The 1000 Day Holiday

Well Arrived in Mui Ne yesterday ~3pm got to the beach and rigged up on some rental gear. Got around 15 mins of kiting in wind that was dying as the storm couds came over. Still was nice to get out on the water.

Today the wind picked up ~1pm got out on a 16.5m and maybe 10 or 15 mins into the session the storm clouds pushed over the beach and turned the wind very light & offshore when I was about 1km offshore. Ended up well down the beach, but at least i got back

So with the winds not delivering I skipped town to Ho Chi Minh. Doing the Chu Chi tunnels and war museum tomorrow.

Well no kite shops here. There was one local with a kite he was renting but didnt have one big enough for me! ahh the frustration. However am headed for Mui Nei tomorrow and thats the biggest kiting spot in Vietnam so hopefully get a day or two kiteing there

Went out on a day cruise, stopping in at 4 islands, swimming and general galavanting.

 

randomly ran into Cliff & Clair (who I hung out with in Laos) on their last nite in Veitnam. So had a few bevvies at the sailing club with them. Tops!

Well yesterday I spent a lot of time at Hoi An beach. The problem being there was a consistent cross shore wind, around 14knots and nowhere to rent kite gear from.

Its the first time in my trip I have felt the Kite addiction.

Good news however, since Im headed to Nah Trang tonight and I hear that theres a kiteshop that rents gear there!

Have dropped the mekong from my schedule as reports arent that positive about it, and it makes my trip far more manageable.

Halong bay was a top 3 days. havent uploaded pics yet.

Off to Hue tonight – oh i love the night buses!

 

off to Halong bay for 3 day cruise…

woot!

Well flying was much more pleasurable than 30+hours on the bus. The airport at Luang Phabang was a hoot too. scooters riding up and down the runway, and a few hundred people milling about on it, and standing on the edge of the runway when we were taking off!

Vietnam seems to be cool. Everyone seems to be a very good salesperson. lots of fast talking!

Well after a 7 hour minivan ride from van vieng w 2 other 6foot people on the back seat decided that it will be my last minivan ride in asia!

Today was spent cruising the Mekong on a long tail, dressed as a Monk – it was raining, so got a bright orange poncho. The fishermen we passed didnt know what to think :p Also visited a big waterfall. The Limestone cliffs givingthe water a turquoise colour.
Also Last night was my first serious food poisioning. And the bbq pork & chicken tasted so good. Just not the second and third time.

was on the rehydrating water all day and food seems to be staying in ok now. which is good since Im going on a 2 day Mountain bike, Trekking & Kayaking trip tomorrow.

Then wednesday will fly LPB – VIE – Hanoi. another $170USD OUCH.

Such is life, especially on limited time. (1 June fly to India)

Hired a motorbike yesterday. drove out to some of the caves, even had a swim in one of them.

Looked a right tourist: caving w flipflops, camera & a lao made headlamp( 12v motorbike battery around my neck, inline light switch to a bulb strapped on my head.

Carried on out into the wilderness and managed to get a flat tyre. Stopped in front of a house where there was a bit of a party going on. They said they could fix it for 500baht. We said how about 5USD. He said 10USD. went back and chatted to the others, and came back and said $5 was good!

Had a hilarious time watching drunk guys change our tyre, even one of the woman pointed out a brake part they hadn’t reattached.

Very cool day. Pics

Well the rafting was excellent. The river was giving Grade 3+ rapids, so not quite as big as I was hoping. But it was amazing with all the jungle.

The night was spent having whisky shots with the guide.

The second days rafting should have ended where the Hydro power dam is being built on the river. But the workers were too lazy to get a truck to transport us to the other side. So we went thru on the raft. Less than 3 mins after we had past a section there was a huge rockfall where we had just been.
20 ton boulders crashing down a 200m face into the river!

seeing workers running for their lives left us speechless.

Pics

Well, Arrived in Laos, and for the first time think a guidebook would be helpful. Went for a walk to explore. and found an Eco Adventure company. So Im going to go on their 2 day rafting trip tomorrow. Apparently grade 4-5 Rafting.

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