Indochina(Vietnam/Laos) - Post No 13: Hanoi to Phonsavan 600km

2 December 2010

That's it guys, heading out of Vietnam to cross into Laos. We're heading to Nam Meo border and the roads takes us through the mountains and off the highway. It's nice and peaceful(road still bad of course haha) as there's little to no traffic. The people are different as even though we're a spectacle going through the village they were far more respectful of our space. I wished we had seen more of this side of Vietnam than what we went through. On the way out i told myself I'm never riding here again, yet on the last day I'm thinking "there's still hope for this place".

The roads are small and narrow that on numerous occasions I thought we were lost and after traveling more than 200km we definitely didnt have enough fuel to turn back. Good news is that we are on the right track, bad news.....we're at the wrong border. Our papers say they we were supposed to leave Vietnam at a different border, so that does leave us in a bit of a pickle if we needed to head back out again. 

Welllll, we are in Vietnam after all, so they were just being a real tit about it when you know they just want us to *cough cough* filled in the right "papers". To be honest at that point of time I'm just glad to see the back of Vietnam.

destined for the dinner table : yum yum

Ivan: mobbed by his adoring fans

By this time, we are all fully aware whenever the ride is longer than 500km, there's just no way we would make it before nightfall. Plus we spent about 2 hours just to cross the borders. Bumped into this Belgian couple who bought their kapchais in Saigon and crossing into Laos before dumping the bikes in Thailand. They came after us at the borders and crossed before us. Note to self: next time use kapchai or become Belgian.

Goodbyeeee Vietnam

Hellooooo Lao PDR

Once into Laos, I would have to say it is sooo beautiful. We're going through the mountains and flanked by mountains. Passing by villages children would rush out and wave enthusiastically at us (btw some kids threw stones at us in Vietnam). I'm not even 10 minutes into the country and already I'm planning when to come next.

We stopped at Sam Neau as there's just no way we can make it to Phonsavan. As we're up in the mountains the temperature that night was 4°C, so coupled with the clean air and the quiet atmosphere(for once nobody's honking for no reason) sleep that night was good.

more of these as we make our way through Laos

Fuel Consumption

Nam Meo 196.8km 120,000VND 7.11liters

Indochina(Vietnam) - Post No 13: Hanoi

1 December 2010

This is our last stop. It's a free and easy day before we ride out off Vietnam. Highlight of the day was definitely the visit to Malaysian Embassy followed by lunch at Nisa. I managed to visit the Old Quarter and walked here and there in Hanoi. I actually find this city less hectic than Saigon either that or I could have gotten used to the insanity. 

I'll let the pics do most of the talking this time.

Huge lake in centre of Hanoi

A lot narrow pathways in Old Quarter

Worms...yum yum

Obama was here..

What?! you think only GS can carry things ah?

The Embassy

First Malaysian bikes there I believe

                            

Mix of everything on the road

Pop quiz: Who has right of way?

Tomorrow we leave for Laos

Indochina(Vietnam) - Post No 12: Ha Long Bay to Hanoi 160km

30 November 2010

I think you've heard enough of me bitching about the traffic and road conditions. Even with all the near misses we had, we've made it this far with only Hanoi left on our tour of Vietnam. Naturally you'd have that feeling of "hey, we're gonna make it" and of course wham! that's precisely when something happens.

Leaving Ha Long Bay

I was riding with the group when I felt I was going a bit too fast, so when an intersection came I pulled off to become the marker as a way to slow down, i was joined by Abg Din and we know there's 2 more riders behind us. We waited for a while and Abg Din felt something is wrong as they shouldn't be that far behind, so I called the last man only to hear the dreaded words "aku jatuh"(i fell). 

Abg Din went ahead to assist while I made calls to the front group before heading back as well. So I was riding solo to the scene when a bus decides to overtake a lorry(they just come out whenever they like remember) pushing me to the small lane on the right (it's left hand drive country), as the bus passed i made my way to the left in order to avoid a cyclist, but of course that's the precise moment that he decide to move to the left as well. It all happened so fast as the tip of my handlebar clipped him on the elbows causing a violent slap of the bars as i overcorrected. In my mind I was going "oh god, please don't let me fall", in reality i think i only managed a "oh god" before i'm on my side sliding down the pavement with the bike on top of me.

Passerby's came to assist me to lift the bike as i lay pinned and pushed the bike aside, my thoughts was to move slowly as i try to assess whether i've injured myself but everything seems to be in working order. In the thick of being surrounded by soooo many people who stopped (an accident will do that anywhere in this world) but more here because a big bike was involved, the first question that they asked me was........"how much?"(while pointing to the bike). OhForTheLoveOfGod!!! seriously?!

By this time Mus is trying very hard to B+

I suppose this was the low point on the trip as even though we went as a group when something did happen I was alone and so was the other rider. Help was not immideatly on hand as it took time for some riders to come back. However, it's a testament to how strong these bikes are and highlights the importance of protective gear as we both joined back the group to continue our way to Hanoi.

Nisa - Malaysia restaurant in Hanoi

By the time we reached Hanoi all I wanted to do was to grab a quick dinner and sleep, went to Nisa a Malaysian restaurant....yes i already miss my teh tarik and sambal belacan. Ben, the owner was impressed to hear that we rode all the way from KL and wanted to host lunch for the group the next day. Hey! we're not gonna say no to free food...

*Fuel Consumption
1. Hanoi 181.7km 110,000VND 6.5liters
2. Hanoi 70.2km 50,000VND 3.04liters