Around the World - One Adventure at a Time

Rain was striking our faces as we approached Hai Van Pass, a steep mountain route along the central coast of Vietnam connecting Hue to Da Nang. Surprisingly, even with a reputation of being one of the best coast roads in the world, there was no traffic, in fact it was silent and peaceful – a noticeable contrast to typical Vietnamese roads.

Impressive sights emerged of tree covered valleys as we ascended our way around the mountain and each turn in the road presented us with new landscapes. At times, a corroded guard rail was all that stood between us and the steep drop to the green countryside below. Equally impressive was the looming rock wall to our right, covered in spots of moss and patches of wild plant.

It was the panoramic views of the South China Sea, at the crest of the mountain, that revealed the true beauty of Hai Van Pass. Fortunately, the rain had ceased and the clouds, for a moment at least, had dispersed. It was at this location that I pulled over to take in the sights and appreciate the journey we had embarked on to reach this point.

I remember back to where it started; it was a misty morning in Hue, when our guide announced, "you have five minutes to learn the scooter". Anywhere else in the world this comment may have been taken lightly, but in South East Asia the roads were different - congested, loud and dangerous. "Okay! Let's go!", were the three words spoken next that triggered a wave of adrenaline. As I turned the ignition key I remember feeling concerned for what was to come, but also excited for the adventure.

Concern became reality upon entering traffic and becoming surrounded by a flood of motorbikes, cars and scooters. Horns were sounding for no apparent reason and objects were moving fast - it was easy to feel overwhelmed. I recall that the Vietnamese people had an awareness of their surroundings and I drew comfort knowing they were anticipating movements around them.

Excitement soon replaced concern as the rush of the city was left behind and we drew closer to Hai Van Pass. I remember clearly how the landscape around us changed dramatically. The asphalt turned to a bumpy dirt road, rice fields replaced buildings and the morning mist developed into heavy rain, striking our faces and creating puddles of mud.

As I returned to the present moment, standing by the corroded guard rail, overlooking the coastline below, I realised that the challenges and fears were worth conquering in order to experience this panoramic beauty.