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Published: June 13th 2016
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31/05 around 55k to Chai Bay (part of) Halong city via a ferry from the east side of hai phong, lounge about in happy hostel and join a Halong bay boat tour the next day 01/06, very busy at the start but not as overcrowded as I feared, Halong bay still has some magic. A wicked evening with the dormitory gang in a power cut struck pizza joint; owned by a lively guy Joe from Kentucky who dished us out free alcohol and songs on his guitar, thumbs up! 02/06 after a lazy morning I head off on my first leg towards Hanoi. Heading north to include some mountain views I miss my turn off nether the less continue into the mountain valley up some hard hills but some knockout scenery that I had not expected. Some great little villages on this impromptu route, next road west reaches the township of thanh son, really liked this place, possibly only one guest house though. 03/06 The road remains broken up and mostly dirt but only for the next 20k. Continue west for a 60k day, spending the night in Bac gaing around 55k from Hanoi centre.
04/06 a straight
line glide into Hanoi and my first taste of its famous traffic, chill in a cafe and meet Thu my lovely couchsurfing host, greeted into her family home and a tour into town by scooter to snap up a train ticket for Sapa, catch a movie and grab some local fodder for tea. 05/06 I fill another day learning my way around town, a little shopping, there's a pair of Romanian brothers whipping up some fantastic hamburgers nr long Biên bridge. A lovely meal with my host family then onto a very cushy sleeper train to Sapa, hard sleeper had apparently sold out, soft SL is pretty luxurious and a little James Bond (with its plush wooden interior) in comparison to my Indian adventures hah. A shuttle bus connects to Sapa in the early morning of the 06/06, I snuff out an empty dorm room and mosy around tourist town Sapa in a lazy fashion book a 3 day guided trek for the next day where i join a great bunch of folk from US, HKong, Bee from Guadeloupe and our jolly guide "Mue"; not the most physically asking of hiking available yet great to see the rural communities of
this region, rainy nights makes day 2 & 3 a fun slippery endeavour, good meals and great company made a super few days in the hills. Back into Sapa for a another night and a day bus 10/06 return to Hanoi, catch a movie and stroll back to Thu's house for more lovely food and to contemplate the confirmed news that my luggage will still be enjoying itself in the Asian postal network well after I've left the continent.
So deciding on being open to more bicycle hilarity I research some background on proper touring bikes including popping into some shops in town, buy a new bag and odd items left behind in my old pack. Over the next three days become fairly familiar with Hanoi's one way street maze, heaps of cafes to work through the menu of ice teas. Really recommend a superb pizza for a treat @ "pizza 4 P's". Fine arts museum is well worth a jaunt, Thu took me on an evening bike tour under the city lights, Ho Chi Minh Moslem is a pretty thing at night as is Hoan Kiem lake. 13/06 Found in long Biên district a second hand
bike shop listed on FBook; a really cheery friendly owner, his son and their mechanic run a fab repairs & sales outlet tucked away. Very keen to help me out buying Ami off me for 30 dollars on my last afternoon before Thu takes me to catch an evening bus to the Airport. South America awaits!!
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