Day 44 6/12/2009

Distance cycled: 150km

Times asked to Marry (Total): 11

I didn’t get out of bed as early as I had hoped today, by the time I sorted and packed my things and ate breakfast I was out of the hotel just before 8. I cycled the same route to where the leper colony was and hit up Highway 1D, it was a fantastic cycle as it followed the coast with some uphill stretches that I’m actually beginning to enjoy when it joined back onto Hwy 1A.

With the new sprocket set I realized I could get more speed from my bike, previously I was averaging 22km/h but now I was doing around 27km/h without any more effort, although I had no wind against me today.

I went for lunch at midday asking for rice with veg and meat ‘com dia’ what turned up was some scrambled egg with rice, the lady was asking for 30,000 VND, I was very disappointed and only paid ½ the asking price and continued my cycling.

At around 3 I arrived in Dai Lanh a scruffy looking fishing village 80km from Nha Trang, it read in the guide book there was a camping ground at the south end of the beach, I headed there to check it out but it was closed according to a, I suppose a security person when I asked if I could pitch my tent on the beach. Disappointed I grabbed some squid dinner and found a burnt down hotel with all the foundations still up on the beach where I pitched my tent. Hopefully nobody comes by to kick me out.

Pic: My tent pitched under the foundations of a burnt down hotel right beside the beach

Pic: Me leaving Hostel in Qui Nhon

Pic: HDR blue Buddah, Qui Nhon 2009

Pic: HDR Grounded Cargo Ship, Leper beach, Qui Nhon

Day 43 5/12/2009

I swear I had more mosquitoes in under my fly net than in the room… I slept terribly. I was going to leave today to make my way to Nha Trang but decided to see more of the city, I met with an Aussie and a Kiwi (Doug and Shaun) who I had already met yesterday and set off on bicycles to see some things around the city. First we went back to that Vegetarian restaurant for Lunch and tried to make our way to the 17m statue of a guy giving the finger to the Chinese. Unfortunately its not accessible by road and we needed a boat, so we skipped this attraction. We cycled around town for a bit and saw a Pagoda and a statue of a Buddha that at one angle looks like he is taking a drag of a splif as pictured.

Despite it being overcast and was raining at times we went to find another beach south of the city, with a bit of cycling uphill then back down we entered a leper community. There wasn’t much happening here so we went to the beach for some Frisbee action. At one end of the beach there was a cargo ship that had been grounded ashore. We approached it and climbed the ladder to explore. After talking to a guy who still lived on it from Burma, it turns out the ship was washed ashore in October by a typhoon. It was quite a surreal sight.

We headed back to Quy Nhon for dinner again at that Veggie restaurant again…I know 3 times in 2 days, well it was cheap and the food was fantastic. There was even mock meat that was real tasty.

Tomorrow I’m going to set off early and make my way to Nha Trang 230km away.

Day 42 4/12/2009

Repair costs: 150,000 VND

As it turns out the bicycle repair man was right about something yesterday, the 3 cogs connected to the peddles had worn right down into a shark teeth shape, this meant I needed to replace the whole peddle assembly. This was possibly caused by my excessive cycling yesterday. He was offering 150,000 VND for the repair, I thought id look around town and try find someone else for cheaper but having to explain the problem to others who don’t know English turned out to be quite irritating so I went back to him and offered 120,000VND, he then raised it to 180,000VND for some reason, but we settled back on 150,000VND.

Whilst I waited for the repair I joined an English couple (Chris and Rachael) for a vegetarian lunch, which was new to me and I though to be quite delicious and for only 10,000VND it was a great deal. We wondered around town and set down on the beach for the afternoon.

When I got the bicycle back the guy had replaced the assembly but the gear ratios had changed dramatically, these cogs where much larger than before and because they differed the derailleur couldn’t derail the chain on the smallest cog. This meant going uphill is going to be more of a struggle. As the man pointed out there was also a bit of wear on the rear cogs too, so some slipping of the chain was going to occur whilst cycling on certain gears. When I cycled around town I found out I went from 18 gears from when I bought the bike to now 8… well I have about 800km to go, lets see if I make it to Saigon.

In the evening there were more westerners in the hotel. I gathered up half a dozen people from all over the world and had a few beers to drink that others bought me. Actually didn’t spend a cent on alcohol this evening J

We went for food, the vegetarian place I ate at earlier because it was cheap but it was shut so we settled for pho… again.

Day 41 3/12/2009

Distance Cycled: ~200km

Times asked to Marry (Total): 10

Repair costs: 126,000 VND

I had pretty good nights rest on the side of Hwy 1, I awoke every now and again to hear passing semis honking their horns probably aimlessly. I quickly packed my stuff as that tomboyish girl creeped me out by constantly saying mo-ney and picking up my stuff gesturing that she was going to take something. I quickly got out of there by 5.45 and started cycling towards Qui Nhon.

I got 75 km when one of the sprockets on the derailleur popped off making my bike uncycleable. Luckily I wasn’t too far away from the closest town… I had to walk 3 km in the wrong direction to this guy in a bike shop who was quite brutal with a hammer with another bike as I entered. Thankfully he had a sprocket and only took 5 minutes to install and only cost 6000VND Bargain!

I managed to finish listening to the Hobbit on audiobook, which was awesome; I may start the Lord of the Rings trilogy tomorrow.

One of the places I stopped at for food gave me a massive rice dish and offered me 2 girls to marry, either one or the other but not both at the same time which I gestured jokingly, the father wasn’t too impressed . Lol.

The last 65km towards Qui Nhon was painful because my bike kept on slipping gears.

When I arrived exhausted I went in search of the hotel with dorms for 50,000 VND. I managed to find it but was a little bit disappointed that I was the only westerner there. The woman working at the desk was more than friendly and helped me find a bike repair man who replaced the chain and other sprocket for 120,000 VND very expensive. When I went to pick up the bike the chain was the wrong size making the slipping 10 times worse than before. He didn’t understand the fact that all I needed was a working bicycle and started raising his voice in disapproval. After some debate neither of us could understand we took my bike to the hotel where the receptionist could translate the argument and made a deal to clean up the previous chain and use that instead for the same price.

I honestly should have fixed it myself if I knew it was going to costs so much and be such a hassle.

Pic: When the sprocket popped off 3km from the closest town

Day 40 2/12/2009

Distance Cycled: 80 km

Times asked to Marry (Total): 8

I had a bit of a delayed start and didn’t leave Hoi An till 11. I said my farewells to Caroline and Dryden, and set off. I got a little lost getting back to highway 1 and I accidentally back tracked a little. Cycling hwy 1 was as boring as usual with the added bonus of the wind blowing against me, towards the end of the day it made things interesting by having a Semi’s tire exploded in front of me propelling small bits of rubber in my direction. Apart from being partially deafened, some bits of debris cut up my right forearm, not too bad just a couple of small cuts. Perhaps they will scar over and I can say that I got it in Nam. :P

I pulled over shortly after to find accommodation, I was only about 10km from Quang Ngai but it was getting dark, and also looking in the guide book accommodation there is relatively expensive. The place I stopped at was another small shop selling food. I asked whether it was ok to pitch my tent but they were a bit hesitant. I managed to convince them as I munched down some of their food. I was asked by the mother of one of the daughters to marry her, this happens all the time and I still don’t know how to react. And to be honest I’m really not that attracted to these Vietnamese girls, especially this one as she was a bit creepy and tom-boyish.

I had a slow leak in my front tire; I fixed it and set off to bed. I may have pitched my tent where the dog normally sleeps, because all night the dog was barking at the tent. L

Pic: Cuts from when a lorries tire exploded 15 meters in front of me firing bits of shrapnel in my direction

Pic: Pig in a cone basket on the back of a motorbike unable to move.

Day 39 1/12/2009

Hangover day! I spent part of the morning throwing up and the rest of the day just chilling. I did pick up my shirt, it was sick, I absolutely love it.. I may have to come back here some day when I have more money.

I said goodbye to Ross and Dave and met with a gorgeous Austrian girl (Caroline), a Quebecer (Stephanie) and a young English guy (Dryden) in the afternoon then went out to dinner to celebrate Stephanie’s birthday. I was lucky enough to share the room with Caroline and Dryden this evening and after showing off some of my photoshop work went to bed.

Caroline may join me cycling when I get down to Nha Trang, I hope she will as the company and eye candy would be fantastic.

Day 38 31/11/2009

I met Dom and Sandra in the morning and headed for the beach but for breakfast I bumped into 2 Danish girls that I had briefly met in Xi’an, China. Weirdly there were 2 dead pigs that had been washed ashore. After wondering around the town again Dom and Sandra bought me a little gift… a small ceramic whistle J. I tagged along when they went to the tailor shop where they were picking up some clothing, I persuaded myself to spend the money ($11) on a tailor made shirt that would be completed the following day. I said my farewells to them in the afternoon and headed out for dinner and drinks with Dave and Ross.

I got absolutely obliterated, mixing cheap beer and cheap Vodka I ended up at the beach party, I really don’t remember much apart from throwing up out of the window on the return journey.