Hue and the National Park

So we went to Hue. We got in in the afternoon and rented bikes for the rest of the day. We went to the city Citadel. It was another world heritage site but this one wasn't really that impressive. It was were the Emperor loved for a while. Hue was chosen as the location in an effort to unite north and south Of Vietnam. There isn't much left of the citadel. There were 144 buildings there and only about 20 buildings left. It was a result of the indo china war and the American war. The city was crazy to bike around in. Traffic laws are kind of a funny thing here. People don't really follow them. 

Today I met up with a friend, earl from Australia and we jumped on a local bus and headed out to the national park. The weather was pretty bad. It rained the whole time. We were soaked from

Head to toe.  We hiked for a really long time. About 13 km up and 16 back into town. The 13 up were pretty grueling. It was uphill the entire way. We stopped at a place where it looked like thy did zip line tours. We thought it would be fun to climb across it. It was cool to talk to him about travel plans, growing up and just about everything. We did have a long hike. 

Huge earthworm 

The ocean in the background. It was mostly too cloudy to see much. The area receives more rainfall than anywhere else in Vietnam. 

We made it up and back down and caught a bus back into town. It was so nice to get back in and shower and warm up. It was a really fun time. We grabbed dinner with Warl and a couple other guys. One from Holland and one from Germany. 

Paradise

We ventured out this morning on a motorbike which is anyways the start to a good day. There is a freedom about it you Can't get on a tour or even in a car. We drove through some gorgeous country side. We pulled off and explores river areas and streams. We climbed around a bit. We went to paradise cave which was the destination. The journey was so much better. Not to take away from the cave. It was impressive. It had huge caverns and impressive cave formations.  We ended up taking a big loop on the motorbike. Part of it on the Ho Chi Mihn trail. We went up some mountainous peaks. Some that we wondered of our bike was going to be able to make it over. 

Cave formation

We had some locals tell is to follow them down to this lagoon area. 

We then met up with some friends and went to phong Nha cave. A cave that is only accessible by boat. You motor up a little ways up the river until you get to the cave. Then the engines are shut off and they row you through the river into the cave. The cane was used as a hospital and ammunition storage during the war. The valley really is beautiful. The national park here is one of three world heritage sites in Vietnam. 

Entrance to the cave 

Boat leavin the cave

Hanoi

Well we have been hanging out in Hanoi for four days now. It's longer than we intended but was cheaper to travel after valentines day so we stayed. It's been surprisingly cold. I bought. Fleece jacket out of necessity. We are headed south from here To go seek warmer weather. Sad but we missing Sapa and Halong Bay. We have heard they are quite cold right now. It does give us more time in the beach towns in the south though. It sounds really nice right now. I am not accustomed to cold anymore. 

Squid

We have the spent the days wandering the markets and monuments of Hanoi. We have been to a handful of museums some of which dealt with what we call the Vietnam war and they call the American war. Like in any war there some pretty terrible things that happened. It wasn't one of those times where I was brimming with pride for my country. It was good to see some the history facing the nation. It has had some huge political changes over the past forty years. 

Combination plate. Has like 6 types of "meat" on it

Te masoleum 

One pillar pagoda

The people are generally pretty nice. We had someone pull their scooter over to talk to us. We had a guy who wanted to take pictures with us. It's a busy city though so mostly people are just busy doing whatever it is they are doing. The highlight I think was just being able to walk around and see the business around town. There are so many motorbikes. Crossing streets is an adventure every time. 

We are in a sleeper bus and the beds are little compartments. It's surprisingly comfortable actually. But definitely made for someone shorter than myself. My feet are a little crammed to say the least. 

Going places

We are driving through the narrow and winding roads through the mountains of northern Laos. The road is steep enough to give our minibus issue trying to muster the power to climb the mountain peaks. We pass small shacks on the side of the road that beg the question what they do for a living. Or what they do for fun. A simpler way of life to be sure. The hillsides are steep and not suitable for farming. There are no shops or parks just steep hillsides with a road cut through it.  Some of them hawk goods in their roadside stands but life up here would be quiet at best. We continue our slow trek driving the ridge lines creeping towards our destination on the Vietnamese border. We experienced two flat tires but only minor setbacks. 

First flat 

Second flat

Rice fields 

So I have learned with traveling that travel plans is almost an oxymoron. I am glad too. The trip has been almost a living thing changing and evolving as moods change and necessity requires. An idea of where we will be in two to three days is typically considered long term planning. That being said I do have a few solid plans I am really excited about. Vietnam is going to be us doing things as they come but knowing that March 7th we have to be in Saigon. There me and Brandt will part ways at least for a while. I have a flight to Kuala Lumpur and on to Katmandu. I am not nervous to travel alone but when I get to Nepal I am going to have to scramble to find someone to do some trekking with. I am super excited to do some trekking in the foot of the Himalayas. March 26th I get head back to South Africa and will spend the month of April and likely the beginning of May there. Lots of fun still to be had. From there the tentative idea is home but I am already working on plans to push back that reality a bit longer. Traveling is addictive. Initially I thought maybe six months but thought I might be ready to go home after about four.  

So we are a little lower now in the mountains and we are going through these mountain villages. These villages have these incredible terraced rice fields. I have seen people collecting and splitting firewood. I saw someone spinning yarn and another person on a loom making textiles. It just all seems so labor intensive. On the roads we pass women with large wicker baskets on their backs filled with firewood. 

We got into Sam noi a Laos border town and basically ate and slept. We had an early bus to catch in the morning. 

Obligatory monument photo in Sam Noi

It was a little rough really knowing if we were going to the right place for the bus. We made it an got through the border to Vietnam without issue. The roads are pretty atrocious. We came across a bus stuck an despite efforts to push it out it required our bus to winch it out. The road cuts through the forest with villages with big terraced rice fields. They don't have a concept of full buses here. Every seat is taken and the. I would say we have another 10 people sitting in the entrance of the bus or the aisle or wherever they can fit. It's crowded is an understatement. Only 6 more hours though so no big deal. Before crossing the border one guy got sick and threw up. Good thing he didn't do it now. It would be bad news with as many people are on the bus. 

Crowded bus 

Vietnam border 

Trying to stay warm

Stuck bus

Lots of Vietnam flags. 

So it's interesting to see the clash of the traditional and modern technology. You see bamboo shacks with satellite dishes outside. It's not that I don think that is every mans god given right to have 100 channels on their television it's just when the houses still don't have running water and sewage it seems like the order of things may be a little backwards. You can only control certain things I guess. We are in pretty emote areas. I would guess infrastructure isn't even a topic for discussion. 

Well we made it to Vietnam. We got into town Thang Hui at around seven and are catching the night train to Hanoi. The train is a half hour late now but we aren't that worried. It leaves at 11 and is supposed to get in around 3am so showing up at four is probably even better. It's been a long day of travel. 11 hours on a bus takes a lot out of you. Especially sleepless hours. Tomorrow we will need a nap to catch up. It's cold here as well. We are only headed north from Here so I don't think it will get better.