Today was a long day and we started at 7h30 to go and visit the floating market. We took a boat and when up the very busy river. We saw all the boat selling their goods and you can tell what they are selling since they put 1 of it in the mast. So you see pumpkins, onions and other fruits and vegetables hanging on a pole.
After the floating market we drove for about 1 hour before we started to bike. We had to do +/- 35km in the morning before lunch. We divided the distance in 2 legsm first 17km and then the other half. It was very hot so we stepped hard on the pedals to get there fast. During the break we tasted for the first time dragon fruit. It was delicious and has a taste similar to kiwi.we had seen the crops. The plant looks like a cactus and there were nets around the plants with lightbulbs. These are lighted at night to attract the insects that are dispersing the pollen to fertilize the plants. After the refreshment we continued the biking trip until lunch. We had a lovely lunch consisting of the national dish: soup with beef and herbs and vegetables with noodles. Really delicious.
After lunch we biked for another 20km to the memorial of the killing fields. More than 4000 people were slaughtered in a horrible way in 12 days time. By the army of Pol Pot. After a short way during which I made usage of the local "toilet" we continued our biking. One word of explanation on the local toilet since this isb the second time i used one. The fact is that there is none. It's a small place in the back of the house where the washing is also done and the ground is earth or dirty concrete and that's it.
We biked for another 40 minutes. Maria and Lucienne decided that they had biked enough for the day and went by bus. Around 5 pm we all got on the bus and I must admit that I also had enough of biking for the day because my bottom was really sore. We were driven to a beautiful hotel with rooms so spacious that they could serve as a ballroom.
It was our last night in Vietnam and we dined all together with the 2 drivers and our 2 guides. Dinner was again delicious with springrolls, shrimps, squid and shroimps cooked in a broth. We concluded our last night in Vietnam with drinks and ice creams in the hotelbar.
We continued our first day of biking in the afternoon. We were going to narrow paths (betonated for the most part) and under the cocospalms, so it wasn't too hot. We visited a rope factory. The rope was being twined there fromt the outside of the coconuts. It was quite enchanting. Also it was very funny to encounter so many children who were called out to us with "hello hello" and in response we said SingChao, witch is Vietnamese for Hello or just answered them in Hello. It was a great trip and at one stage we stopped at the gates of a local school. The kids were offcourse very curious about these foreigners on their bikes with helmets on the heads and were making funny faces at us and calling hello. We all had lots of fun and in the end we gave them some candy.
We ended our first biking day by taken the bus and then travel over the Mekong rivier in a ferry and then we got to the hotel. It was quit different from the previous one but allright. Dinner was again preset with delicacies from Vietnam: springroll with crab, then steamed shrimp and to end a stew of beef with vegetables and fried rice. Most of us went straight to bed after dinner since we were really tired. But I was woken up at midnight because Yves managed to confuse room 202 with 204 and was knocking at our door called Fons Fons....
A wonderful first day where we got to know the beautiful countryside of Vietnam and we did 50km on the bikes in total for our first day. Not too bad !!
Today we had an early start at 7h45 and first drove to the Pagode. We got a lesson in history from Tiger, our guide, about Vietnam and how at the start the North and the Middle of Vietnam got along together quit well since the king of the Middle of Vietnam married the princes of the North. But due to the fact that tradition asked that the wife is also killed when her husband dies and the fact the the Middle vietnames would not change, a war was declared between the North and the Middle of the land which was won by the North. The South of Vietnam and the Mekong of Cuu Long delta belonged originally to Cambodja. But since the capital was in |Siem Riep they couldn't defend that south properly when Vietnam expanded it's territory and so the Mekong delta is part of the current Vietnam. We visited the lake of the Lady Om. She was a feminist of early times and defeated an army of men to fill the lake.
Then we started the biking tour. We went again through narrow paths in the ricefields and at our great surprise today it was Yves who took a dive from the path to the field next to it. Unfortunately he wasn't "rewarded" with a mud bath only his ego got a little bit bruised. We did stop at a farm where they were drying the rice. It was just near the street where the rice is put onto plastic sheets to dry in the sun. We got to know that there are 3 crops a year and how the seeds were sown and then how the little rice plants of +/- 30 cm are planted in a second field . The rice is then harvested once it's fully grown and afterwards the rest of stubs are burned. Well when biking along the fields we saw each of the stages of the production cycle in action. At one point we stopped at a field where the people were harvesting and also lots of ducks were feeding. Appartently approximately 10% of the rice is for feeding of ducks and other animals such as rats which seem to be considered as a delicacy. When looking at the peasans carrying the cut ricebundles on each side of the stick, then Fernand decided to give them a hand and he really carried two big bundels on the carrying stick to the side of the field.
We continued and bought some refreshments at the local store before we got to the place for lunch. It was a delicious stew of fish and vegetables and even flower leaves that we had to cook ourselves in a pot in the middle of the table and it was served with the noodles. Really very nice.
We managed to get in at least 50km before lunch !!!
Then we continued our journey to Can Tao and again along the narrow paths and the so many bridges, big and small, that we lost count of them. It is also a real art to manage to pass another bike or motorbike when on such a narrow paths !!
And offcourse the continuous call of the kids "hello hello" where ever we passed by !Really fun.One thing to remember are the PINK ducks. We noticed a whole flock of pink ducks in a field. We were all excited and took photos because we had never seen pink ducks before. We were still discussing when the guide tolf us that the farmers put dye on their ducks to recognize their own and that it was possible that we would encounter blue and green ducks as well. So far for our biology lesson. At the end we had 9 km straight road and the men decided to "go" for it. They made a bit of race of it and then there was Palmyre who also stepped hard on the pedals and arrived just after them.
Then it was me and Alphonse and then Maria and Lucienne arrived somewhat later. After a short and bumpy ride we got to the hotel. We noticed that some of the streets were flodded and were told that this was because it just has been full moon and then the water is rising.
We really did a lot of biking today putting in another 30 a 35km and I must admit, my bottom is telling me so !!
We started at 7:30 with the 2 minibuses. Each bus contained 4 mountainbikes. We drove for about 1 hour out of the town of Saigon before we stopped in a more rural area and tried out our bikes.
Then our biking journey really started. We were biking through the ricefields.we were off road. In the Mekong delta and admired the scenery around us. We also passed a great number of duckfarms on our way. We biked on very narrow paths through the ricelfields, no more than 1 m wide, and then it happened. Maria probably wanted a close inspection of the rice and fell off the path into the rice field. Thankgod she was not hurt but when she came out we all noticed that she got a free mudbath. She was really covered in mud from head to toe. We all had a giggle but were glad that Maria could continue biking with us although here wrist was hurting. Our first stop was at the "matsfactory" where people were weaving carpets made from lacgras that was then dried and dyed in different colours. As we continued our trip we also stopped at a factory where kids were working at taking the nuts out of the shells. They seemed very happy but it looked kind of a miserable job that is propably not paid much. Then we nearly had our second accident of the day. At a tree in the workspace a fan was attached and lucienne managed to walk right into it. Good thing was that she had her helmet on. After that we continued untill lunch. This was sezrved after we stopped biking and had a 1 hours drive with the minibus. The "restaurant" had a choice of 3 dishes: noodles with seafood, soup with seafood and porc ribs with steamed rice. Everyone was very happy with the lovely food that made up for the location. After lunch we went on with our journey. The afternoon we would bike though the cocos fields and farmersland.
We did approximately 25km this morning.
We started at 7:30 with the 2 minibuses. Each bus contained 4 mountainbikes. We drove for about 1 hour out of the town of Saigon before we stopped in a more rural area and tried out our bikes.
Then our biking journey really started. We were biking through the ricefields.we were off road. In the Mekong delta and admired the scenery around us. We also passed a great number of duckfarms on our way. We biked on very narrow paths through the ricelfields, no more than 1 m wide, and then it happened. Maria probably wanted a close inspection of the rice and fell off the path into the rice field. Thankgod she was not hurt but when she came out we all noticed that she got a free mudbath. She was really covered in mud from head to toe. We all had a giggle but were glad that Maria could continue biking with us although here wrist was hurting. Our first stop was at the "matsfactory" where people were weaving carpets made from lacgras that was then dried and dyed in different colours. As we continued our trip we also stopped at a factory where kids were working at taking the nuts out of the shells. They seemed very happy but it looked kind of a miserable job that is propably not paid much. Then we nearly had our second accident of the day. At a tree in the workspace a fan was attached and lucienne managed to walk right into it. Good thing was that she had her helmet on. After that we continued untill lunch. This was sezrved after we stopped biking and had a 1 hours drive with the minibus. The "restaurant" had a choice of 3 dishes: noodles with seafood, soup with seafood and porc ribs with steamed rice. Everyone was very happy with the lovely food that made up for the location. After lunch we went on with our journey. The afternoon we would bike though the cocos fields and farmersland.
We did approximately 25km this morning.
Today it was the discovery of Ho Chi Ming City. We started early. The first thing that hits you when going on the street, is the noice!
Thousands of mopeds and motorbikes are crossing the streets at dazzling speed and are constantly blowing their horns. Together with the noise of the motors themseves, it's like a wall of noise coming at you and then.. You have to cross that street!!! The first time you are certain that your life is at risk.
We went to the market. That was quite an experience and odors and colors of all kind are stimulating you senses.
We had a lovely soup for lunch and enjoyed thoroughly watching the crazy traffic going by.
After lunch we visited the Museum of war. This makes you realize how horrible this Vietnam war was and people are still suffering from the after effects of agent orange. We were shaken when we exited the museum.
Then up to the Cathedral Notre Dame and the beautiful post office. Their we had un unexpected encounter: a couple was getting married and while the fotos were taken, some comments in Flemish were made. Yves said: well now it's beautifull but it will not last. Then the groom answered us in Flemish as well: do you really think so? He is belgian and she lived already 3 years in belgium and was speaking Flemish as well. We had a nice chat and wished them love and happiness. We continued our exploration and bought some "raincoats". The are colored plastic bags that protect you from getting wet. The are even different qualities.
We went up to the river Saigon and then back to the hotel where we received our bikingbriefing for the next 3 days. A delicious dinner concluded our first day.
We are now ready to bike!
Today it was the discovery of Ho Chi Ming City. We started early. The first thing that hits you when going on the street, is the noice!
Thousands of mopeds and motorbikes are crossing the streets at dazzling speed and are constantly blowing their horns. Together with the noise of the motors themseves, it's like a wall of noise coming at you and then.. You have to cross that street!!! The first time you are certain that your life is at risk.
We went to the market. That was quite an experience and odors and colors of all kind are stimulating you senses.
We had a lovely soup for lunch and enjoyed thoroughly watching the crazy traffic going by.
After lunch we visited the Museum of war. This makes you realize how horrible this Vietnam war was and people are still suffering from the after effects of agent orange. We were shaken when we exited the museum.
Then up to the Cathedral Notre Dame and the beautiful post office. Their we had un unexpected encounter: a couple was getting married and while the fotos were taken, some comments in Flemish were made. Yves said: well now it's beautifull but it will not last. Then the groom answered us in Flemish as well: do you really think so? He is belgian and she lived already 3 years in belgium and was speaking Flemish as well. We had a nice chat and wished them love and happiness. We continued our exploration and bought some "raincoats". The are colored plastic bags that protect you from getting wet. The are even different qualities.
We went up to the river Saigon and then back to the hotel where we received our bikingbriefing for the next 3 days. A delicious dinner concluded our first day.
We are now ready to bike! Find some pics
After+/-15hours of Flying time: 6h25from Brussels toAbu Dhabi and then 6h00 hours to Bangkok and then 1h30 from bangkok we finally arrived in Saigon.We met with ourguides.One of them is called Tiger.And he is great fun. Now we are all ready to go and explore Saigon. I need to purchase a new pair of reading glasses since I broke mine on the plane. Saigon here we come!
We started at 7:30 with the 2 minibuses. Each bus contained 4 mountainbikes. We drove for about 1 hour out of the town of Saigon before we stopped in a more rural area and tried out our bikes.
Today it was the discovery of Ho Chi Ming City. We started early. The first thing that hits you when going on the street, is the noice!
After+/-15hours of Flying time: 6h25from Brussels toAbu Dhabi and then 6h00 hours to Bangkok and then 1h30 from bangkok we finally arrived in Saigon.We met with ourguides.One of them is called Tiger.And he is great fun. Now we are all ready to go and explore 
