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For details of the places I visited in Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, with GPS Coordinates, see my book Vietnam Caves.

For details on motorbiking in Vietnam and Cambodia, from buying and selling a motorbike, to border crossing, see my book Motorbiking Cambodia & Vietnam.

 

Yesterday’s long bus ride, did me in a bit, and although I had all the intention to update my blog last night, the sand man had other plans. This morning there is warm water, and now knowing that my hotel is the last on the pickup list, I have a nice relaxing bath, then go down and have breakfast at a slow pace while writing yesterday’s blog. I sit and wait, seeing the time drag by. By 8:20 I frown a bit, and then a guy on a scooter shows up and comes to talk to the reception. They inform me that the bus we are going with, is to big to negotiate the narrow streets my hotel is in, and so they send a guy to pick me up.

I ask if I should go get my helmet, and the reply is no no no, no extra charge. Mmmmm. So I hop onto the back of the bike, and crack myself up. The guy has one of those girly helmets on, that has a hole cut into the helmet for a pony tail. It takes all the strength I have, not to tickle his head through the hole.

My pickup.

Soon we get to the tour company, and yes, it is a large bus. Actually a sleeper bus with reclining seats, and they are filming a promotion.

Our bus.

Film crew taking video and pictures.

Eye candy. But do not expect to see them on your travels, as they were only there for the pictures.

Inside view of the bus.

The company director decided he is going to change his tours and not have the small busses that other companies have, but a large bus. So he hired people to cover the whole trip. I find out that others have been on a few days trip already, and I am just joining in for the day. I also meet some of the people that was with me on the trip to Ha Long Bay.

With the bus being so comfy, we are at the half point before you know it. We are dropped off like normal at a tourist trap. The toilets are at the back, and the men’s toilet have a half sway door like those they have in old western movies.

Creeeee, the springs complain as I push the door open, I can hear the spurs on my boots spin. Everyone inside stops as I enter. I adjust my gun, and walk in while scanning the hostile area with Clint Eastwood eyes. Everyone looks away, afraid, the flies fall off the wall………actually no one gives a damn and someone just farted, killing 10 flies. I go find a uranyl.

Done, I go find a snack. While eating, another tourist from another tour company have an argument with his tour guide. Lunch is included in these tours when they provide it, but when you stop at the rest stop, whatever you buy is not. This guy being arrogant, went to town on ordering food with his girlfriend. He is now expecting the tour guide to pay the bill. He probably thought he is going to get every sent out of the tour he can. With his arrogance, trying to screw the tour company over, he is now left with the big bill.

Eating area.

I finish my snack, and go walk around. There are people doing needle work, you can see a short video here.

Then it is back on the bus, to our first stop. This is where the first king of Vietnam made his capital. Once the general won the war with China, a kind brought the people together. The general led the people for 8 years, where he fell ill and died. This brought the country into civil war for 25 years, until one dynasty won, and he became kind. He ruled for 12 years before he was poisoned with his eldest son. His wife decided that his youngest sun of 6 is not old enough, and gave power over to another dynasty, and married the new kind.

The two temples are for the two kings, each having their own temple, depicting two different dynasties of Vietnam. The third dynasty of Vietnam moved the capital to Hanoi.

After visiting the temples, we go to a restaurant for lunch. Here we have Buffett, with goat meat on the menu. Not that much different from chicken, ha ha ha.

Then, it is off for a river ride. This time we get two in a boat, and here, they row the boats with their feet. Check out a short video here.

We wind our way through the limestone formations, and I cannot help but feel as if I am in a Lord Of The Rings movie. It is absolutely spectacular.

People rowing next to you taking pictures of you, then selling it to you at the end of the trip, all laminated.

Selling while you go.

There is no cave here, and we just turn around at the end, where we are haggled by sellers trying to sell us stuff. It was funny, for we passed them going under the last overhang, and not one tried to sell us something. I though that maybe they can see we are not going to buy anything. But then we turn around and they block the exit, pull their boats against ours, and the selling starts. Myself and the guy behind me eventually got tired of it, and only after we sternly told our boat rower to go, did she go. The sellers were very upset with her for rowing away, before we bought anything.

When we almost got back to shore, the lady started asking for tips. As soon as we got on shore, my boat companion made off. I had 50K in my pocket that I intended to buy dinner with ($2.5), so I gave her that.

Further on, the people we saw earlier taking pictures of us, had our pictures ready, all laminated. We were already told by the tour guy that a fair price is 10K, so when they tried to get 20K from me, I refused and only offer 10K until they accepted. I have learned from previous experience, that months or years later, you regret not spending that $1 for that picture, so now I buy them.

We wait for some of the other people that went for a short (40 min) bicycle ride, then it is back on the bus. The seats are basically a bed, and I easily fall asleep for 2 hours.

Tomorrow I have a long day ahead of me. I am going on my last tour, coming back late the evening after being out all day, then jumping on a train just before midnight, for a 32 hour train ride. I think I am going to be very glad I paid the extra $30 for a soft bed in a 4 bed couch. In the back of my mind, I have 4 books milling around wanting to come out.