bentonchengdu

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Day 63 Fri 2711 - Aluoi Guesthouse to Camp at Ham A Roang2 ( 2nd Tunnel )

Today dist : 45.0 km Total : 3675.8 km
Today Temp : 20-28 C Raining all day
Ride time: 3 hr 54 min
Ave speed : 11.5 kmh Max : 45.5
Ave climb: 4 % Max: 13 %
Trip alti : 620 m Max: 857 m
Today Spend: 141k dong Total: 2710 Rmb+2664 k dong+ 1989 k kips

Another miserable day of wet wet ride just like yesterday. The rain continued to ruin the day as I waited at the guesthouse,the thought of staying another day in the guesthouse did flash over my mind for few moments,but then there is nothing for me to do in this small town with this sort of raining weather. So when the rain did stop for a moment (i knew the rain will come again and again),I rolled out at 10am with my jacket and raincoat on, these will get wet in the end but at least they keep me warn. When a group of young kids seems like after school,kept following me with their single speed bicycles,this is what they like to do when they see some foreigner cyclists. And I met a Vietnamese women when I stop at her restaurant looking for something to eat,she was surprised to see a Malaysian in front of her restaurant, later she told me that she had been working in Penang (Canon Company) for 5 years and came back 3 years ago. She still could communicate with me on Bahasa Malaysia. She offer to cook me a noodle and made a cup of coffee for free.After stomach feeling warm and full, the steep climb started until the 1st Ham A Roang 1 Tunnel, one local motorist came to chat with me and he told me there is no guesthouses in Atep which i targeted to stay for another 30 km. This info had upset my plan, I knew there is a 2nd tunnel ahead, I saw a concrete hut with the 1st one,so chances are the 2nd tunnel also has one similar. When i arrived at the 2nd tunnel,true enough there is one similar concrete hut, and the timing is just right at 4pm,there won't be any place better to camp after this cos' I am now in a region of no man land of total darkness not even lights in the tunnel.

This is what you should do when your campsite is full of cow dung and rubbish

Ready to brace the rain with my jacket and raincoat

School kids cycling with their raincoats

Atep - so near yet so far on a rainy day

School kids cycling with their raincoats

Misty forest

Wet and slippery road

At the Ham A Roang 1 (1st Tunnel),the yellow building on the right is good for camping but is still too early

Knowing Atep has no guesthouse,so I camped at the Ham A Roang2 (2nd Tunnel)

Ham A Roang2 (2nd Tunnel),the white concrete building is where I set tent

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Day 62 Thu 2611 - Camp at Ho Chi Minh Road 14 to Aluoi Guesthouse

Today dist : 66.6 km Total : 3630.8 km
Today Temp : 24-32 C Raining all day
Ride time: 5 hr 15 min
Ave speed : 12.6 kmh Max : 48.0
Ave climb: 3 % Max: 12 %
Trip alti : 877 m Max: 624 m
Today Spend: 220k dong Total: 2710 Rmb+2523k dong+ 1989 k kips

What a miserable wet wet ride today!!! The rain started from the moment i packed up my tent and panniers,from threatening light drizzle,and then it became moderate rain forcing me to take shelter in a house for one and a half hour,thanks to the house lady who provided hot water for me to make coffee,and her neighbour who cooked a bowl of instant noodle,so kind of them,maybe i did really look miserable in their eyes.Today's rain really makes you frustrated and mad,like playing cat and mouse with me,just when you thought it stops and you are ready to move,it started again...stop...rain...stop...rain...almost the same pattern for the whole day.The worst part was at the 5 km 10% Pass,cranking at a snail speed of 4-5kmh,I was really soaked to the skin.The rain became heavier when I arrived in Aluoi and checked in the 1st guesthouse on sight," 150k dong"the guesthouse man said. "OK..Ok..Ok..where is the room?" No need to bargain 150k is cheap. I told the man i needed a stand fan and a water heater cos' two important items not inside the room which i need to make hot coffee and blow dry my wet stuffs,and within minutes he brought them to my room,really good service.A quick Wiki net search about Aluoi, this particular region of high mountains and deep valley is called -A Shau Valley .It was the scene of numerous battles between the North Vietnamese Army/Viet Cong and the Americans during the Vietnam War. The A Shau Valley was a strategically important route which the North Vietnamese Army used to enter South Vietnam. The Americans needed to block and disrupt the troops and material entering South Vietnam, and many bloody battles took place in and around the A Shau Valley.No wonder the Americans lost out in the battles to the Viet Cong cos' they were so used to play the hide and ambush underground war here.

School girls on the way to school

Beauty contest- my vote goes to the blue one

Aluoi - my desination today

Ho Chi Minh Highway

A dam is under construction

Ho Chi Minh Highway

A Shau Valley of Ho Chi Minh Highway

Rain shelter with free hot water and instant noodle

One and a half hour rain shelter

On the 10% steep Pass

Rain can't stop me to look awesome

Getting misty the higher you go

Blood sucker discovered in the guesthouse room

Outside is still raining,so everythings got to be inside

Day 61 Wed 2511 - Dansavan Cross Border to Lao Bao in Vietnam and Camp at Ho Chi Minh Road 14

Today dist : 61.4 km Total : 3564.2 km
Today Temp : 26-36 C Overcast with evening rain
Ride time: 6 hr 01 min
Ave speed : 12.2 kmh Max : 54.0
Ave climb: 3 % Max: 9 %
Trip alti : 723 m Max: 411 m
Today Spend: 355k dong Total: 2710 Rmb+2303k dong+ 1989 k kips

Crossing over to Lao Bao in Vietnam this morning after a short ride of 5 km.Everything went smoothly and got a 30 days for Vietnam visa.Had my remaining Laos money kips changed to Vietnamese dong,I am ready to start my final phase of tour ending in Danang. Vietnam is far more developed than Laos once you crossed over.you could really feel the difference,the towns are much bigger,more vibrant while Laos everything is slow moving.I stop by a roadside cafe attracted by the free wifi advertisement to serve the net more than its dripping black bitter coffee for 10k dong (Rm2). After Lao Bao,the next town is Khe Sanh where i had my lunch of beef rice soup (30k dong). At 25km mark,I finally decided to turn right to Ho Chi Minh Road 14,this is longer and more hilly than the shorter and more flat road of QL9,by using this road hopping to see some historical war sites along the way. Remember how Ho Chi Minh unify North and South Vietnam by using this trail and forced out the Americans thus ending the long fought Vietnam War.Of couse,Ho Chi Minh did it the hard way,I am just reaping his fruits now.