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Published: July 24th 2011
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Wednesday 18th May
DON’T BE LAZY BE CRAZY!! Went for an early morning run along the beach…with all the locals up doing their running, stretching swimming etc. It was great until some arse stole my flip flops. I know it was a westerner…they are too big for the Vietnamese! I had to walk back through Kamikaze hooker-ville footless. GROSS.
8am arrived. And so did the Easy Riders! PHEEEEEW!!! They wrapped our stuff in strong bin bags and strapped them to the bikes. Michelle and I had bought the face masks to wear as a joke but before we had time to put them on we were off!
We did 120kmph along the beach front leaving Nha Trang…I have never felt so cool! It was exhilarating! So fast but by far the best way to get out of anywhere! Hair blowing, skin burning but now I get it. I get the thrill of speeding like a nut. Motorbike license here I come!!
We stopped at a brick making factory (women hard at work again) and then went through villages at top speed, dodging cars, vans, bikes, pedestrians, the odd cow and waving at all the children who run to the road
side to wave and scream “HELLO!” They all want to say hello and for you to wave back even though you aren’t stopping. ADORABLE.
We stopped at a place which makes really ugly, really expensive (40 000 000 Dong) tables and chairs from rare wood and then made a pit stop for lunch. After that we headed into the Central Highlands. The views are simply breathtaking and I would definitely recommend a detour here for anyone coming to Vietnam. You also get to go phenomenally fast!!!!
Well until the rain comes and boy does it come!! Apparently it hadn’t rained like that in 4 months. Our Easy Riders whipped out rain coasts and trousers for us (I am pretty sure they were fisherman suits) and basically wrapped us up like presents. We were going to give them our ponchos but Minh decided he’d go off to buy a couple…he returned with them; one with pink spots and the other a fetching lilac. They looked like 2 crazy old women...like Big Momma when she is going to get in the shower. Absolutely hilarious!
Riding through the rain was insane especially going through the puddles at speed, you get soaked…I loved it!!
It made the whole experience seem a lot more “REAL VIETNAM.”
We arrived at our bungalow at Lak Lake and it was gorgeous. After a walk we had dinner with them and found out both were single despite having the option to have 3 wives in Vietnam. Tran kept winking at me all night…kept calling me Army though.
An Amazing Day!!!
Thursday 19th May
We met the Easy Riders for breakfast at 7am and then drove down to do our Elephant Jeep experience. It was so steep at points my buttocks were working overtime clenching like crazy trying to stay on the seat. We went for a walk through the village on the elephant and then into the lake…our poor elephant was completely submerged at times. A really cool experience and a nice way to give money to a local village as opposed to a tour company.
Quickly back on the motorbikes we stopped at a silk making factory…I genuinely have no idea how most things are made. It really is pathetic! I also didn’t know that chickens only lay eggs for 6 months of the year. I need to go back to school. I didn’t buy any silk
much to their disappointment…think they missed out on commission there.
Another 60km down the road we stopped for lunch at a place swarming with flies but it was filled with customers and had the best food we’ve had in Vietnam yet. It was a feast. Tofu really is the worst food ever. Pit-stop at a flower factory…Michelle clearly has gone crazy!
We stopped on a bridge to pose for photographs and saw the floating houses…sometimes with up to 30 people living on them…NO TA! All make a living from fishing and just trade between each other for vegetables and rice. Couldn’t clarify if the children make it to school though….
It was here that they harassed us to stay another night it Dalat. Budget wouldn’t extend to it so the discussions/debate lasted a good hour. At one point we ended up being tackled into a group hug and they were the right height to have both their heads nestled in my chest. Most embarrassing…and probably planned!
Finally back on the bikes we headed to a lovely waterfall. Tran forced us to pose in front of this waterfall….we look so uncomfortable and clearly he enjoyed himself more that we did!
Into
Dalat and we entered our hotel room and hearts began to pump extremely fast as we saw two double beds and 4 pairs of flip flop slippers. Not sure what they had in mind! They had been extremely touchy feely but this was pushing it. NO WAY! We locked the door but they knocked on the door and walked straight in. Michelle said “No no no no…”
They wanted to check if we were going out with them to a Karaoke bar…not so much and I hate karaoke!!
Friday 20th May
Up early again to leave at 7am and the descent out of Dalat is incredible. Winding down the mountain, speeding in and out of our lane…EXHILARATING! Before we know it we are back in green Vietnam and decide to film each other on the bikes! We reached the bottom of then sped off on the straight open road. We whizzed past cows and at one point I definitely could have made curried goat for dinner. It was like riding through a farm at times…I LOVED IT!
We made a pit stop in the desert, probably 40 celsius and then headed down to the Red Dunes. I couldn’t even
Sexy Ay?
Us: Dressed in full fisherman attire.
Easy Riders: Transformed into crazy women from Big Momma's House! open my rucksack was so hot it burnt my hand. After photographs we headed into Mui Ne to see the White Dunes and soon as we got off all these kids ran up to us asking “You slide?” We walked up to have a look, but in sandals I hid in the shade of a tree whilst Michelle got abused. A young boy of about 8 screamed “F*** YOU!” at Michelle when she refused to pay 80 000 Dong for a plastic sheet. We were gobsmacked. He carried on swearing at us the entire distance back to our bikes.
We jumped back on the bikes for our last 15 minute ride into Mui Ne whizzing past all the boats and sand dunes. A perfect end to a great viewing of “Real Vietnam.”
Chilled out on our own with only an escaped cow for company on Mui Ne beach. Perfect!
Much love xx
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