The Motorcycle Chronicles - Thanh Hoa to Ha Long

Trip Start Oct 27, 2010

Trip End Ongoing

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Where I stayed

Binh Minh 2 Hotel Hanoi

Flag of Vietnam Bai Chay, Quáº£ng Ninh, Vietnam
Friday, July 22, 2011

After finally making contact with Shane, and the rest of the group, I arrange to meet up with them in 'Ha Long city'. With another 250km between 'Thanh Hoa' and 'Ha Long', it is time for another early start. As I depart the city, a police road block attempts to pull me over, but I continue to ride on as I don't want to pay the bribe. The 'copper' attempts to follow for 2km, but eventually he gives up and heads back to his post. Although it is possible to obtain a Vietnamese driving licence, as a U.K. or E.U. versions are not accepted, it is quite expensive to buy and only lasts for a couple of months. It is therefore easier to either pay a bribes, ignore the police, or pretend you don't speak English. I normally opt for "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" which receives some entertaining looks.

Making good progress along 'Rt10' I encounter a strange sight on the horizon, a dark grey mist crossing the road

Snake Soup

. As I get closer I come to see a wall of water dancing its way towards me, with the road bone dry on my side, and a torrential storm on the other side. Stopping on the side of the road, it is a race against time to get my waterproofs on as the downpour advances, but I managed to get rolling as the rain attacks; but even with the waterproofs I am drenched within seconds. Thankfully the monsoon passes as quickly as it arrived, and I am back in the blaring sun to dry out.

    Around 50km outside of 'Bai Ch�y' I catch sight of a familiar orange wrapped bike sat on the side of the road, and with luck it is Shane stopping for lunch. Sat on the stove in the street side kitchen is a pot with an strange broth, and after a closer look I realise that it is full of stewed snakes. Not tempted by the menu we continue on towards Ha Long city together despite a progressive fuel leak on Shane's bike

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