jpg road is perfect, but zero traffic jam http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz511.jpg when I reach this church, it stop stops to rain http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz512.jpg the father of this child was building his home http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz513.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz514.jpg rain again http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz515.jpg on the side of the road you can often find this altars...better to stop and give thanks to Divinities of Vietnam http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz516.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz517.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz518.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz519.jpg a marriage http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz520.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz521.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz522.jpg stop to drink http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz523.jpg everybody in this city was having a nap except this restaurant http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz524.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz525.jpg I could listen to a local musical group http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz526.jpg |
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http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz528.jpg I heard some sound from the sky…better take a rest http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz529.jpg her’s how vietnamese kids have fun: up and down on cliff http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz530.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz531.jpg I have noticed lack of gas station, except some point were you could buy 1 to 5 liter. I had in mind as stop off, A Tep, a big name on my map...big name = big city = gas station !!! After one hour in the middle of nowhere I finally saw a big road sign with the name A Tep and the altitude and nothing else. Wher’s the city ? Wher’s my gas station ? If you write on Google Maps Latitude (lat): 15°59'0"N and Longitude (lon): 107°31'0"E you can find A Tep, that isn’t a city, but a geographical point. http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/atep_v10.png No one building, no one man, no one animal (I hope), no one veichle. Just me and my bike with more or less 3 liter ( less than 1 gallon) of gas. Ok I can drive for almost 100 km (62 miles), but on my map from A Tep I don’t have any distance indication. But I see two military walking on the road. With some gesture I let them understand I need gas and they bring me to their barracks. It comes a sergent and say me the price: ok . http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz532.jpg finally I reach a local motorway cafè and I can full the tank and buy some food http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz533.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz534.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz535.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz536.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz537.jpg I sleep in A Luoi http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz538.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz539.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz540.jpg Today is Sunday and this to Vinh will result my longest leg: 452 km in one day (281 miles) http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/mappa_14.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz541.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz542.jpg the streets in the mountains, here in Vietnam, are amazing http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz543.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz544.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz545.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz546.jpg the European Championship of Soccer, here in Vietnam , is a very famous soprting event: today Italy will play against Spain, but due the time zone, very late in the night. http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz547.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz549.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz550.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz551.jpg the road flanks a railroad and the train drivers greet to me. Immediately I speed up, overtake the train and so I reach a grade crossing before the train http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz552.jpg and I can take a picture of the train ! http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz553.jpg In a crossroad, two cops help me to find the right way to Vinh http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz554.jpg dinner in this restaurant run by a family, on the river and with hammocks http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz555.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz556.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz557.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz558.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz559.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz560.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz561.jpg Vinh is a big city , about 500.000 people http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz562.jpg my guest house is in little street, but is very nice http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz563.jpg I stroll around, looking fora n internate point http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz564.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz565.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz566.jpg in Vinh there are a lot of counterfeit Italian Clothes Shops http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz567.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz568.jpg Ohh the dinner: just in time in one of the few restaurant open http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz569.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz570.jpg Around 9.30 pm I’m back in my room. One of the guy remember to me that Italy will play against Spain: ok but around midnight. I’ve got the television in my room, but the game is too late and I go to sleep. Suddendly a scream breaks the silent of the night: somebody knock at my door: “Mister mister !!!!!” : a fire broke out ? I get out of my room and in the reception 2 guys are jumping and screaming around the television... the italian striker “Totò” Di Natale scored a goal: Italy 1 Spain 0 http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/dinata10.jpg I went back to sleep: after a minute Fabregas scored for Spain. |
Wonderful commentary and photography.I will continue to follow your travels.Noel.:D
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I’m close to the end of my vacation. Today is the 11 of June: I should reach Hanoi in the afternoon
http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/mappa_15.jpg another classical Vietnam style monument http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz571.jpg this bricklayers gave to me a brick that I used as tripod http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz572.jpg today is very hot and people in this city sleep along the strrets http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz573.jpg not a bad idea http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz574.jpg The AH1 to Hanoi is really jammed, but I noticed that all veichles let some space on the right side, so motorbike can overtake in a safer way http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz575.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz576.jpg me and the bike at the arrive in Hanoi http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz577.jpg The little Yamaha Serow has worked good, so I asked to Flamingo Travel to can wash it myself http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz578.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz579.jpg The rent of the bike will end tomorrow. Back in the hostel (always the same) this time I’m in the room on the first floor: me and 5 girls. Somebody tells me that one is from Italy. In this hostel at 5 pm you can get a free beer in the reception. In the same place there are 3 pc and so I begin to write an email to my brother in Italy. A vietnamese girl (very nice) takes a seat beside me and asks to me if the motorbike parked outside the hostel is mine. She speaks a very good english and so I begin to describe my vacation. She’s a student at the university and works some hours in the hostel. When comes the beer we seat in hte couch. It arrive an american girl: she sleeps in my room. Two days ago, when she was walking at the night market, in the Old Quarter, somebody with the kinfe cut her handbag and snatched passport and money, but she didn’t realized it. Back in the hostel she called her mother in the USA, but for her was hard to believe. “My mom-she told us- said that I was for sure drunk and after lose passport and money and so I invented everything”. It’s a very funny afternoon...but suddendly...it appears a blonde girl. I had seen her in the room, but she was sleeping. She’s from France, but works for an Australian Airline. Nice to meet you and she takes a seat with us. Immediatly I return to speak with the Vietnamese girl, but the French girl is the kind of person that likes to steal the show. She begins to show to us her pictures with the camera and tells to us her vacation. After one hour the Vietnamese girl had to come back to work and after 100 pictures of the french girl I got out. http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz580.jpg Today is my last day in Vietnam. In the afternoon I’ve got to bring back my littel Yamaha to the Flamingo Travel and so I decided to go around Hanoi http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz581.jpg Always interesting the everyday life http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz582.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz583.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz584.jpg this should have been a VIP http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz585.jpg normally I don’t buy souvenir, but the Vietnam ”coffee machine” is very nice: with a little bit of Vietnamese coffee shoul be a perfect present for my friends: little (easy to carry), nice and cheap. For me I had in mind the rice cooking machine. With a little help from my reception I prepared a shit with name : after I began to ask where was possible to buy them. http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz588.jpg Near the big statue there was a little open market http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz587.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz589.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz590.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz591.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz592.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz593.jpg looks well cooked, but this time I didn’t eat it http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz594.jpg me, souvenir and an ice drink http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz595.jpg Ok it’s time to bring back the bike. Normally the tour organized by Flamingo are scheduled with daily distances around 250 km ( 155 miles) . My average in Vietnam, has been around 300 km (186 miles) http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz596.jpg |
And now, what can I do ? Walking trough Hanoi ? No, as in Beijin in 2004 it’s better to rent a bycicle: in this picture you can see me when I “bypassed” the surveillance of Tien An Men Square
http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/hpim2311.jpg This travel agency/hairdresser rented to me a bycicle http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz598.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz597.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz599.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz600.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz601.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz602.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz603.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz604.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz605.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz606.jpg After 4 hours I stopped to pedal and went back to the Hotel. I’m lucky the Vietnam girl of yesterday is at the reception: she was interested in my trip to Halong Bay. It’s free beer time at the hostel and in the reception comes the american girl with 2 her friend. I begin to speak with the vietnamese girl about differences between italina and vietnam university. The environment is very nice, but you know the adversities of life always wait in ambush..........YES ! AGAIN ! The French girl comes in the reception, takes a seat on the couch and again begins to speak with everybody, showing her pictures...continously...for one hour. As yesterday the vietnam girl has to go to work. I repress my omicide impulse: too many witness. Maybe in the night I could smother her with the pillow, in the room. I wake up and while I’m going up stairs I meet a girl that speaks with me in italian. Her name is Giorgia and she’s studing for a master degree at the university of Bangkok: she’s from Padova. Due the reason that her touristic visa for Thailand is expired, she went for some day in Hanoi, to can renew the visa. She’s very likeable. Back in my dormitori I begin to prepare my luggages for the fly to Italy: this was the situation at the beginning http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz607.jpg really better after half hour http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz608.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz609.jpg I’ll ship this two and carry with me just the camera, pc and little stuff. It comes in the room the american girl and she asks to me and Giorgia if we would like to meet after dinner with some friend to go in a club. Maybe. She asks the same to the frenc girl, but she’s busy ..thanks God. I went to eat and I chose crabs http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz610.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz615.jpg http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz611.jpg Back to the hotel, I meet Giorgia, the american girl and her friends. You should know that cities like Hanoi are a big arrival point for tourists, as Siem Raep in Cambodia to can go to visit Angor Wat , or Sapa in the north of Vietnam. This cities, inevitably, had to adapt to the tourist demand. Western tourists like disco club, pub, disco music, drinks. Nothing wrong with this, but I was grown listening punk music and going in the independent rock club and so I really don’t like disco music, but with friends is different. USA tourists=USA style club, with a little touch of Vietnam...the bartenders. Jennifer Lopez, some rap for wiggers (Eminem) and instead the pitcher of beer they serve a big drink the Pink Bunket, a big cup with dozen of straws. The club is divided in two parts: one with the bar and the other with very low table where you can sprawl yourself, drink and smoke some joint. As me Giorgia had in mind to go go to drink a beer around a table, but we began to look at the people in the club, dumping on everybody. http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz613.jpg Giorgia is the girl with the white t-shirt…the old one wears a grey t-shirt http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/39/46/resiz614.jpg Looking at this video you can appreciate how stron are the vietnamite table in the club (note the size of the dancer) Around 1 a.m. for me and Giorgia is enough and so we come back to the hotel: tomorrow I’ve the fly back to Italy and she fly to Bangkok. We are speaking in the room, when suddendly my blood ran cold... http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/13/01/3...h/18692610.jpg worst than Dart Feneran an english voice, with a clear french accent say “ Ohh you can’t leave italian tourists alone that immediatly they begin to speak in italian ! “ What a f... !!! What kind of language should we use ? Japanese ? I tried to be polite and I answer “You know, sometimes happens that two italian tourists speak in italian”. Ok if now she take out her camera I’ll strangle. Giorgia was explainig her situation at the university of Bangkok, when the french girl asks how old she is. Giorgia asks “ How old do you think I could be ?” 22 for the french girl, 25 for me. I’m right. Inevitably comes my turn: “ Maurizio, how hold are you ?” ok 25 years ago was an easy answer, today is a little bit embarrassing, but in this situation truth is the best way. “I was born in the 1962” is my answer. Giorgia is surprised she thought me “younger”. From the bed the french girl asks to us” How hold do you think I could be ?” 28 answer Giorgia. I think for some seconds: is my chance of revenge and I reflect on the french girl and on her manners: “ 35 !” She’s shoked ! “ How do you can say this ?-says the french girl- everybody normally thinks around 28/29” Do you know ‘ She’s 34. Now she asks to me why I had say 34. “Your hands miss- is my answer- after the 30 the hands of womans begin to get some wrinkle ( now I can push a little bit the knife in the wound), as you can notice there aren’t wrinkles on the hands of Giorgia” She says that this is a non sense, but doesn’t matter: Momi vs french tourist 1-0. I understand that Giorgia would like to give me a five, but the triumph is enough and we turn off the light leaving the french girl to think to her hands. Wednesday 13th of June I woke up very early to go to the airport. I had the chance to greet Giorgia before the boarding. I’m coming back to Italy, but forget Vietnam will be impossible: always in my heart. Sorry, but my job in this period of the year don’t allow me a lot of free time and so it took a very long time to translate my Vietnam report. Sorry for my grammar, but I hope you understood almost everything. Momi |
Momi thanks so much for the blog,very entertaining.
I will miss following your travels.Noel
May you have many more interesting travels.:funmeteryes:bier:D |
Hi Momi, I have really enjoyed reading and looking at the wonderful photos in your ride report. We are thinking of riding in vietnam next year, its fascinating to read different peoples viewpoints and ways of travel.
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Yes, but as this about Vietnam they require a little effort to read them..my english is till :censored::censored::censored: 2008 Centra Asia from Italy Suzuki DR 350 a ride to Italy-Russia-Kazhakistan-Kirgyzstan-Uzbekistan - ADVrider 2009 central Asia again from italy Suzuki DR 350: Italy-Turkey-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazahkstan-Russia-Ucraina ecc.. - ADVrider 2010 India with a Royal enfield India 2010 on a Royal Enfield - ADVrider 2011 Africa with 2 rented motorbike Africa 2011: South Africa,Namibia, Zambia, a scanty italian biker - ADVrider |
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Hey Momi, great news, we will be going to Vietnam in 2 weeks to meet our youngest son, who has been in australia for a year, and we plan to ride from hcmc to hanoi and then do a northern loop, then home. Youngest son continues to Laos and Thailand and onwards. thank you again for your ride report , it inspires and gives a lot of information.
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Hi Momi:
I started reading your story at 11:00pm, and now it's 3:30am! I really enjoyed it, I've always wanted to ride through Vietnam and your report has made it even more imperative. Thank you for taking so much time with this, the photos were excellent and your grammar is very good, no worries there. The wrinkly hands story was the best. :clap: Peter in Vancouver |
Despite you're sometimes hilarious English, one of the best ride reports I have read in years. Bookmarked the whole story for later reference. I hope to make a similar tour soon. Really appreciated the clear maps, which make following the story super easy.
Thank you so much, Momi. You're the greatest! |
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