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Vietnam/Diện Biên Phủ Round the world trip 2008
4-10-2008
Yesterday’s test ride on Bici through the tight, chaotic streets of Hanoi was an adrenalin pumper! Art has nerves of steel, amazingly quick reflexes and as always, a photographic memory for streets and places. So as we rode out of Hanoi, we braved traffic (trucks, buses, cars, hundreds of motor scooters and bicycles) that howls, beeps, drives anywhere it wants to get where it is going – even if it means up the wrong side of the road, on the sidewalks, if necessary. The quick weaving in and out, stopping in front of other drivers without warning, u-turning, cutting off others to make a turn in a maze of narrow streets crowded with vendors carrying all their goods piled high over their shoulders, on their bicycles or motos! We both shook with adrenalin – fight or flight responses! After being stopped by the military and re-directed to a pedestrian bridge, our journey continued on Hwy 1 for a short bit and then we veered off onto hwy 5, an expressway with some areas providing a special protected lane for non-motorized traffic. That didn’t mean trucks waiting to go in the opposite direction or motos needing a short cut didn’t join us along with pony carts, wagons drawn by bison or buffalos, and many bicycles laden with everything from twenty foot long poles to piles of vegetables.
We reached our destination too early in the day and tried to get information on possible places to stay further on. No one speaks English! No One! Making the decision to press on, we took a side road up to #18 and Sao Do. Stopping at the crossroads for a coke, a Vietnamese gentleman greeted us and tried to explain he was a manager at some place near, that he had a lot of money and would like to buy us lunch. Since we had eaten only an hour before, he bought us cokes, sweet treats and water. Kindness is most of what we have encountered in Vietnam.
Sao Do had not one, but several hotels and we chose one for $200,00Dong ($12.50 US). We want for nothing in Vietnamese establishments except clean sheets and pillowcases. I don’t believe these items are often washed – just straightened up between guests. Places catering to westerners/Europeans can’t get away with that. The windows and doors are wide open and the loveliest breeze is billowing the curtains. It is overcast, almost misty, but in the 80’s. Truck harms blare as background noise as we sink onto the bed for a bit of rest before attempting to find dinner. Baguettes are everywhere there are tourists – 5km out of those areas there is no western food – no Oreos, no eggs for breakfast, no cheese. We have seen dogs in cages for sale as food. One sign for a food stand pictured several types of snake. I’m not looking for meat here.
April 13 Vietnam/Ha Long Weltreise 2008 >
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April 07 Vietnam/Hue Weltreise 2008
Yesterday’s test ride on Bici through the tight, chaotic streets of Hanoi was an adrenalin pumper! Art has nerves of steel, amazingly quick reflexes and as always, a photographic memory for streets and places. So as we rode out of Hanoi, we braved traffic (trucks, buses, cars, hundreds of motor scooters and bicycles) that howls, beeps, drives anywhere it wants to get where it is going – even if it means up the wrong side of the road, on the sidewalks, if necessary. The quick weaving in and out, stopping in front of other drivers without warning, u-turning, cutting off others to make a turn in a maze of narrow streets crowded with vendors carrying all their goods piled high over their shoulders, on their bicycles or motos! We both shook with adrenalin – fight or flight responses! After being stopped by the military and re-directed to a pedestrian bridge, our journey continued on Hwy 1 for a short bit and then we veered off onto hwy 5, an expressway with some areas providing a special protected lane for non-motorized traffic. That didn’t mean trucks waiting to go in the opposite direction or motos needing a short cut didn’t join us along with pony carts, wagons drawn by bison or buffalos, and many bicycles laden with everything from twenty foot long poles to piles of vegetables.
We reached our destination too early in the day and tried to get information on possible places to stay further on. No one speaks English! No One! Making the decision to press on, we took a side road up to #18 and Sao Do. Stopping at the crossroads for a coke, a Vietnamese gentleman greeted us and tried to explain he was a manager at some place near, that he had a lot of money and would like to buy us lunch. Since we had eaten only an hour before, he bought us cokes, sweet treats and water. Kindness is most of what we have encountered in Vietnam.
Sao Do had not one, but several hotels and we chose one for $200,00Dong ($12.50 US). We want for nothing in Vietnamese establishments except clean sheets and pillowcases. I don’t believe these items are often washed – just straightened up between guests. Places catering to westerners/Europeans can’t get away with that. The windows and doors are wide open and the loveliest breeze is billowing the curtains. It is overcast, almost misty, but in the 80’s. Truck harms blare as background noise as we sink onto the bed for a bit of rest before attempting to find dinner. Baguettes are everywhere there are tourists – 5km out of those areas there is no western food – no Oreos, no eggs for breakfast, no cheese. We have seen dogs in cages for sale as food. One sign for a food stand pictured several types of snake. I’m not looking for meat here.
