Will’s first proper day on the road in Asia! Sad to leave Saigon but pretty exciting to gradually leave the city behind and, just for a moment, hear only the noise of the bike’s tyres rolling through Vietnam after the city mayhem.
At 30 degrees in the shade it felt very hot when the sun really bore down in the afternoon.
Vietnam is wonderful- everyone seems very courteous but quite relaxed; the food delicious though the snacks and carts I’ve been eating from don’t look much.
Ultimately I’m aiming for beaches along south coast of Cambodia which leads away from tourist routes, so locals on this road see few ‘pale stale male’ cyclists, and laugh loudly when I return their halloos. It seems that only very poor and school kids cycle here, and mountain bikes aren’t common.
Also it’s been a struggle with the language here- God help me but I can’t seem to pronounce even ‘hello’ correctly in Vietnamese!
Top right of image at top: Hammocks in many roadside restaurants. Couldn’t stay awake!
Below: Yep -warm for wee Irish legs!
Above: Large roadside billboard: Google translates this as, Celebrate the glorious party. Happy New Year. Doubt they mean the New Year’s Eve Party…
My sister Rachel gave me this Brooks saddle around 2009. And my whanau Olwen and Dylan the flash multi-tool which is really well designed.
Brooks, this is going to hurt me more than it is you!
Above: Leaving HCM/ Saigon
[What’s this holiday about? See here]
Hello