Easy Rider day 3 - 5: Rare jongens die Vietnamezen

Day 3 is mainly a riding day, we spend at least 6 hours riding northwards towards Kon Tum.

The usual road show today

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The usual agriculture lessons. Lesson 26: Black pepper

Lesson 45: Rubber trees

A real home coming in the ‘Family Hotel’ in Kon Tum with internet, live premiership football on tv and warm water. Hmmmmm.

The next morning I wake up 6am and stroll through town to see it come alive. In the small streets I somehow manage to lose my way. I inform with a police officer and get a deja vu of my all agreeing soldier outside Saigon.

Me: Good morning officer, lovely weather init.

Him: hmpff

Me: You know the Family hotel? F-A-M-I-L-Y-H-O-T-E-L

Him: uhm... yes!

Me: Excellent, wouldn't wanna miss breakfast hahaha. So how do I get there?

Him: uhm...

Me: Me, Famility Hotel, how? While making a walking sign with two fingers.

Him: uhm...

Me: Should I go left?

Him: Yes!

Me: Sure? Shouldn't I go right?

Him: Yes!

Me: Ok thanks.

Found it 5 minutes later

This day has the best scenic views so far.
Its a great ride

The road cuts straight through the mountains past the Cambodian and Loas border. During the war here was the famous Ho Chi Minh trail, used to move weapons by the VC. It was heavily bombed by the US, we could still see the bomb craters in the land. Several memorials here, Su told the stories, ending most sentences with a painful face saying ‘terrible’.

Ok we can’t blame the Americans for everything. This flooding was caused by the typhoon of 2 weeks ago. I guess I had good timing.

Typhoon damage

Entertaining pitstops.

*Gimme candy and give it fast!*

These VC tanks are posted here as a memorial for Charlie Hill.

Bravo1 to Bravo3: Open fire! Takatakatakatak (ok sorry)

Breathtaking views again along the way

We end the day in Phuoc Son, a small town at the end of the Highlands.

*Welcome in Puoc Son* says the water buffalo *Everybody is welcome in this town... but only few ever come out, Moooohahaha*

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Next morning on our way to Hoi An, back to civilization.

So far I haven’t seen a western person in this trip, we eat at local road restaurants, some good and some shabby. Still my stomach is coping so far.

Also most people along the way are not used of seeing anything like me (uhm, so handsome that is of course). But most of them smile, wave their hands and say helloooo, it’s all a very pleasant experience. Also, Su stops anywhere along the road to invade people homes, and they all seem quite welcoming.

A few times I am reminded that this all isn’t without danger. At a certain point we pass a road accident, where a truc (on the wrong side of the road) had hit somebody on a bike. I saw a body with a blanket over it and incense burning next to it, while people were gathering around the bus.

I’m still not used to the scenery. We all have our preferences, but long roads and natural surroundings is really my thing.

Road shot

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We stop at a pineapple plantation for Agri lesson 256, but we don’t seem very welcome here. What to me sounds like hostile shouting and aggressive arm movements is completely ignored by Su, who says something with 1 syllable like ‘whooi’, and walks around their work yard looking for things to explain to me. I prepare for the worst, but before I know it there are smiles all around and I am invited to their lunch. Rare jongens die Vietnamezen.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

But real lunch came later

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
After lunch we pass a Cao Dausm temple. Cao Dausm is a growing Vietnamese religion or sect that basically combines Eastern and Western religions. I was lucky to be in time to see a prayer ceremony. When they are finished I look as humble and respectful as I can. I hope they are not enraged by this stranger uninvited checking them out in their temple, before you know it you’re boiled and sacrificed to the sun.
But all the priests come smiling to me, shake my hand and invite me for tea. Who would have thought..


Chau Dau priest

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ending the day in Hoi An a beautiful town in French colonial architecture, where suddenly there are loads of tourists.