Indochina(Vietnam) - Post No 5: Saigon

23 November 2010

We have one day free and easy in Saigon before we make our way to Dalat the next day, so that night we went to check out the clubs. It's Monday night, but you'd be amazed how full it was. Guess so many people don't have to work the next day.

The weird thing about the clubbing scene here is the security. They have no sense of personal space whatsoever, then again it pretty much describes the whole country as well, anyways back to the clubbing, when you walk in the first thing they'll do is to shepard you to a table, and in this is where the touching starts. They'll place their palm on your back or shoulder as they do this, even when you are already moving along. Now if you're not used to this trust me it gets pretty annoying. At the table, though you're standing you're supposed to be close to it, if you stray a couple of inches away they'll actually push you back to the table. Same goes if you're dancing, i saw a dude who was prancing about had a security standing literally 2 inches behind him waiting for the moment that a speck of dead skin even dares to go outside the territory for him to push the fella back.

The music was also too loud that people are actually typing on their phones and showing it to people in order to communicate. Let's just say I didnt last long there. Anyways, not in this country to go clubbing

I managed to check out 2 places in Saigon in the little time that we had, which is Ben Thanh Market and the War Remnants Museum. I could hear a number of times that people spoke Malay at the market, guess quite a number of Malaysian go there to shop. They also like to sit on these short stools. You actually see them everywhere, definitely a different experience.

Them hobbit stools

As for the war museum, it's a sombre eye opener into what the human being is capable of, and I thought it was weird that i saw this lady who was taking her not more than 10yr old son to look at pictures of dead bodies and reading the stories behind it, then again she could have a story that needed to be told.

Knife sharpening services

Huge prop plane

They mean business

There's more quirks of the people here, but there's plenty of time for that. Tomorrow we are riding to Dalat leaving at 5.30am in order to avoid the morning traffic.

See what i mean about the stools

Also let's not forget about the pretty faces.

Indochina(Cambodia/Vietnam) - Post No 4: Phnom Penh to Saigon

22 November 2010

November 22, 2010 marks the date that we made history. For the benefit of those who wondered why we breezed through Thailand and Cambodia, wonder no more, for I'll tell you, the main destination in this particular Indochina trip is Vietnam, where we will be spending most of our time traversing the country.

The significance of Vietnam is that you can almost never get to bring your motorcycle there. Many have tried and many have been turned back disappointed. At first I thought they don't allow anything above 175cc, now I know....they don't allow ANYTHING in regardless of cc. Now I've been assured that we have everything in order though there's always that niggling though.....what if? After years of searching and months of preparation David managed to find the right connections to get us in legally. It's not as though it can't be done, just that it's difficult.

Group photo at Cambodia-Vietnam border

We left Phnom Penh pretty early as we wanted to avoid the jam, it was a public holiday that day so its not too bad. I was still tired from yesterday's ride and had wished for another day but amazingly as soon as i sat on the bike everything felt good.

Phnom Penh skyline

1 Malaysia breakfast

We had to go through about 20km of unpaved roads that pretty much wrecked havoc on my immune system as I could feel a sore throat coming up, though the highlight of the day was definitely the ferry crossing at Neak Leoung. This is to cross the Mekong river. It's a roll on type of ferry and when i rolled up the jetty, the guy ushered me on it but it already seems full so I was halfway up when the ferry moved away. Panic stations as front wheel on ferry and rear still on the jetty, luckily managed to pull the bike back out, but it was definitely a bitch to u-turn on the jetty and go to the other side where another ferry is waiting. I have all that on video but so sorry that'll have to wait for now.

You have buses and lorries on the ferry with zero life jacket in sight

We stopped for lunch before crossing the border as the Vietnam guys were not ready to receive us yet. This side of Cambodia border crossing looks far better than the Thai-Cambodia side, with hotels and casinos lining up the streets.

That's a casino behind

Lunch stop

The customs actually was reluctant to let us through initially as they were perplexed that we are riding our bikes into Vietnam knowing full well that just does not happen. He wanted to see our Vietnam papers as he said if he let us through and we get stuck trying to get into Vietnam he would not let us back in again. Now that would have been a bit of a pickle if that happened. They relented when we assured that everything is being taken care off on the other side.

Cambodia border control

Cambodia Customs - now FB friend

It took a while to get through Vietnam border with immigration and customs checking our bikes but we finally got through. Vietnam soil baybee!! we made it! the biggest BMW bike group ever from Malaysia to have crossed the border.

Immigration building

We were shocked to see what the Saigon bikers brought to escort us into Saigon. Now I had thought that it's gonna be a bunch of kapchais, but these people are on a different level.

Honda Valkyrie - Same engine as a goldwing

1979 cafe racer

These people were all nice and smily when they greeted us, but once they escorted us into Saigon they turned into a brutal road clearing force. Practically opening up the road for us and blocking all other traffic. We didn't stop at any lights as we made our way. The only thing that hampered us was the heavy rain as we reached Saigon. I was drenched to the bone, but was just happy to have made it. Good thing I experienced Phnom Penh's traffic as that acted as a bit of practice for Saigon cause it's just as mad. There's just so many motorist on these small bike who was just bouncing off my panniers as they never look when they change lanes.

That night we road our bikes to Hard Rock Cafe as we hosted a dinner there. Got superstar parking and all i tell ya.

So for the next 9 days we are going to make our way through this country for the experience of a life time, which I will be updating....so do stay tuned.

* Fuel Consumption
1. Saigon 245.7km 167VND 9.88liters

Indochina(Thailand/Cambodia) - Post No 3: Bangkok to Phnom Penh (650km)

21 November 2010

Let me just put it out there before I forget the details. Pretty excited to have crossed one border with my bike, so the prospect of crossing another today has gotten me all pumped up. Furthermore we had 1 day off while waiting for the bikes to arrive.

Breakfast at the hotel

As it was Sunday, we expected traffic to be lighter though taking into consideration the time to cross the border and the long ride ahead we still had to leave pretty early. So we made our way to Thai-Cambodia border crossing at Trat.

When we reached the border, it took us about an hour to cross due to all the documentations and what nots. I would also like to say this:

1. I wouldnt mind living in Thailand

2. I want to work for Thai immigration

3. I want to be based in Trat

Why do i say the above? while going through our documents the lady officer was also having her hair done. Yup, she's asking us details like our age, what we do and so forth and a girl was standing next to her doing her hair, as there's 11 bikes to go through, by the time she got through everyone her hair was nicely braided. Of course this does not affect me as I have no hair, but I'm pretty sure I can get someone to give me a back rub while I cheerfully go through people's passport, and if I don't like anyone's face I'd still smile while I tell them to bugger off...haha

Last fillup before crossing to Cambodia

View from place we had lunch before crossing border to Cambodia

In action starting today

Yes...it seems you can also get your hair done in this building...hehe

This also marks the last bit of road that we'll be riding on the left as from this point onwards it's left hand drive all the way till Laos.

Once you enter Cambodia, the first thing you see is a casino, seems like it's govt's way of attracting foreign money.

Little hut on the right is the checkpoint to officially enter Cambodia

Cambodia!!

 Once you enter Cambodia, you're presented by huge space all along the roads, population seem sparse and it's just greeneries that you see. The road is considered ok, though littered with potholes that has the capability to launch you into space as you somersault off your bike if you happen to hit a big one fast enough. It took us a total of 294km or riding the trunk roads of Cambodia before we see the first traffic light which is in Phnom Penh.

It's illegal to have your lights on during the day, as we have no off switch we cover  with towel.

passed by a lot of bridges, i believe this was Koh Kong 

It rained + i got to remember to ride on the right.

A quick break that turned into a long one as we lost a couple of riders

Cambodia soil baybee!!

Unlike the road leading into the city, Phnom Penh just exploded with people. It's like a scene from war of the worlds where machines just plucked all the people in the countryside and dumped them in Phnom Penh. It was just a sea of people and small bike. I was hit a couple of times by people riding 4 up on kapchais. 

Even though it's just overnight for us, i noticed some quirks of the Cambodians.
1. They ride motorcycle and hold their helmet instead of putting it on(seems they put it on when they see police)
2. If they want to come out from the junction or from slip road they'll just do so, even though they see you coming.
3. They hate spotlights, most of them will flash at us non-stop as we had ours on at night.
4. It was also weird to pay for petrol in US Dollars when I'm not in the States.
5. The abject poverty is very apparent. You can see that they're poor.

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh at night - notice absence of tall buildings

Riding through town to reach our hotel was just so tiring that I was flat that night. The though of riding the next day filled me with dread. I could do with another day's rest before riding to Saigon.

* Fuel Consumption
1. Bangkok - Chon Buri 212km 355baht 10.9liters
2. Chon Buri - Trat 147.4km 270 baht 7.57liters
3. Trat - Hat Lek 77.6km 140baht 3.59liters
4. Hat Lek - Phnom Penh 296.4km 14.35USD 12.37