Kate & Chris's Adventures

Ride Into the Past - Hoi An

cornetto — Sat, 6 Aug 2011 19:51:00 GMT

Yet another adventure on the bicycles this time with Phat Tire Ventures in Hoi An.

Thinh was our guide and he was just full of information that he wanted to share with us and a keen photographer as well! He hijacked our camera and took loads of great photos for us.

This ride was relatively easy which was a welcome change after the previous two and involved cruising around country lanes and back roads and taking in the beautiful scenery.

First of all we rode along the river and then stopped for coffee (for us hopeless coffee addicts) at a local place where apparently young courting couples go in the evening. Lucky for us it was morning! We continued on our way to a pottery village and spent some time trying our hand at making pots on the pottery wheel which is powered by a young lady spinning it with her foot.

Then we meandered along through some rice paddies, past a fish farm (which didn't smell) and along the river some more to an organic cooperative type farm. There were 25 families all farming the one plot of land together growing lettuce, spring onions, all kinds of herbs (I know what your thinking - not that kind!), cucumbers and some gourd looking things. We tried our hand at preparing a bed and transplanting some seedlings using traditional methods. Then, after our all our hard work (not), it was lunch time :) and we got a cooking lesson from the farmers son.

Following lunch we continued on our sojourn through the rice paddies to a latern 'factory'. When we arrived they were all having siesta as it was 1 o'clock in the afternoon and evidently too hot to work - I thought that was a pretty good approach to life. Factory probably isn't really the right word, it was a place where they made laterns but not what I envisage a factory as - there no robots or machines, everything is done by hand. Here we got to see how the lanterns used for the Tet festival are made and we each got to make a little lantern to keep.

From the latern 'factory' it was time to head back to Hoi An.

Photos: Hoi An

cornetto — Sat, 6 Aug 2011 19:38:00 GMT

Masterchef Vietnam!

cornetto — Sat, 6 Aug 2011 19:29:00 GMT

Look out Masterchef - Gioan Cooking School in Hoi An is the next big thing!

We did an awesome cooking class here under the watchful eye of the fabulous Vina. We got to choose any four dishes that we wanted to cook from their menu - we chose Pho Bo, Bahn Xeo (a type of delicious savoury pancake), Pork Clay Pot and Chicken in Banana Leaf. Vina was very energetic and engaging and loves to make a song out of everything. She was so much fun to cook and we even learnt a few things. Then we got to eat it all! Yummo!

If you are in Hoi An and looking for a fun, relaxed and authentic cooking school I highly recommend you check out Gioan Cooking School.

Photos: Cu Chi Tunnels

cornetto — Thu, 4 Aug 2011 22:30:00 GMT

Photos: Dalat MTB

cornetto — Thu, 4 Aug 2011 21:57:00 GMT

Photos: HCMC

cornetto — Thu, 4 Aug 2011 21:48:00 GMT

Bicycles - The Only Way to Travel

cornetto — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:22:00 GMT

Following our day wallowing around in the mud we undertook a different kind of bicycle ride - a 70km ride from Dalat in the mountains to Nha Trang on the coast on a lovely new road. It was like our very own Tour De Vietnam and I'm pretty sure that at times our guide, Minh from Phat Tire, thought he was riding in the Tour.

The ride started with 20km of undulating terrain riding through minority villages and national park. Then we had a 3km climb to Lam Dong pass (elevation 1600m) where we recieved lots of encouragement and cheering from the bus loads of people that had stopped just before the pass to take in the view. Someone even ran alongside Chris to give him a bottle of water! Then came the descent. A 30km stretch of very steep, windy road with plenty of hair pin corners and hair raising moments. I have no idea how fast we were going but I would not be surprised if we reached speeds of up to 60 to 70km/h. Luckily we did stop occasionally to take photos and enjoy the view.

As we headed further down the hill we could feel it getting hotter and hotter. By the time we stopped for lunch it was 12 noon and nearing 35 degrees. After lunch we continued on for the last 20kms through lots of little villages where all the kids came running our onto the road shouting "hello, hello!" and all the adults lazed around in hammocks and looked at us as though we were crazy. The heat radiating off the road was intense and there was no shade just a hot breeze (just like home really). I thought the locals had the right idea with the hammocks and it was at this point I was wishing I had my bike from home with its nice comfy saddle.

Despite the heat (and the saddle) it was a great ride and it is nice to be able to cruise along and connect with the locals rather than watch everything wizz by through a bus window.

Big thanks to Phat Tire Ventures in Dalat for sorting out both rides for us!

Photos to come...

Bicycles and River Crossings

cornetto — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:53:00 GMT

I knew I was visiting Vietnam in the wet season but I was not expecting to ride a bicyle through a river.

On Monday, the good people from Phat Tire in Dalat, Minh & Dung, took us on a moutian biking trip throught the beautfiful countryside around Dalat. Dalat is located in the central highlands and has a temperate climate allowing an array of vegetables and flowers to be grown that cannot be grown in other parts of the country. It has a naturally stunning landscape and we couldn't wait to get on the bikes and go exploring.

There had been torrential rain the night before and the trail we were meant to ride, known as Skidmarks, was 'too wet' so we took a different route which was 'dryer'. I have never seen so much mud in my life! The ride went for 4 hours through pine forest and farmland where they grow coffee, tapioca and flowers. It was pretty technical single track and involved riding (or attempting to ride) through a river (amusing photos to come), crossing several other smaller streams and riding across a suspension bridge which back home would have been neatly cordoned off with yellow tape having been deemed too dangerous to cross.

After a few gruelling hours climbing muddy slopes and crossing rivers we arrived at a waterfall where our guides seemed to miraculously produce a delicious spread of baguettes, cheese, pork, salad, sticky rice, fresh rice paper noodles (just for me) and loads of fresh fruit (including bananas).

Then came the news that we had to ride back! So, a few more hours of sliding around in the mud with farmers either laughing at us or looking very confused followed. Then, like a knight in shining armour the van that was to take us home appeared in the distance. What a relief!

Coffee

cornetto — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:45:00 GMT

For years I thought that Farmers Union Iced Coffee was the best iced coffee available without doubt. That was until I came to Vietnam. Here the coffee is brewed thick and strong served over piles of ice with a dribble of condensed milk. It is refrshingly delicious and has a real kick. Not without it's consequences though - I have been averaging around 5 - 7 cups a day (I have even broken my no coffee in the afternoon rule).

It is a little sad to think that Farmers Union Iced Coffee will always be a little disappointing from now on.

Need Outsideness

cornetto — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:12:00 GMT

Stayed overnight in Singapore Airport in a hotel room with no windows. It's been almost 24 hours since I've been outside - it's very wierd. I need some fresh air!!

Did havea delcious Congee fo breakfast though :)

The Plan

cornetto — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:35:00 GMT

The Countdown is on - just 5 sleeps until we head off to Vietnam!

Here is the general plan....

21 July - Depart Adelaide, overnight Singapore

22 July - Arrive Ho Chi Minh City

24 July - 26 July - Dalat, lots of MTB and Coffee

26 July - Ride from Dalat to Nha Trang and take the overnight train to Hoi An

27 July - 30 July - Hoi An, chillin' and some little jaunts into the countryside on bicycles

30 July - 1 August - Back to Ho Chi Minh City

2 August - Arrive back in Adelaide