Mountain tribes in Vietnam (part 4)

From the holiday triangle river-beach-mountain, the mountain needed still to be done. From Muine only 160km and 5 hours of hardcore pothole road is small town called Dalat. This was the goal and from there to get into small villages in mountains.



Crazy house in Dalat.








It is actually a hotel, but people rarely stay there.











View from the top of the Crazy house












One of the waterfalls near Dalat. When driving towards the fall, we thought of going for a swim, but unfortunately the civilization had arrived before us, and the garbage had taken the pole position. Though, the waterfall itself was nice.












French man Hugo, we met in Dalat, on his journey around the World. He should now be already in Australia.











Falling water












Local cat posing for the camera











Little passenger waiting for a bus











Lake Lak in mountains, around 6o'clock in the morning. Lak lake was the last stop before heading back to Saigon to catch the flight to Shanghai. The lake used to inhabit crocodiles, then the civilization arrived, and all crocodiles turned into purses.









... elephants are still there... for trips across the lake.









Lake lake area felt authentic, even though at the background there is a elephant transporting tourists, the village lived traditional life.








Small river and children. This is the place were children still are able to go swimming without lifeguards and safety nets...









One white skin in the water





















Family by the house









Petrol station









Saigon, land price must be really high.










On the road again.


Happy Easter! Next trip is the Easter trip in 2 days, this time having a look around places not too far from Shanghai. Plan is to make it to Fujian province, 1000km south from Shanghai.

To the beach in Muine in Vietnam (part 3)

10 hours of bus seat with a short stop over in Saigon and the murky Mekong Delta turned into crystal water beaches of Muine.





Morning on the beach, small part of the shade at that night. Night on the beach, even though Muine is a 10km beach stretch with hundreds of hotels and resorts, sometimes even this is not enough, especially if arriving to the beach on Chinese New Year holiday at 1 AM.
...can happen when spontaneous traveling inspires!
But once again got proven the truth that: the best things in life are for free!








Real estate still available, looks like dream place to live under palm trees









First of the basket boat series. These funny boats were used for net fishing near the beach. Might be this shape prevents the boat dipping over in coastal breaking waves








Muine fishing village










Basket boat in daily use










Basket boats 3










The red dirt from Australia. Felt also like Australia - hot, cloudless, red and no single car or motorbike on the road (usually not to common for Vietnam)








Amazing White Sand Dunes half a day trip from Muine by motorbike








Sand






4 different kinds of environment:
In front looks Australia, dry "bushland"
Beauty of lake
White sand dunes
Far back bigger mountains (didn't make it there)








Sunset








Cham tower ruins on the hill by the ocean








I have always wanted to have a small Estonian flag or a small blue-black-white cloth tag. Each time when making back to Estonia I have thought of getting them, and each time I have forgot to get it. Should make a short trip to Bangkok, last year I saw Estonian flags sold over there, closest place to buy it :)
And then to sew it on my rucksack.

This kind of small flag was the reasons why I met 2 Estonians wandering around on the street in Muine, both of them had it sewed on their bags. And by accident I turned to look back, when saw 2 persons passing and saw these small flags.
Came out Külli and Rudolf were on their trip around Asia.
Evening in the small beach bar.

Biking and boating in Vietnam (part 2)

Fixing time! First in the row of three. Here fixing 3 holes at a time, luckily the tire went flat just few hundred meters from the repair shop. The same day also had to change the back wheel bearing. And week later had one more flat tire, again 3 holes, but then it included few kilometers of pushing the bike under the night sky.
These 3 repairs - 2 times tire and one bearing - cost together 4USD








Dirt road and small villages. Red flags to celebrate the Chinese New Year.









Taking a stop after every now and then to have a Pepsi with ice. Ice most probably made from river water, but still a good drink under the burning hot sun








Khmer temple, didn't see them too many in Vietnam. Even though Cambodia - all about old Khmer buildings - is just at the other side of the border.








Monk by the temple









Lot of tourist make to Mekong Delta for the floating markets. Vietnamese people are extremely early wakers, life is going in full speed already around 6 o'clock, at 9 in the morning the market is already closing. Early morning shopping.










Vegetable boat. From the mast it can be seen what is on the sale. Today carrots, onions, cabbage, potatoes and some other unidentified veggies.








Cabbage boat







Boating on the small channels.









The land price in Vietnam must be rather expensive, many houses were just one window wide but getting sometimes 6-7 floors into sky.


Next post already about beaches.

Motorbiking in Vietnam (part 1)

When most of China was ready to face the biggest human migration on Earth (this is how National Geographic described Chinese tradition to travel home for Chinese New Year celebrations).
… And when discussions in newspapers were going hot about youngsters and their preference for this year - weather they choose visiting homes and parents or yapping the western culture to find a dark hideout for Valentine ’s Day celebration that was on the same time.
… And when the rest of the world was getting ready for the Vancouver Olympic TV-marathon.
... And this looked just like the right time to head off and see how Vietnam is doing. 1 year and 4 month ago I saw the neighbor Cambodia, travelled some small village roads and at one point made it only 20km from Vietnam border, this time started from inside.


Previously had heard different opinions about Vietnam, some liked but for more people it had been hustle, never ending scamming and no English experience. Maybe my acceptance level has already adjusted to some certain level, as for us it felt like an easy place to go travelling without prearranged tours and tourist guides. Latin alphabet made it even possible to identify street and town names or ordering Vietnamese traditional soup called Pho.

The plan for Vietnam was to travel around, rather than laying on the beach all time. But still to stop by beach for a day or two. And to travel around to see the country like local people do. Vietnam is the country of motorbikes, so we joined the crew on the crazy busy roads.

One week went in Mekong River Delta area. First idea: to go motor biking along the Mekong and then along the Cambodian border for 3 days. And to see the famous and also touristy Mekong River Floating Markets, where local farmers come sell fruits and vegetables with their boats.

I’ll post the photos from Vietnam in separate posts, starting here with photos from the motorbike trip in delta area.








Welcome to Saigon, before getting to the town had to get through this noisy mess to apply for visa. As time passed the most reasonable seemed to read the news paper. Other side of the border guards, inside Vietnam, was also getting crazy, as the magical 24 o'clock - the new year - had almost arrived.












Saigon electricians - good luck! Even though Saigon is a very nice place to be, it is not that famous for museums, remarkable buildings or statues. So looking the electrician made art while having a beer in street bar feels just right.










Being on the road was not that easy, there is a lot happening. During the 3 days on motorbike, saw and almost participated in 6 crashes.









Only one wrong turn and finishing up on Cambodian border. Behind me Cambodia.








People by the road celebrating the New Year Festival, the right thing seemed to do was rooster fighting










Roosters in fight. And this is how they stayed there - two bloody roosters and punch of locals around them.








Arriving to the sea... after the chilly winter in Shanghai








Swimming with local animals.










Hammocks are the nice things in Vietnam. Especially if you may have noticed from previous picture, the sand was not really inviting to put the beach towel on it









In the hammock










Fisherman and his nets



Next pictures from Mekong river discovering in couple of days...