A day off from cycling today, and I was quite happy for the break. We had an almost 5 hour speedboat trip up the Mekong River, crossing the border into Cambodia. It was possible to be inside in comfortable seats on the boat, or outside in the wind, so the time went quickly as we watched life on the river…
Cycling Day 5: Can Tho to Chau Doc — 40 miles
We started the day by getting on a boat at the river walk to take us to the Cai Rang Floating Market in the Mekong River. Basically a fruit and vegetable wholesale market on boats, it’s even divided in sections based on what is being sold, which can be identified by what is hung from the poles. Among the market…
Cycling Day 3: Cai Be to Can Tho — 52 miles
We were picked up from the Lodge by a small boat to take us across the river to meet the bicycles and begin our long ride. Our guide taught us about water hyacinths, which grow naturally in the Mekong, and are both the source of multiple uses, and celebrated in poetry. The large leaves are used as a decorative means…
Cycling Day 2: Wednesday, January 11 — 32 miles
Today we headed south toward Cai Be in the Mekong Delta. It was another almost 2 hour van transfer to get to our starting point, but once there, it was lovely cycling along various tributaries of the Mekong River (which means Mother River — it is one of the longest in the world). The paths were at times gravel, rough…
Cycling Day 1: Tuesday, January 10 — 20 miles
Once again it’s been proven that the people I meet on these active adventures are like minded, well-travelled and interesting companions. After being fitted for our bikes on Monday afternoon we enjoyed a lovely group dinner. On our cycling adventure we have a couple of retired litigators from NYC, retired pediatricians from Oregon, a dad and daughter celebrating her college…
Ho Chi Minh City, Part 2
Most guidebooks suggest about 10 sights to see or things to do while here, and Donna and I had agreed to try to see as many off them as possible before we are to meet up with our cycling group and leave the city on Tuesday. Cutting through a local park enroute to a famed pagoda across town we were…
Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon)
I arrived very late last night, (Friday January 6 in this part of the world) and successfully connected with my travel mate for this first part of the trip. I met Donna in NZ last year, and we discovered a common interest in travel and so will explore Vietnam and Cambodia together. The airport was crazy busy, as were the…
“Not all those who wander are lost.”
January 5, 2017 begins my latest journey. A 5 month odyssey to SE Asia, Australia and Japan. Some parts will be explored with friends I’ve met on other travels, and in other places I will be alone, challenging myself to new adventures. I am off to explore and to experience and to see the world from a different perspective. A new…
May 28: Luxury
This will be the last post of this adventure. Because today barely qualifies, and tomorrow will be just a road trip driving home from Phoenix to Los Angeles. But today was recuperation and luxury and the recognition of how very lucky I am to have to had the chance to see such amazing places on this trip. I’m at a…
May 27: And we’re out — The Falls to Hilltop
We had to be packed up by 5:45AM so that we could load our gear onto the pack mules, eat some breakfast and get on the trail by 6:30. There were many people heading out, and most started as early or earlier than we did. Once on the trail in the canyon the sun really makes it more difficult. So…