Dah Da Dah... headed down the highway

What an amazing sitght!! I am standing here and seeing for the first time,  an ocean that is as flat as a mirror. As usual, a breeze has picked up and I meissed the photo…

Drifter checked in and we made our introductions. We hit it off right away and decided that a tour around the city was in order. I was in the mood to do some exploring, and he was interested in familiarizing himself with the city. Sooooooo off we went, to big men on a motorbike with a basket to carry puffy things. We must have been a sight, maneuvering down tight alleyways into areas that see no westerners. We stopped for a few photos along the way and spent a pleasant afternoon going places that many will never see. The evening ended with us sitting in the front door, acknowledging all of the beautiful smiles that came our way and occasionally having to catch each others attention to point out something the other may have missed. A couple of days were spent this way and after Drifter became comfortable with the traffic it was time for a ROAD TRIP!!

road side rest stop

Drifter served in the Cam Ranh area about 45 Kilometers south of NhaTrang. We decided we would go for a drive in the area and see some of his old stomping grounds. I had not been there before, so it was a good chance to increase my knowledge of the area. As we were heading out of NhaTrang onto a beautiful highway that runs along the mountains to the Cam Ranh Airport. Drifter elected to drive Li’l sissy and I rode on Puffy. Well!!….. we were not even at the city limits when Puffy started to act up. For no reason I lost my clutch in 4^th gear. If I put the throttle up all I could do in increase the engine speed…. Hmmmmm. I stopped and again moved forward shifting through all the

Seaside seafood BBQ

gears. Whatever happened was a mystery. It has not happened since. I was a bit nervous however, as the new road we were travelling has very little in the way of services to be had. My fear was for not and on we continued. 

The road to Cam Ranh airport is new is very scenic. After leaving NhaTrang it winds around a mountain and then follows the edge of other mountains. Here we pass the newly built Diamond Bay resort. The resort was host to the 2008 miss universe pagent and is quite the facility. It can host very large events and is currently adding an 18 hole golf course along the Oceanside. I can see it becoming a very popular destination in the near future, but now we

the white sands of the peninsula

 continue down the road. It is a beautiful and quiet drive with the ocean on one side, the mountain on the other. We weave along until the spectacular sight of The peninsula and the white sands of long beach. As we travel down from the mountain to the flat sandy peninsula we can see a series for structured built on the beach front with tranquil blue waters. These are a series of BBQ seafood restaurants. People I have talked to rave about them and one day I will visit, but for now, Drifter and I just rode in for a look. After a short conversation with a local woman about the food, we continued on towards Cam Ranh Bay. We pass the soon to be international airport, and reach the yip of the peninsula. Here there are military basses and installations that are limiting our exploration. There is a

A sign in front or the interesting building I wanted to see

beautiful building in the distance I would like to check out, but the no photo signs say it all…. Oh… I include a photo of it from a distance. Drifter starts to tell me stories of the area and the adventures of a 19 year old kid posted here. We cross the same bridge he crossed many times in the past and stopped on the other side to take a photo of some oyster farms. And then from a steep hill beside the ocean we are spotted by some Vietnamese fisher women. They came scrambling up the hill and started chattering at us. They were surprised that we both had some

a cool looking building

 basic Vietnamese skills, and I started things off by telling the women that I was married, but Drifter was available. Well, well, well….. I was able to quickly let them know that a second wife was not in the cards for me, and got to enjoy how Drifter was the center of attention. After a little good fun we continued on and arrived in Cam Ranh city. We lunched and went for a drive through some of the small streets and lanes that I am sure has never been stepped on by a westerner.  Much like a trail ride,

the bridge to Cam Ranh

we bumped and grinded our way along until finally emerging back to highway 1.

Driving on the Main highway that runs the length of the country is not for the feint of heart. I can honestly say that driving on the highway is way more dangerous than negotiating city traffic. The road is 2 lanes and shared by large busses and trucks that will mot yield for anything. They will pass each other in the most dangerous of places, forcing the vehicle onto the shoulder lane where you are likely driving. A person has to watch everywhere all the time. It took an hour and a half to run the gauntlet back to NhaTrang. As we approached NhaTrang we turned down the wrong road in our efforts to go in the back way. By now or old butts were hurting and even though there were some interesting sights, It was time to head home. We did find the back road and almost to the city….. Puffy started to huff and puff. It was like riding a bucking bronco. I powered down, and then re-accelerated. The problem disappeared….. hmmmm Something is afoot!! At least Li’l sissy did us proud.

insert fisherwomen chasing us here

As drifter now knows, my memory can be a bit bad, so….. Drifter!! If you read these next few posts of our adventures and have something to add…… please do. I do not think there is a limit on the comment section.

Tomorrow guess what!!!! Another road trip!!!

Wicker is a very decorative and durable material. We went to a tiny store and looked in a small showroom at some furniture to put in the hotel. I saw very little that I liked, so I mentioned that I did not see what I was looking for. He lit up and then motioned me to follow. We exited the back door and shockingly, I was in a very large yarded area with a factory the size of a football field. I went into the factory, and there was what I was looking for. I ended up ordering a reception desk, Reception furniture, and complete tables and chairs for 7 rooms, atprice much less than you would think. The furnature will be delivered a few days before we take over. I was also given a gift from the boss. He informed me that he could design anything I require, just take a photo for what I want, or draw it, and it will be done. Wow!

In 1999 there was almost no refridgeration so if a person wanted something cold, it was from an Icecream vendor. There were and still are, specialty ice cream shops, but in the stores or on the street there were few. Kem as it is called is wheeled around on pedal bikes and only one flavor is available. Vanilla with a mild taste of duran. Duran is a very pungent smelling fruit that many westerners find repelling, but once over it, duran tastes quite good in my opinion. In 1999, it was a real ice cream sandwich. two scoops stuffed in bread similar to our off the shelf sandwich brands. I always got a kick from this. Now I see that cones are offered. The cone is topped with two scoops, a little sweetened condensed milk, ans sprinkled with peanuts. The price is 20 cents if I recall correctly. There are also motorcycle Kem Vendors, but they mostly offer the more modern drumstick, or revell style. I have as of yet to see a popsicle.

Road Trip!!

Brad and I are thinking of jumping a bus and headed out for a few days now that most of the critical decisions have been made on the business. Mai is now confident that I can travel here without a baby sitter.  Cell phones here work country wide, se we are only a call away if needed. Hopefully I will have time tomorrow to post as usual, but If I do not, I may be in a place that has no internet connection…..

We will see………Let another adventure begin

Yesterday we drank way too much coffee. First coffee at home, then off to the coffee shop in a rush to write the blog. While sitting there, Brad received a text message for us to meet a friend  for coffee, so off we went to join him for coffee. Mr. Linh is a man who lives here, speaks good English, and befriended Brad on his last trip. At this moment, he is sitting across from me talking to his family in Canada. We are waiting for a motorcycle to be delivered. With the help of my nephew, Brad is purchasing a used motorbike. It makes sense, it will be almost the same cost to rent one for the time he is here. We will be doing some road trips, so stay tuned for the adventure……

I have come to the conclusion that Vietnam is a dangerous place for kids. I personally do not know of a single adult that does not bear some kind of scar from a childhood accident, and if somehow they manage to pull it off, they then have to deal with the hazard of riding a bicycle in this traffic. I have more than once come close to colliding with kids, weaving unexpectedly into my path. The structures in which they live and play are all constructed from brick, cement, and concrete. Marble and ceramic is used to finish interiors. Barbed and broken glass fences protect the properties. Thorned trees and sharp grasses along with other jungle type hazards are plentiful. In to city, I have seen transformer boxes on electric poles open with bare wires at knee level. Even in my own house… My nephew’s son came running into the room crying he had been bit by something. When we went to look, we discovered that a hot bare wire was cut flush with the wall, and a curious kid was wondering what it was.

I see many kids playing in the streets with objects that we would take away from them immediately. Sticks, stones, rusted chunks of tin, items picked up from garbage piles. All things that can cut or bruise. I have to give them credit though, they are tough little buggers. I see them run down gravel roads in bare feet to kick back a soccer ball worn to the point of bursting. I see others fence with tree branches and land blows that would fell an adult. My own nephew is missing one eye from this past activity. Some toys I see the young children play with that would be banned in Canada with small parts that can be swallowed, and probably are. I have seen a lot of burn marks from contact with hot motorcycle exhaust pipes.

Another hazard that is shared by all people, not just the kids, are the uneven sidewalks, curbs, or lack of them. Also, motorbikes are parked everywhere. There may not be room for a pedestrian to walk as the sidewalk is being used in some manner for a business, or parking area. The walk in front of the business is often reshaped into something different making is so uneven, that a person has to constantly be looking where they are stepping.  Things may be changing a bit. I have seen some kids in the city playing with more toys than in the past. Maybe people are making more money, or maybe toys are finally being imported. There are many more things here that can break toes, or cut limbs. Children here have to learn very fast and very young how to prevent injury.

Now….. Brad and I are off for an adventurous driving lesson. He has some limited experience with the rules of the road, but a person can not really know how to drive here until immersed in its madness. Should make for some interesting comments……