Where the hell are we?

Hi everyone! Imagine our delight to find an internet connection here in wherever we are. (Mark says we're in Buon Ma Thuot - or something like that)

We have spent 2 days riding with our Easy Riders - and are having a lot of fun. The weather has held out, so far so good. A spit of rain today, but no downpours, so we are very lucky. In fact, a few lucky things have happened. Like we both got a lucky leech on our leg! And at Lak Lake we toured around a M'Nong village, and there were very many Vietnamese pot-bellied piggies. Apparently, also lucky. Not to worry about the leeches, it's all good and they don't hurt.

We feel very lucky to have one of the original Dalat Easy Riders touring us around. Thiet (Mark's rider's name) has been taking tourists on the back of his bike for 15 years or so. He seems to know everyone, so we have been able to go into people's houses and get a glimpse of how they live.

We've been eating with the locals - and the food has been very, very good. Nice and fresh, with great flavour. Can't wait for the cooking classes in Hoi An!

At one stop (where the photo was taken) there were a group of teachers celebrating the end of the school year. Rice wine (medicine wine, according to my rider) was flowing rather freely. They wanted the foreigners to have a drink as well, of course, so of course we obliged. What glee they showed when I downed my shot!

The scenery has been spectacular. Lots of rice paddies, which are a gorgeous color of green. We have seen all manner of fruits and vegetables in both the markets and growing in gardens. I even saw, for the first time, a pomegranite tree. Sadly, they aren't in season.

The church in the photos was bombed during the war. We haven't seen as much evidence of war as I thought we might. At least not so far. There's one day to go (on the bikes, that is).

Being on the back of a motorcycle with a guide is the best way to get off the beaten track that I can think of. You have a built in interpreter, so communication with locals is possible. Plus, you get off the major roads that the buses travel on. This was a very, very good idea.

We had a lot of fun reading posts. Joanna, I hope your keyboard gets better. And Terry, yes, Mark is here, but he's the official photographer, so not in many photos. We have to head to dinner soon, so no time to thank everyone personally. Just know that Mark says that reading posts is almost as good as post restante (but I think it's better!)

Tomorrow we'll be in Nha Trang and then we take the overnight bus to Hoi An, where we can hang for a few days. Apparently it's the place to get clothes made, which is good because I think I have to burn the ones I've been riding in. I'm sure there will be internet connections galore, so we will post more then.

BTW, there's nothing better than a shower after a long dusty day on the back of a bike!

Cheers!