Book Review: Two Wheels & Rice Fields- The Ultimate Guide To Motorbiking Vietnam

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1. TRAVEL INTERVIEW WITH ELISE REEKS OF POSTIVE WORLD TRAVEL- LashWorldTo » LashWorldTour

   2012/11/28 at 12:13 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment

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   […] visit Vietnam and/or you love motorbike travel, check out their awesome guide to get started.Read my review of Two Wheels & Rice Fields  Follow Elise and Ant with their continued adventures: Website: Positive World […]

2. VIETNAM- TRIP OVERVIEW - LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour

   2012/11/28 at 1:05 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment

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   […] LashWorldTourTravel Blog offering Cultural Insights, Travel Tips, and Tales of Adventure from 14+ years of world travelsHOMEABOUTAbout LashWorldTourAbout LashContactWhat’s in a name?LashWorldTour Travel MapLash’s Travel Fast FactsMissionsWorld Travels Overview: 1991-2011PressDisclaimerCOUNTRIESASIABALI- INDONESIABalinese CultureDiving in BaliBicycling in BaliAmedSanurBali MiscBANGLADESHBRUNEICAMBODIASHANGHAI- CHINAHONG KONGINDONESIABaliJavaLombokJAPANLAOSMALAYSIAKuala LumpurPenangLangkawiBorneoDiving in MalaysiaMalaysia MiscMYANMARNEPALPHILIPPINESSINGAPORESRI LANKATHAILANDVIETNAMAUSTRALIAEUROPEENGLANDSPAINS AMERICABRAZILUSAAdventuresBicycle TravelCycling in Bali SeriesHikingMotorbike TravelScuba DivingSky DivingTravel DisastersWWOOFCruisesTravel TalesCulturePhoto GalleriesTravel Tips10 Free Things to do in… SeriesAccommodation TipsFlight TipsMoney TipsSafety TipsMisc Travel TipsBeyond GuidebooksTravel ResourcesTRAVEL INTERVIEWSBook ReviewsHotel – Tour – Museum ReviewsLINKSTravel StoreFREE eBookTravel Books StoreLash’s Guidebooks to Bali wp_flash_img_show will display here (config: default)« PHOTO GALLERY: BRAZIL AMAZONTRAVEL INTERVIEW WITH SUZY GUESE » VIETNAM- TRIP OVERVIEW 2011/10/18 by Lash WorldTourNov – Dec 2003stunning Halong Bay-VietnamHalong Bay near CatBa ilsand, northeast VietnamVIETNAM- TRIP OVERVIEWI greatly enjoyed traveling through Vietnam for 6 weeks in Nov- Dec. 2003. The country sports stunning and varied scenery; an abundance of beautiful arts including paintings, lacquerware, stone carvings, traditional architecture and paper lanterns to name a few; delicious food and a few surprises such as French-style coffee. Although Vietnam is incredibly noisy and the people a bit too aggressive for my tastes, it quickly became one of my favorite countries in SE.Asia – a close third to Myanmar. (Thailand being first of course)Sapa-Vietnamtribal village girls crossing bridge near Sapa, northwest VietnamStand-outs of my trip included noisy bustling Hanoi; Sapa, a charming mountain town with amazing atmosphere; breath-taking Halong Bay, full of limestone peaks poking out of mist; Hue, the ancient coastal royal city; and nearby Hoi An, an atmospheric historic port town along the ancient Asian trading route.Japanese bridge- Hoi An- Vietnamfamous old Japanese bridge in Hoi An, central VietnamHope you enjoy my tales…Hanoi 10 Free Things to do in Hanoi Trip Through Halong Bay Sapa and the Remote Northwest Mountains Hue and Hoi An Saigon: Unexpected Blast of Urban Clubbing————————————————————————— Two Wheels & Rice Fields – ebook – positive world travelTwo Wheels & Rice Fields- The Ultimate Guide to Motorbiking VietnamMy friends and fellow travel bloggers ,  Elise and Anthony Milotic of Positive World Travel, have written this excellent and very thorough guidebook to motorbiking through Vietnam  based on their own motorbike trip through the country.If you’re planning to visit Vietnam and/or you love motorbike travel, check out their awesome guide to get started.Read my review of Two Wheels & Rice Fields  —————————————————————————————————————————————————————– /* /* Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published.Name:Email:Website:Message:You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> […]

3. I VISIT HANOI, VIETNAM - LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour

   2012/11/28 at 1:15 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment

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   […] LashWorldTourTravel Blog offering Cultural Insights, Travel Tips, and Tales of Adventure from 14+ years of world travelsHOMEABOUTAbout LashWorldTourAbout LashContactWhat’s in a name?LashWorldTour Travel MapLash’s Travel Fast FactsMissionsWorld Travels Overview: 1991-2011PressDisclaimerCOUNTRIESASIABALI- INDONESIABalinese CultureDiving in BaliBicycling in BaliAmedSanurBali MiscBANGLADESHBRUNEICAMBODIASHANGHAI- CHINAHONG KONGINDONESIABaliJavaLombokJAPANLAOSMALAYSIAKuala LumpurPenangLangkawiBorneoDiving in MalaysiaMalaysia MiscMYANMARNEPALPHILIPPINESSINGAPORESRI LANKATHAILANDVIETNAMAUSTRALIAEUROPEENGLANDSPAINS AMERICABRAZILUSAAdventuresBicycle TravelCycling in Bali SeriesHikingMotorbike TravelScuba DivingSky DivingTravel DisastersWWOOFCruisesTravel TalesCulturePhoto GalleriesTravel Tips10 Free Things to do in… SeriesAccommodation TipsFlight TipsMoney TipsSafety TipsMisc Travel TipsBeyond GuidebooksTravel ResourcesTRAVEL INTERVIEWSBook ReviewsHotel – Tour – Museum ReviewsLINKSTravel StoreFREE eBookTravel Books StoreLash’s Guidebooks to Bali wp_flash_img_show will display here (config: default)« TRAVEL INTERVIEW WITH CAZ OF YTRAVELBLOGMY INTERVIEW AT TRAVELANDTRANSITIONS » I VISIT HANOI, VIETNAM 2011/03/16 by Lash WorldTourWelcome!  If it’s your first time here, you might want to subscribe to the free monthly newsletter.  Thank you!—–>>Hanoi-VietnamBustling HanoiI VISIT HANOI, VIETNAMChaotic traffic, NOISE, bustle, hodge-podge of narrow streets… that about sums up Hanoi! It’s a stark contrast to the calm, peaceful, quiet countryside of flat rice fields that I passed from the airport into the city. At least I do know quiet exists somewhere outside this crazy urban spraw,  and I’m about ready to go find it…typical traffic jams in HanoiDespite the audio-sensory overload, I’m having great fun exploring Hanoi by bicycle. Everyday I rent an old Chinese-style upright-seat bike and plunge into the chaotic horn-blasting traffic, which I actually find exhilarating. Nobody pays any attention to ‘lanes.’ Few traffic lights exist. Thousands of motorcycles and bicycles plus a few cars and buses veer in all directions. Luckily nobody can go very fast in all the chaos and somehow everyone manages to move along without smacking into each other. Rather astounding!Vietnamese Temple in HanoiThe city does have a few famous temples, museums, and the important Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Museum. I’ve visited several. Vietnamese temples are similar their Chinese conterparts but smaller. Disappointingly, they’re not nearly as grand or impressive as temples in Japan and Thailand, but they do possess pretty and unique design elements. I suppose most historic Vietnamese temples and buildings were destroyed during the various invasions of the country, the Vietnam War simply being the most recent.Street vendor in HanoiVery few people speak English. I don’t speak the language, for a change, so getting around, finding food and toilets, asking prices, etc are all interesting incidents in themselves! It dawned on me recently that, strange as it seems, I haven’t had this kind of ‘adventure’ for a long long time! Although I’ve been traveling nearly 5 years, and mostly in SE Asia, I haven’t been in a challenging communications situation for nearly 2 years when I visited Nepal! Since then I’ve either been in English-speaking countries (Australia, USA) or I’ve been chauffeured around by the ‘Survivor’ drivers and security guards( Brazil )  Otherwise, I’ve been in Thailand where I speak the language and am extremely familiar with food, places and customs. I just realized that for the past 2 years my travels have been pretty cushy!Vietnamese TempleSo, here I am, BLAM, trying to make my way around the chaotic hustle bustle where I generally can’t communicate with anyone! Quite luckily, then, the Vietnamese people are very helpful, honest, friendly and intelligent. They always correct my money mistakes (easy to mix up the various bills like 50,000 instead of 5000) and return the correct change. They’re very clever at figuring out ways to explain prices and ask me questions so that I understand. And though they’re not as instantly friendly and smiley as the Thais when they first gaze upon my pink hair, piercings and short dresses (all women wear pants) they do come around eventually after I smile and say ‘sin chieu’ (hello–one of only 3 phrases I know so far) Likewise, locals who’ve seen me wandering around day after day and eating with local people at little food shops have become quite friendly towards me.I did find 2 calm spots in Hanoi. First the Botanical Gardens Park. While not as grand and spacious as my favorite Lumpini Park in Bangkok, it’s still a pleasant quiet park centered around a lovely lake and full of large trees. The second is a lllllooooonnnng bridge spanning the Red River. It serves pedestrians and bicycles only = NO NOISE!! (another modern bridge serves motorized vehicles). Cycling out onto that bridge is amazing. Suddenly there’s SILENCE! WOW! Just the wind, some creaking bike pedals and the muddy orange Red River flowing below. Nice escape from the deafening city.Paddling up the gorgeous Perfume RiverYesterday I also escaped Hanoi by joining a day tour to the “Perfume Pagoda”. A 2-hour van drive took us into the countryside then along an astoundingly beautiful mountain range which consists of hundreds of low sharp spiky mountains flanking verdant rice fields. We eventually stopped at a village, boarded small boats and were paddled up a muddy river for an hour into those same beautiful mountains.Entry way to the Perfume PagodaFrom the landing point we hiked up, up, up to a big cave filled with Buddhist alters and candles. As our guide explained, the ‘Perfume Pagoda’ is actually a group of 40 temples in the mountains. We visited only the main cave temple and one other. I found the mountainside temple complex quite similar to Japanese mountain temples. Afterward we returned by boat and van back to Hanoi. Beautiful scenery!!Tomorrow I will take a 10-hour train journey to the NW of Vietnam where many hill-tribe people live in the mountains. Most likely I’ll make a one-week loop of the area, visiting several Vietnamese towns and hill-tribe villages via local buses winding around the high mountain roads.It’s doubtful I’ll run across internet services in those remote areas, so perhaps my next email will be after my return to Hanoi when, no doubt, I’ll have many more adventures to tell!until then cheers, LASH ——————————————- I traveled through Vietnam, north to south for 6 weeks, in Nov-Dec 2003. Read 5 more tales HERE————————————————————————————————————————————————————Two Wheels & Rice Fields- The Ultimate Guide to Motorbiking VietnamMy friends and fellow travel bloggers ,  Elise and Anthony Milotic of Positive World Travel, have written this excellent and very thorough guidebook to motorbiking through Vietnam  based on their own motorbike trip through the country.If you’re planning to visit Vietnam and/or you love motorbike travel, check out their awesome guide to get started.Read my review of Two Wheels & Rice Fields——————————————————————————————————————————————————-—————————————Sorry to say I had no digital camera during that trip.All photos in this article I picked up at Flickr creative commons. Many thanks to the photographers for making their images public: soulmuser / joergreschke / manhlo / jos devi  / duhangst / upyernoz / Ubo Pakes———————————————————————————————————————————————————————– /* /* 2 comments6 pings Suzy says: 2011/03/20 at 11:47 am (UTC 8 ) ReplyI can't believe you are brave enough to brave that traffic! Sounds like a miracle everyone doesn't hit everyone else. LASH says: 2011/03/22 at 5:41 pm (UTC 8 ) ReplyHi Suzy,Well, cycling in Hanoi was actually quite fun. Shanghai and south Bali are HEAPS more scary! Of course by the time I got to Hanoi I had over 10 years' experience cycling in Asia, including many hectic cities. Asian traffic does seem like a miracle until you get used to it.. and realize that, hey nobody wants to be in an accident, so they all look out for each other. No road rage either! cheers, LashSAIGON: AN UNEXPECTED BLAST OF URBAN CLUBBING | LashWorldTour says: 2012/02/26 at 10:10 am (UTC 8 ) Reply[…] / seafaringwoman / JeremyVandel *) You might also like:Hue and Hoi An Trip Through Halong Bay Hanoi Sapa and Vietnam’s Remote Northeast Mountains 10 Free Things to do in Hanoi LashWorldTour […]SAPA and VIETNAM'S NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS | LashWorldTour says: 2012/02/26 at 10:13 am (UTC 8 ) Reply[…] Hoan Kiem Lake, HanoiNext adventures coming soon… cheers, LashYou might also like:Hanoi 10 Free Things to do in Hanoi Trip Through Halong Bay Photo Gallery: Halong Bay Photo Gallery: Hong […]10 FREE THINGS TO DO IN HANOI | LashWorldTour says: 2012/02/26 at 10:49 am (UTC 8 ) Reply[…] a locals’ neighborhood, the Old Quarter is a fantastic spot to hang your hat while visiting Hanoi. Vietnamese bustle about their noisy, hectic daily lives. Just across the road sits Hanaoi’s […]STORY: TRIP THROUGH HALONG BAY VIETNAM | LashWorldTour says: 2012/02/26 at 10:53 am (UTC 8 ) Reply[…] STORY: TRIP THROUGH HALONG BAY VIETNAM 2011/08/18 by Lash Stunning Halong Bay, VietnamBack in Hanoi, exhausted after bus-ing independently around Vietnam’s rugged northeast mountain region, I […]VIETNAM- TRIP OVERVIEW | LashWorldTour says: 2012/02/26 at 11:05 am (UTC 8 ) Reply[…] trading route.famous old Japanese bridge in Hoi An, central VietnamHope you enjoy the tales…Hanoi 10 Free Things to do in Hanoi Trip Through Halong Bay Sapa and the Remote Northwest Mountains Hue […]HUE AND HOI AN- Vietnam’s Central Coast – LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour says: 2012/02/26 at 12:47 pm (UTC 8 ) Reply[…] stories!You might also like:Trip Through Halong Bay Sapa and Vietnam’s Northwest Mountains Hanoi 10 Free Things to do in Hanoi Photo Gallery: Halong Bay.nrelate_popular .nr_sponsored{ left:0px […]Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published.Name:Email:Website:Message:You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> […]

4. HUE AND HOI AN- Vietnam's Central Coast - LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour

   2012/11/28 at 1:19 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment

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   […] LashWorldTourTravel Blog offering Cultural Insights, Travel Tips, and Tales of Adventure from 14+ years of world travelsHOMEABOUTAbout LashWorldTourAbout LashContactWhat’s in a name?LashWorldTour Travel MapLash’s Travel Fast FactsMissionsWorld Travels Overview: 1991-2011PressDisclaimerCOUNTRIESASIABALI- INDONESIABalinese CultureDiving in BaliBicycling in BaliAmedSanurBali MiscBANGLADESHBRUNEICAMBODIASHANGHAI- CHINAHONG KONGINDONESIABaliJavaLombokJAPANLAOSMALAYSIAKuala LumpurPenangLangkawiBorneoDiving in MalaysiaMalaysia MiscMYANMARNEPALPHILIPPINESSINGAPORESRI LANKATHAILANDVIETNAMAUSTRALIAEUROPEENGLANDSPAINS AMERICABRAZILUSAAdventuresBicycle TravelCycling in Bali SeriesHikingMotorbike TravelScuba DivingSky DivingTravel DisastersWWOOFCruisesTravel TalesCulturePhoto GalleriesTravel Tips10 Free Things to do in… SeriesAccommodation TipsFlight TipsMoney TipsSafety TipsMisc Travel TipsBeyond GuidebooksTravel ResourcesTRAVEL INTERVIEWSBook ReviewsHotel – Tour – Museum ReviewsLINKSTravel StoreFREE eBookTravel Books StoreLash’s Guidebooks to Bali wp_flash_img_show will display here (config: default)« TRAVEL INTERVIEW WITH ERCIA AND SHAUN OF OVER YONDERLUSTTRAVEL INTERVIEW WITH AYNGELINA BROGAN OF BACON IS MAGIC » HUE AND HOI AN- Vietnam’s Central Coast 2011/09/26 by Lash WorldTourWelcome! If it’s your first time here, you might want to subscribe to RSS —–>>HUE AND HOI AN- Vietnam’s Central CoastI awoke in central coastal Vietnam on the overnight train from Hanoi. Looking out the window I saw, surprise, more flat rice fields stretching to the horizon.  Good thing I’d taken the overnight train as I certainly didn’t need to view rice fields for 14 hours.Two hours later we reached Hue, my destination, and Vietnam’s old capital city on the banks of the Perfume River. As soon as I stepped outside the train station I immediately liked Hue. The first thing I noticed was quiet. Startling after Hanoi. Although there was traffic, it consisted of nearly half bicycles, half motorbikes and very few cars or buses. Even the motorbikes were quiet in Hue.  More amazingly, the drivers were not horn-honking maniacs. Simply wonderful.Hue-VietnamPerfume River at HueMy next impression was of nature: parks, grassy fields and many shady trees.  My walk into town led me along the banks of the wide, flat Perfume River which, to my delight, was lined with a wide swath of park. Besides all that, the sky was bright blue. I realized that was the very first blue sky I’d seen in three weeks in Vietnam.  Hanoi and Vietnam’s entire north were covered in a perpetual grey haze.  I also quickly noticed that Hue people were friendlier, quicker to smile and less persistent sellers than up north.  I was hooked on Hue already.  I soon wondered why I’d ‘wasted’ so much time in the north.My hotel was another wonder: spotlessly clean, with a grand staircase leading to the upper floors, and filled with very friendly, professional staff. And my room? Well: tiled floor, huge double bed, tv, fridge, two large Chinese style chairs (I happen to be particularly enamored with Chinese furniture), phone and marble bathroom (well, faux-marble tiles) complete with bathtub, all for $4 US.Citadel walls of HueI was so excited about Hue that I immediately rented a bicycle and began exploring.  Hue, I discovered, is essentially ‘a big park’ full of grassy fields, shady trees, parks, and a maze of old canals. Vietnam, as we know it, was only united in 1802 when the Nguyen family of the south took control, unifying the north and south. The first Nguyen Emperor established his capital at Hue and constructed an elaborate walled city and, within it, a further enclosed Imperial Compound exclusively for the royal family.The city walls and some ancient buildings still exist. Many canals are the original moats surrounding the Citadel. That explains Hue’s parks, canals and trees. Inside the Citadel today there is a simple town full of houses, shops and narrow roads. But the Imperial Compound still contains many recently renovated royal houses and temples, though much was completely destroyed in the Vietnam War. Outside Hue, scattered around the countryside, are 13 tombs of the 13 Nguyen Emperors who reigned from 1802-1945.entrance to Hue’s Imperial CompoundI spent four days exploring Hue, enjoying the grassy banks of the river, visiting the Imperial Enclosure, cycling into the countryside and sampling various Hue foods.  Then I moved south to Hoi An, an ancient trading port, hoping it would be as fantastic as Hue. Several travelers I’d met had all given rave reviews, so I had high hopes. Besides, Hoi An is partially famed for its great beach.beach near Hoi An, with tradtional Vietnamese basket boatsHoiAn lived up to all my expectations.  As soon as I arrived I wasted no time renting a bicycle and pedaling the 5 km (3 miles) out to Hoi An’s fabled beach. Pale beige sand stretches indefinitely north and south along the vast clear South China Sea, backed by a grove of coconut palms.  Ahhhh, my favorite setting. I spent the day luxuriating in the hot sun, swimming in the cool ocean and enjoying sand under my feet.  In the evening I cycled back to Hoi An town where I discovered just how very charming it is.old shophouse in Hoi AnHoi An was an international trading port in the 1700s and 1800s. Much trade was conducted between China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and a few European countries, especially France. The Chinese, Japanese and French merchants were allowed to set up businesses there, so they built many houses and shops, according to their own designs. Many of those buildings still exist in their original form. In fact, a whole neighborhood of old shops and houses sits along a river, complete with charming wood fishing boats. Many of the houses have been converted into restaurants, bars, shops and museums, while retaining their traditional architecture. There are several Chinese temples and a famous old Japanese covered bridge. It’s a delightful place to eat, wander and explore.Hoi An’s famous Japanese covered bridgeHoi An is also quite famous for its regional foods, mostly noodle dishes, which combine a surprising concoction of herbal greens, pickled fruits, peanuts, and meats.  They’re all delicious. On top of that, Hue is full of  handicraft shops where you can watch artisans carving elaborate wood pictures and statues, making silk-covered lanterns, embroidering intricate fabric pictures, weaving cotton, and creating beautiful paintings. Most prominently, there’s a plethora of tailor shops specializing in custom-fit silk clothes and amazing, unique shoes. There’s also an abundance of art galleries.Hoi An’s atmospheric river, full of traditional boatsNeedless to say, I had no trouble filling my days between Hoi An’s intriguing Old Quarters, the spectacular beach, and the tasty variety of food.  I spent sxi days in Hoi An with a basic routine: early mornings I ate a tasty breakfast (for about $.40) then wandered around the old town exploring temples and shops. Next I rented a bike and cycled to the beach, where I spent most of the day suntanning, swimming in the sea, walking the beach, and reading books. I returned to town in the evenings for more tasty food and explorations of the old town, which is especially romantic at night along the river, with shops lit by lanterns or candles. Too bad I had no romance at the moment.  Instead, I sometimes hung out with a few other travelers I kept bumping into around Vietnam, in particular, a German couple and an Australian couple.one of Hoi An’s elaborate templesI was about to reluctantly leave Hoi An in order to see the rest of Vietnam, when I learned of Hoi An’s monthly full moon festival and, darn, I had to stay one more day.  Not surprisingly, that turned out to be a good thing. Besides the festival, I stumbled upon an international photo exhibit, which must have opened with the festival,  then completely updated my journal, enjoyed the fabulous beach an extra day and got to visit the one temple I kept missing all week.  It was open at night during the festival.river at Hoi An, with traditional wooden boatsThe festival kicked off at dusk, around 6 pm, when the police blocked off the Old Town streets to traffic.  Pedestrians only. The area was darker than usual since electricity was turned off. Instead, the town was illuminated by lanterns. A taikwondo demo by kids and a music/dance/singing performance were held. Many young Vietnamese wandered the dim streets. Candles were floated on the river, in little paper cups, and some other entertainment was on too.  It was a great ending to my Hoi An visit.restored building in Hoi AnOnce again I was reluctant to leave, assuming that the rest of Vietnam couldn’t possibly live up to the place.  But in order to satisfy my curiosity about the rest of the country, I had to press on. Early next morning I began my llllooooonnnnnggggg all day bus ride down the coast to my next destination, which also boasted a famous beach.  Certainly, it couldn’t be too bad.More from down the coast.  cheers, LASHQ: Have you visited any historic towns that were part of the old Asian trading route? Which ones, and what did you think of them?  Share your stories!You might also like:Trip Through Halong Bay Sapa and Vietnam’s Northwest Mountains Hanoi 10 Free Things to do in Hanoi Photo Gallery: Halong Bay———————————————————————————————————————————————————Two Wheels & Rice Fields- The Ultimate Guide to Motorbiking VietnamMy friends and fellow travel bloggers ,  Elise and Anthony Milotic of Positive World Travel, have written this excellent and very thorough guidebook to motorbiking through Vietnam  based on their own motorbike trip through the country.If you’re planning to visit Vietnam and/or you love motorbike travel, check out their awesome guide to get started.Read my review of Two Wheels & Rice Fields—————————————————————————————————————-—————————————————- /* /* 4 comments2 pings Leigh says: 2011/09/28 at 11:06 am (UTC 8 ) ReplyAlso biked in Hue and Hoi-An- in fact most of the way to Ho Chi Minh City. We had torrential rain in Hue so I remember being covered from top to bottom in mud…and eating delicious food. Loved the variety of fruit in Vietnam.Sounds like a very nice & inexpensive trip you did. LASH says: 2011/09/28 at 3:43 pm (UTC 8 ) ReplyHi Leigh! Wow, you cycled through Vietnam! I was too nervous about the traffic, so left my bike in Bangkok and then just rented bikes for day trips everywhere I went. How was cycling there? Did you write about it? If so, which posts? I want to read! cheers, Lash Suzy says: 2011/10/02 at 10:04 pm (UTC 8 ) ReplyThese two towns sound like my pace, a little slower, but not completely dead. I can't believe you got such a hotel for $4! I need to go to Asia just for the hotel prices alone! LASH says: 2011/10/03 at 10:04 am (UTC 8 ) ReplyyEAH, They are GREAT places. i've found that I really love all the old trading port towns around SE Asia. There's also Melaka and Penang in Malaysia.. and all of Singapore. love the architecture. As for the room, that's a pretty standard price for roomsin SE Asia, but that room was definintely fancier than what I usually get for $4. it was wonderful.VIETNAM- TRIP OVERVIEW – LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour says: 2012/02/29 at 2:10 am (UTC 8 ) Reply[…] 10 Free Things to do in Hanoi Trip Through Halong Bay Sapa and the Remote Northwest Mountains Hue and Hoi An Saigon: Unexpected Blast of Urban Clubbing .nrelate_popular .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; } […]PHOTO GALLERY: VIETNAM’S PERFUME RIVER – LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour says: 2012/02/29 at 2:21 am (UTC 8 ) Reply[…] Halong Bay Photo Gallery: Hong Kong Snapshots Photo Gallery: Sri Lanka’s Stormy Coast Story: Hue and Hoi An Story: Trip Through Halong BayStory: Sapa and Vietnam’s Northeast Mountains.nrelate_popular […]Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published.Name:Email:Website:Message:You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> […]

5. TRAIN TO SAPA and VIETNAM'S NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS - LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour

   2012/11/28 at 1:23 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment

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   […] LashWorldTourTravel Blog offering Cultural Insights, Travel Tips, and Tales of Adventure from 14+ years of world travelsHOMEABOUTAbout LashWorldTourAbout LashContactWhat’s in a name?LashWorldTour Travel MapLash’s Travel Fast FactsMissionsWorld Travels Overview: 1991-2011PressDisclaimerCOUNTRIESASIABALI- INDONESIABalinese CultureDiving in BaliBicycling in BaliAmedSanurBali MiscBANGLADESHBRUNEICAMBODIASHANGHAI- CHINAHONG KONGINDONESIABaliJavaLombokJAPANLAOSMALAYSIAKuala LumpurPenangLangkawiBorneoDiving in MalaysiaMalaysia MiscMYANMARNEPALPHILIPPINESSINGAPORESRI LANKATHAILANDVIETNAMAUSTRALIAEUROPEENGLANDSPAINS AMERICABRAZILUSAAdventuresBicycle TravelCycling in Bali SeriesHikingMotorbike TravelScuba DivingSky DivingTravel DisastersWWOOFCruisesTravel TalesCulturePhoto GalleriesTravel Tips10 Free Things to do in… SeriesAccommodation TipsFlight TipsMoney TipsSafety TipsMisc Travel TipsBeyond GuidebooksTravel ResourcesTRAVEL INTERVIEWSBook ReviewsHotel – Tour – Museum ReviewsLINKSTravel StoreFREE eBookTravel Books StoreLash’s Guidebooks to Bali wp_flash_img_show will display here (config: default)« MY SAIGON STORY: AN UNEXPECTED BLAST OF URBAN CLUBBING‘SURVIVOR’ REALITY TV SHOW CREW- INTRO » TRAIN TO SAPA and VIETNAM’S NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS 2010/09/18 by Lash WorldTourTRAIN TO SAPA and VIETNAM’S NORTHWEST MOUNTAINSI never thought I’d be so thrilled to get back to Hanoi, especially since I’d left the city to escape its overwhelming noise and chaos. But by the end of my one-week tour of Vietnam’s NW mountains, I couldn’t wait to escape back to Hanoi. This time I hardly minded the roaring traffic in light of the ease of finding food, being able to communicate, and having interesting shops to visit.My mountain trip hadn’t been all bad though. In fact, it had started out great. I’d left Hanoi by an all-day 10-hour train ride to the small town of Lao Cai on the Chinese border. Most of the day the train had rolled through lovely, endless flat rice fields in Vietnam’s perpetual haze, while Vietnamese country life floated past. Farmers, wearing traditional conical hats, both men and women, were diligently watering fields, gathering big bundles of greens, hoeing soil by hand, and plowing fields with water buffalo. Flocks of ducks paddled in waterways, people lazily pedaled bicycles, children romped about playing games.Sapa-Vietnamlow hills in northeast VietnamIn late afternoon we began passing through low hills which gradually gave way to bigger hills. We ended the trip following the flat, muddy-brown Red River to Lao Cai.locals en route to market near Lao Cai, VietnamI was heading to Lao Cai primarily to visit a remote mountain market town known for the variety of hill tribe people who shop, sell and congregate there. So the next morning I boarded a local bus and headed up into Vietnam’s rugged mountains. For three hours we chugged up steep, winding, narrow roads with sweeping scenic views over mountains, valleys and steeply terraced rice fields. As we grinded higher and higher into increasingly remote mountains, more and more local people packed into the bus. Even hill tribe people in colorful clothing climbed aboard. Each time we stopped to pick up passengers, they heaved packages, boxes or huge bundles of chopped firewood onto the roof.Sapa-Vietnamsweeping mountain views in north VietnamI’m afraid our poor bus was way overloaded with people, firewood and packages as it chugged its weary way up the steep, winding mountain road. But we did finally reach the market and… Wow- explosion of colors.Sapa-Vietnamtribal women at market in north VietnamHmong women in very elaborate, colorful clothes and head wraps filled the market lanes. Their vibrant fabrics, bags, clothes and handicrafts were displayed everywhere. Being a giant sucker for neon colors and exotic goods, I ended up on quite a shopping spree. Oops. But, hey, I’ll probably only be there once and… Christmas was coming soon.Sapa-Vietnamvibrant scarves, bags and hats at marketAfter a day enraptured by the stimulating market, I returned on a local bus down, down, down the mountain roads back to Lao Cai. There I cycled to the Chinese border though, disappointingly, I wasn’t allowed to cross.Sapa-Vietnamborder gate to China at Lao Cai, VietnamInstead, I cycled around Lao Cai town while all the locals nearly lost their eyeballs gaping at me. We all survived. Next morning I boarded a bus to my prime location for this journey: Sapa, a hilltop town in the mountains, formerly a French ‘retreat’ during Vietnam’s French colonial period.Sapa-Vietnamview of Sapa from my balconySapa, I discovered, is still filled with original Colonial French architecture plus lots of new fancy little hotels. It looks like it should be nestled in European rather than SE Asia. Sapa is surrounded by lush terraced rice fields on steep mountain sides, half hidden in fog, and quaint hill tribe villages dotting the deep valleys.Sapa-Vietnammodern buildings in Sapa, on lakeI actually had been hesitant to visit Sapa since it’s the coldest, rainiest place in Vietnam, a weather combo I definitely do not like. Luckily, I’d decided to ‘bear it’ for a few days. It was not really sooo cold, especially after feeling chilly in Australia for 9 months. Besides, I had a fantastic room with a big double bed, cable TV, private bath and windows/balcony overlooking the hilly town plaza and surrounding mountains, all for $4 US. I must have had the best room in Sapa (or at least the best $4 room).Grand Hotel in SapaOutside, along Sapa’s streets, a great variety of tasty cold-weather food awaited me: grilled sweet potatoes, corn, chicken, rice cakes, soups and more. Sapa, I found out, is known for its strong locally  made rice wines. A Sapa man shared some with me one night where I stopped to eat. Whew, strong stuff.local houses and gardens in SapaFor three days I explored the town, made discoveries, and hiked the roads leading out of Sapa.  Every day was an adventure: new foods, new places, new people, and funny or nutty interactions with locals, since I can’t speak Vietnamese. In fact, it was rather more fun to not speak the language. I often didn’t actually know what’s happening nor sure of information. I just had to deal with not knowing what was going on. Sure beat ‘dull’ Australia.local tribal kids on road near SapaOne day I took a guided trek through the valleys, visiting three villages of three different tribal people. I discovered that those villages, which from afar look like quaint, idyllic villages nestled in peaceful mountains, are a completely different matter up close. Narrow, muddy tracks full of animal shit lead between houses built of wood with no windows (read ‘dark’), no furniture, and sporting dirt floors. Not pleasant places. Must be hell in the rain. Despite animal stench and muddy shoes, the day was a great adventure. We returned to Sapa in the evening, where I treated myself to a ‘foot’ massage and sauna.Lash in tribal village with kids near SapaThe ‘foot’ massage turned out to be a whole body massage,which cost all of $4 US for an hour. Afterwards, I proceeded to the sauna place I’d seen… Hmmmm… red lights, a sleazy looking receptionist, girls giggling in an unseen room, a jacuzzi room sporting peeling paint, dirty curtains, cheap plastic flowers and cheesy pictures of semi-nude women… hmmm… I do believe I visited a brothel! Luckily (or unluckily?) nothing eventful happened to me there. I just relaxed in an herbal steam room, sauna and jacuzzi, while a ‘guard’ sat nearby. It was all a little weird but, hey, it only cost me $2 for that quirky adventure. And that was the grande finale to my visit of Sapa.northern Vietnam’s misty mountainsOnce I left Sapa my trip deteriorated rapidly. I could have returned to Hanoi the way I’d arrived, but I was set on taking the longer route back through Vietnam’s rugged northwest mountains, promised in guidebooks to have “the most beautiful road in Vietnam” and “the highest mountain pass in the country” and “villages set in lovely valleys”. How could I resist?more mistly mountain views in northwest VietnamThe next morning I boarded another local bus for an all day ride to a small remote village. I must admit that the steep winding roads and panoramic views were quite astounding. Vietnam’s Northwest mountains are simply gorgeous. Unfortunately for me, our destination was a total dump: a tiny filthy ugly village, where it was difficult to find food and locals just stared at me dumbfounded, not returning a smile or a hello. I suddenly remembered that such remote places usually don’t work too well for me with my piercings, tattoos and fuchsia hair. The village wasn’t quiet either. Despite it being a tiny village, it was practically quaking with horn-honking motorcycles and loud Vietnamese yelling continuously. If anything, I discovered, Vietnamese country folk are louder than their city brethren in Hanoi. I did have to spend the night there, but you can bet I got the earliest bus out the next morning.locals along road in northwest VietnamThat entailed yet another all-day bus ride on more winding mountain roads, up over one mountain, through the next valley, up over the next mountain ad infinim. Let me detail the bus experience a bit more vividly since that’s what I did for four full days:We averaged about 100 km (62miles) in 3 hours. Yep, that’s right, 20 miles an hour. That seems quite unbelievable, I know, but strangely the buses don’t feel like they’re going slowly. They travel at a speed appropriate to the roads. It’s just that the roads are so steep, winding and narrow, and the buses so overloaded, that 35 km/hour is just about a safe pace. On top of that, local buses are not simply passenger buses but also cargo service.more steeply terraced fields and mountainsGenerally the aisles are completely filled up to hip level with huge bags. Passengers climb over them to get in/out of their seats. The roof is usually crammed with bags, packages, bicycles, boxes, whatever. Stopping to pick up or drop off a load takes a long time. Then there’s the 1 1/2 hour lunch break. And sometimes the driver stops to visit his mother or grandmother or friends while passing through. Not kidding. One driver stopped to chat with friends playing billiards, roadside. The bus driver’s goal is definitely not to reach the destination quickly or directly. Bus trips are an involved journey. While that was quite frustrating, I did truly get a taste for local Vietnamese life (maybe more like a bite). And, hey, I wasn’t in any hurry to get to… the next horrid town for the night.That’s basically how I spent the next four days after Sapa: riding a bus all day, ending at some nasty dirty town where it was hard to find food, where I couldn’t communicate with anyone, and where the locals just gaped at me. Hey, I know I’m not a typical tourist, but they don’t have to stare.Ah, yes, there was also the day I spent sick in Sonla town. I’d made a stupid food decision and ended up exhausted with diarrhea. At least it wasn’t too bad: no cramps or pain or feeling horrible. Exhaustion’s not so bad: just rest, sleep and read.flat rice fieldsFinally I recovered and set out for my last bus ride: to Hanoi. As you can imagine, I could hardly wait to get back to ‘civilization’. Food. Easy communication. Interesting shops. Happily, that bus made faster progress on flat roads through rice fields. But we still had our 1 1/2 hour lunch break, pee break in the forest, and even a stop to wash the bus. I almost lost the plot at the bus wash station. WTF? The bus needs to be clean for Hanoi’s polluted haze? How did my patience ever survive?We did, in fact, eventually reach Hanoi. I was beaming. However, suddenly huge swarms of traffic engulfed our bus, masses of people crammed the sidewalks and the deafening noise of urban humanity assaulted our ears. Hanoi is truly overpopulated. I hardly cared this time. With a huge grin plastered across my face and eyes gleaming, I promptly visited my favorite fruit shake stall and local restaurant. Whew, out of the hills and back to civilization. Next time I’d leave Hanoi, I’d take a train.peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake, HanoiNext adventures coming soon… cheers, Lash————————————————————————————————————————————-—————————Two Wheels & Rice Fields- The Ultimate Guide to Motorbiking VietnamMy friends and fellow travel bloggers ,  Elise and Anthony Milotic of Positive World Travel, have written this excellent and very thorough guidebook to motorbiking through Vietnam  based on their own motorbike trip through the country.If you’re planning to visit Vietnam and/or you love motorbike travel, check out their awesome guide to get started.Read my review of Two Wheels & Rice Fields——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————You might also like:Hanoi 10 Free Things to do in Hanoi Trip Through Halong Bay Photo Gallery: Halong Bay Photo Gallery: Hong Kong SnapshotsLashWorldTour  HOME——————————————————————————————————————————————————— /* /* 2 comments2 pings Suzy says: 2011/09/18 at 11:45 pm (UTC 8 ) ReplyI know what you mean about leaving the city for the country and then yearning to get back to the city. It's funny how we go to away and then after a time need that chaos. LASH says: 2011/09/19 at 8:59 am (UTC 8 ) ReplyMaybe as itchy travelers we just need change of scenery? Thanks for stopping by, as usual. cheersVIETNAM- TRIP OVERVIEW – LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour says: 2012/02/29 at 2:12 am (UTC 8 ) Reply[…] VietnamHope you enjoy the tales…Hanoi 10 Free Things to do in Hanoi Trip Through Halong Bay Sapa and the Remote Northwest Mountains Hue and Hoi An Saigon: Unexpected Blast of Urban Clubbing .nrelate_popular .nr_sponsored{ left:0px […]CRUISING INTO BRUNEI COUNTRY – LashWorldTour says: 2012/06/07 at 7:22 pm (UTC 8 ) Reply[…] Miri before venturing up Sarawak’s mysterious jungle rivers. You might also like: Sapa and Vietnam’s Northwest MountainsTrip Through Halong Bay, VietnamGuide to Scuba Diving in Malaysia10 Free Things to do in Kuala […]Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published.Name:Email:Website:Message:You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> […]

6. MY SAIGON STORY: AN UNEXPECTED BLAST OF URBAN CLUBBING - LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour

   2012/11/28 at 1:30 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment

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   […] LashWorldTourTravel Blog offering Cultural Insights, Travel Tips, and Tales of Adventure from 14+ years of world travelsHOMEABOUTAbout LashWorldTourAbout LashContactWhat’s in a name?LashWorldTour Travel MapLash’s Travel Fast FactsMissionsWorld Travels Overview: 1991-2011PressDisclaimerCOUNTRIESASIABALI- INDONESIABalinese CultureDiving in BaliBicycling in BaliAmedSanurBali MiscBANGLADESHBRUNEICAMBODIASHANGHAI- CHINAHONG KONGINDONESIABaliJavaLombokJAPANLAOSMALAYSIAKuala LumpurPenangLangkawiBorneoDiving in MalaysiaMalaysia MiscMYANMARNEPALPHILIPPINESSINGAPORESRI LANKATHAILANDVIETNAMAUSTRALIAEUROPEENGLANDSPAINS AMERICABRAZILUSAAdventuresBicycle TravelCycling in Bali SeriesHikingMotorbike TravelScuba DivingSky DivingTravel DisastersWWOOFCruisesTravel TalesCulturePhoto GalleriesTravel Tips10 Free Things to do in… SeriesAccommodation TipsFlight TipsMoney TipsSafety TipsMisc Travel TipsBeyond GuidebooksTravel ResourcesTRAVEL INTERVIEWSBook ReviewsHotel – Tour – Museum ReviewsLINKSTravel StoreFREE eBookTravel Books StoreLash’s Guidebooks to Bali wp_flash_img_show will display here (config: default)« TRAVEL STORY: TENT ESCAPADETRAIN TO SAPA and VIETNAM’S NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS » MY SAIGON STORY: AN UNEXPECTED BLAST OF URBAN CLUBBING 2010/09/18 by Lash WorldTourWelcome! If it’s your first time here, you might want to subscribe to my free  monthly newsletter. Thank you! —>Hoi An- Vietnamriverside in Hoi An, central VietnamMY SAIGON STORY: AN UNEXPECTED BLAST OF URBAN CLUBBINGI was rather dreading going to Saigon after my relaxing 2 weeks inlaid-back, quiet, central Vietnam. Remembering Hanoi’s noisy chaotic traffic and pushy people, I wasn’t too eager to leave the beach, even if it was a dirty messy fishing beach. But it was time to press on. Another half day bus ride, in the rain this time, and by evening I was in Saigon.fishing village in central VietnamI had some surprises in store. We reached the city center and… GLITTER! Big international 5-star hotels, neon lights, international company logos…whoa! This wasn’t like Hanoi at all. Saigon is much more developed and international. There are way more cars, much fewer bicycles, and all the traffic drives very fast and recklessly. Despite that, Saigon is surprisingly quieter than Hanoi.  Saigonese aren’t horn-addicts. A great discovery.Saigon at night, from the HiltonAs soon as I found a room, I eagerly went out strolling to check out the glitter. I quickly realized the city has a faster, harder, wilder edge than Hanoi. And lots of young trendy people are out roaming around. Hmmm… looked like Saigon could actually be fun, rather than a drag.Saigon BarIt didn’t take me long to find the nightlife. Saigon is full of bars and dance clubs. And they are full of beautiful, stylish young party people! Yippie! I quickly set to clubbing every night, dancing hard until 3:00am, nearly reversing my long-standing schedule of awakening around 6:00 am. I was thrilled to find myself excited about dancing at long last. Somehow back in Australia in May I’d suddenly, completely, lost my  interest in dancing, to my astonishment. I hadn’t recovered until now.Vietnamese bartender putting on a showOddly, the Saigon clubs close at midnight. That’s mighty early. So I began my nights early at big dance clubs full of Vietnamese youth vigorously dancing up a storm to most excellent music. At midnight I’d head over to the more seedy bars, mostly full of beautiful young Vietnamese ‘taxi girls’ (basically prostitutes) and western men (mostly much older Germans). Mixed in the crowd were gays, transvestites and some straighter travelers gawking at the wildness. Everyone had a blast drinking, chatting, dancing, and watching the crazy antics of the Vietnamese ‘hookers’. Fun stuff.Saigon’s go-go areaOnce I discovered the great night scene, I considered staying an extra week to continue dancing. But after 3 consecutive nights of hardcore dancing until the wee hours, my body was getting pretty trashed, even though clubbing completely sober. I decided I’d just as well move on to Cambodia and new adventures. So I got a massage to soothe my poor, pounded muscles and booked a bus to Phnom Phen, Cambodia.(* photo credits: photos from Flicr Creative Commons authors: alex.ch  / numberjuan2 / seafaringwoman / JeremyVandel *)——————————————————————————————————————————-————————Two Wheels & Rice Fields – ebook – positive world travelTwo Wheels & Rice Fields- The Ultimate Guide to Motorbiking VietnamMy friends and fellow travel bloggers ,  Elise and Anthony Milotic of Positive World Travel, have written this excellent and very thorough guidebook to motorbiking through Vietnam  based on their own motorbike trip through the country.If you’re planning to visit Vietnam and/or you love motorbike travel, check out their awesome guide to get started.Read my review of Two Wheels & Rice Fields———————————————————————————————————————————————————————You might also like:Hue and Hoi An Trip Through Halong Bay Hanoi Sapa and Vietnam’s Remote Northeast Mountains 10 Free Things to do in Hanoi LashWorldTour HOME——————————————————————————————————————————————— /* /* Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published.Name:Email:Website:Message:You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> […]

7. MOTORCYCLES: My New Favorite Mode of Transportation! - LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour

   2012/11/30 at 11:26 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment

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   […] LashWorldTourTravel Blog offering Cultural Insights, Travel Tips, and Tales of Adventure from 14+ years of world travelsHOMEABOUTAbout LashWorldTourAbout LashContactWhat’s in a name?LashWorldTour Travel MapLash’s Travel Fast FactsMissionsWorld Travels Overview: 1991-2011PressDisclaimerCOUNTRIESASIABALI- INDONESIABalinese CultureDiving in BaliBicycling in BaliAmedSanurBali MiscBANGLADESHBRUNEICAMBODIASHANGHAI- CHINAHONG KONGINDONESIABaliJavaLombokJAPANLAOSMALAYSIAKuala LumpurPenangLangkawiBorneoDiving in MalaysiaMalaysia MiscMYANMARNEPALPHILIPPINESSINGAPORESRI LANKATHAILANDVIETNAMAUSTRALIAEUROPEENGLANDSPAINS AMERICABRAZILUSAAdventuresBicycle TravelCycling in Bali SeriesHikingMotorbike TravelScuba DivingSky DivingTravel DisastersWWOOFCruisesTravel TalesCulturePhoto GalleriesTravel Tips10 Free Things to do in… SeriesAccommodation TipsFlight TipsLuxury Travel TipsMoney TipsSafety TipsMisc Travel TipsBeyond GuidebooksTravel ResourcesTRAVEL INTERVIEWSBook ReviewsHotel – Tour – Museum ReviewsLINKSTravel StoreFREE eBookTravel Books StoreLash’s Guidebooks to Bali wp_flash_img_show will display here (config: default)« LashWorldTour NEWS: I’ve been interviewed on SheLovesToTravel BlogTravel Tales: Round Up of My Best Day Cruises » MOTORCYCLES: My New Favorite Mode of Transportation! 2012/11/27 by Lash WorldTourloving my rental motorbike in Bali!MOTORCYCLES: My New Favorite Mode of Transportation!I never thought I’d see the day when I liked motorbikes, let alone declare them as my favorite mode of transportation!I’ve been terrified of motorbikes my whole life. They always seemed so exceptionally dangerous to me.notice my hip bag strapped on my hips while I’m cycling…Besides, I’m a bicyclist and fitness chick! I’ve been diligently riding a bicycle for transportation, for exercise, for pleasure and for long-distance travel ever since I was in university. I’ve bicycled all over Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali and through parts of many other countries. For years I have rarely been separated from my trusty bicycle.Why would I want to drive a motorbike? Besides being dangerous, they’re noisy and polluting. No thanks!But sometime, somehow during my vast world travels my views started ever so gradually to shift.More precisely, a few years ago in Thailand, in my mid-30s, I actually mounted a motorbike for the first time in my life, much to my own surprise and terror. A laid-back Thai guy I’d met in a rural area of south Thailand took me on a motorbike sight-seeing excursion around his hometown. We visited a local temple and a famous lake.Being totally clueless about motorbike travel, I assumed that a motorcycle passenger had to hold on tightly to the driver one way or other in order to not fall off. I proceeded to squeeze poor Chai with my hulky bicycling thighs all day long, while I gently clutched his shoulders.He commented repeatedly, “Wow, you have really strong legs.” In hindsight, I presume he was trying to give me the hint that I didn’t need to hold so tightly. But indirect hints usually fly right over my head.At the time, I just innocently agreed that, yes, my legs were strong from cycling and years of ballet training. But by the end of the day, I came to realize that it wasn’t crucial for a motorbike passenger to hold on to the driver.Riding with Harley Club in Phuket – ThailandAfter that enjoyable motorbike tour, I began catching local motorcycle taxis for short town trips in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia… wherever they were convenient. I also hung out with a Harley Motorcycle Club in Phuket one year. I gradually got accustomed to riding on a motorbike and lost my uncontrollable fear. “Motorbikes might be ok,” I thought.Still, I never attempted to drive one myself until 2010. I was teaching scuba diving in remote Amed, Bali. My usual mode of transportation around Bali was by bicycle.But the extremely hilly terrain in Amed turned me off of bicycling on a daily basis to and from diving jobs. In fact, it wouldn’t have been possible as I would have faced a serious risk of decompression sickness. Besides, I never would have had enough energy on top of daily scuba diving.So I needed motorized wheels. I forced myself to acknowledge that I needed to drive a motorbike. I convinced myself that I could drive a motorbike.learning to drive a motorbike in rural BaliOnce I wrapped my head around that concept, I found a local guy renting bikes by the month. He and a couple of my dive colleagues taught me how to drive on Amed’s quiet village roads. I practiced driving back and forth through town. Gradually I drove a bit further, took some turns, drove a bit faster, and eventually tried a steep curving hill. I did it!Training over, I promptly rented my very first motorbike and began driving every day on Amed’s steep winding headlands and valleys. I even got to enjoy it. Suddenly, I could do a lot more things and go many more places. I wasn’t confined solely to one bay in Amed.I had freedom and independence. I could even drive to nearby Amlapura city to buy supplies. And I could take leisurely pleasure drives on my infrequent days off. I discovered that motorbiking was grand!great rural roads in Bali – en route to Mt Agung from AmedAt the end of the dive season, in preparation for writing my guidebook Cycling Bali, I made a bold move. I drove my motorbike the entire way around Bali island. I drove up all of Bali’s major volcanoes, through most of its twisting mountain roads, along all of Bali’s extensive coastlines and the island’s charming interior roads.I loved it!Motorbiking made climbing hills sooo much easier than a bicycle! I was impressed. I could go much farther, see a lot more, and still have energy afterward. I was converted to a motorcycle enthusiast.I liked it so much that when I returned to Bali this year, I decided to rent a motorbike again if it was useful to my travels around Indonesia. It was, and I did. In fact, I rented a motorbike from the same Balinese guy I had two years ago.drive through banyan tree in Bali’s central mountainsThis year I drove the entire way around Bali again, visited all of my favorite spots, and even discovered several new places. I’ve uncovered Bali’s most scenic and least trafficked roads. I’ve been able to complete my visa extensions by myself, since I could visit the Indonesian Immigration offices on my own (sometimes quite distant). And I drive up and down Bali’s volcanoes numerous times, all without getting exhausted.Three months after arriving in Indonesia, I traveled over to Lombok island, Bali’s nearest neighbor to the east. I promptly rented a motorbike in Mataram city and drove the entire way around that island as well. It was ideal, especially since Lombok’s roads are practically empty but (mostly) in excellent condition.typical empty road along Lombok’s stunning west coastI had intended to drive across Sumbawa, Komodo and Flores islands, too. Quite unfortunately, my visa extension process at Mataram became so complicated that I had to stay on Lombok for three entire weeks! So much for Flores and Komodo dragons.Oops, I almost forgot to mention my other motorbike excursions outside of Indonesia. Earlier this year I rented motorbikes several times on Penang and Langkawi islands in Malaysia. Those were simple day trips to explore the islands. Each time I completely enjoyed driving my motorbike, exploring new places, and stopping wherever, whenever I wanted. Having my own wheels (whether bicycle or motorboke) is so much better than relying on public transportation.Now that I’m a motorcycle enthusiast, I can hardly wait to drive motorbikes in other countries!riding a rental motorbike in Penang – MalaysiaGreat points about motorbike travel:Basically, it boils down to having freedom and independence.* I have my own wheels, which makes me independent from public transportation* I’m not stuck to following bus schedules and routes* I can access places that are difficult or impossible by public transport* I can hop on my bike and travel anytime / anywhere I want* I can usually avoid traffic jams by weaving around cars, buses, trucks (bigger vehicles that are stuck)* While driving, I’m outside, surrounded by nature (as opposed to being confined inside a car or bus)* I can go further and faster than by bicycle* There’s little physical exertion required* Particularly, it’s much easier for climbing hills and mountains* Inexpensive petrol. Great gas mileage. In some ways, motorcycle travel is even better than bicycle travel:* I can go further and faster than by bicycle* Much less physical exertion required Bicycling in BaliOn the other hand, motorbiking does have some disadvantages over bicycles:* Noisy engines* Engine noise blocks out sounds of nature* Have to buy petrol* They’re polluting* Driving is tiring but I get no exercise* For long distances, driving strains the eyes, back and hands* Motorbikes are terrible in bad weather- rain, cold, full sun. You’re fully exposed to the elements* Accidents have very bad consequencesDespite these disadvantages, particularly the engine noise and lack of exercise, I still love driving a motorbike and can’t wait to do more biking in other countries.QUESTIONS: Do you drive a motorbike?If so, what do you love about it?If not, would you like to? Why or why not?Have you ever driven a motorbike in a foreign country?———————————————————————————————————————————————– If motorbike travel in foreign countries sounds fun and interesting to you, check out this great guidebook to Motorbiking Vietnam: Two Wheels & Rice Fields – The Ultimate Guide to Motorbiking VietnamTwo Wheels & Rice Fields- The Ultimate Guide to Motorbiking VietnamMy friends and fellow travel bloggers,  Elise and Anthony Milotic of Positive World Travel, have written this excellent and very thorough guidebook to motorbiking through Vietnam  based on their own motorbike trip through the country.If you’re planning to visit Vietnam and/or you love motorbike travel, check out their awesome guide to get started.Read my review of Two Wheels & Rice Fields———————————————————————————————————————————————— /* /* Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published.Name:Email:Website:Message:You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> […]