Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Sons of Anarchy

Mark


We seemed to have had great luck with the lack of rain given it is the beginning of the rainy season, yesterday after leaving the water fall we drove to our destination being chased by the storm. As we arrived at our hosts house the rain came down.We had a great night at our hosts house with as mentioned previously by Ross much table banging of empty whisky glasses, or possibly thunder and lightening of the storm - it all to seemed to get a bit confused.

Various sayings have developed over the trip and Len has mentioned a few, "I know it is your alcohol free day but" is another. The local people are keen to share and befriend us, the day before yesterday when we stopped for one of our drink breaks, these are essential as the temperature and humidity have both been high, we were sitting drinking our cold tea when a local from the next table appeared glass and bottle in hand to share with us some of his rice whiskey,  having skulled the drink we were on the bikes and away frightened that we might have had to spend the afternoon being polite.

After a slow start today due to some motorbike maintenance, we headed to our next port of call. Roads significantly better sealed and almost allowed two cars on them, generally however we only struck larger trucks labouring up the hills or broken down on the side of the road and the driver working to repair them. Lunch was at the border station to China the destination for the many trucks.

Now in the final city before we blast our way down to Hanoi in the morning - a tradition of the trip has been the coffee meeting at 6 am - but for tomorrow morning we are all allowed to relax a little and coffee will be at 7am. I think our Vietnamese guide finds it a little strange we have bought coffee from NZ to make each morning, when the beans probably came from Vietnam in the first place.

Time to retire my room partner is a sleep and gentle muttering ' Lilly Lilly' - another dream no doubt. We will bring you the climax of the journey tomorrow once we are back in Hanoi - have a few surprises for you then.
 
Ross
We have become a little casual about the scenery with the dramatic kast country continuing day after day.  The valleys mostly have intensively farmed flats - rice paddies with some market garden activities. Corn is grown where there is not enpugh water for rice.  The hills rise vertically - granite and limestone with patches of forest clinging to the sides.  Rice planting is late this year as the summer rains have not arrived (what we have had is brief precursor showers).  The nursery rice fields are a striking verdant green.  Farmers in coolie hats and numerous water buffalo complete the classic rural postcard.
After arriving here in Lang Son last night and washing the dust and grime off we took a short motorbike ride to the local cave.  It was also a Bhuddist shrine and a shrine to the local religion, which is a mix of Bhuddism and (I think) Taoist.  The shrines could be described as cleverly lit, or as a bit plastic tacky, depending on your mood.  Moving further into the cave there was a reflective pool and lots of bats squeaking.  At the top the stalagatites were brilliantly lit by the late afternoon sun pouring through a high portal.  We climbed up to this entrance for some great views over a river and green rice fields fringed with town buildings.
Place names can be amusing.  For quite a whilie we followed milestones towards Phuk Hoa.  The border town where we had a superb lunch is Don Dang.  

Len
Welcome dear readers to my last blog instalment while actually in transit.

First some great Vietnamese qualities I've observed on this trip:

  • Friendly
  • Hard working (esp the women) but like to relax
  • Can do attitude
  • Like to laugh
  • Very hospitable

And a few things I wish they'd learn (how presumptuous of me):

  • how to form a queue
  • smoking causes cancer
  • how to design a bathroom. 

The ride today was mostly those long sweeping roads that allow plenty of time for reflection.
Decided that I should attend core strengthening classes.
Decided that I quite enjoy this writing lark.
As regular readers of this blog will have observed I'm not much of a travel writer but I do think it would be fun to have a go at something bigger.  Have decided on a non-fiction mystery for my first project.  Book will be about the unsolved mystery of the disappearance of my grandfather's estate.  I anticipate that writing the ending will be challenging as the mystery remains unsolved, but I note that never stopped Joe Karem or David Yallop.  Might ask Lilly to help me write it.

Its now the last night of the trip which leaves me a bit reflective.  Its been a wonderful time but I'm also ready to get back to Hanoi.  Will I see Lilly again?  And if so how will I be received?  All will be revealed soon!


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