Face Story

Running on a rain soaked combination of crushed rock and dirt, even from a distance I am impressed by the determination on her face.

This is life beyond the village of Sapa as we travel north toward the Chinese border.   No running water, in-door plumbing and for the most part, no electricity.

The distance between these pics is less than 20 miles, the story in their faces places them worlds apart.

The Other Mile High Club

Having sex in a cramped and unsanitary bathroom on a crowded commercial airline, is to some, a right of passage.  Calling it the mile high club may be overselling what it really is.

What if I said the real club is to jump into a plastic airplane with no engine and be dragged to that mile high destination by a crop duster.   Does that sound more enticing?  No, I do not have a death wish.

We hit 6000 feet indicated, 780 foot sea level minus 6000 feet you get the mile.  I pull the little yellow rubber nob, the plane breaks left we break right and the fun begins. We circle, climb in absolute silence. There is no turbulence, no bumps, nothing just flight in it's purest form.  A red tail hawk finds a cloud and circles above us.

I try my hand at piloting and after about 10 minutes I am happy to leave the work to the pilot as I gawk at the clouds and the ground below.

At 49 minutes a thump indicates the flight is over with a perfect landing.

The other mile high may not earn you a trip to the doctors for whatever itches later and no frequent flyer miles will follow.  But you won't really care, it's that good.

In the Year 2012

Third trip to Vietnam takes me Saigon to Hanoi then on to the village of Sapa about 6o miles from the Chinese border. Despite what they tell you in the brochures the only sleeping cars on the train from Hanoi belong to the Victoria hotel.  If you are not staying at the Victoria in Sapa, bring beer and something to make you sleep.  Despite paying for the top of the line "sleeping car" it is not at all the comfortable and the air conditioning is dodgy at best.  It is 12 hours roughly on the train and sleep is a good thing.  Sapa turns out to the perfect adventure for me.  A 100cc scooter for $6 USD, with gas, bed and breakfast at $16 USD  and most everyone is either friendly or at least willing to help you for a little cash.  Okay, I can live with that.

The previous listing of the F800 brings me to a confession.  I really wanted the R1200R Classic.   That said I threw some money in the right direction and have one of the sweetest bikes I could possible lust for.

Women.  Well I am totally fucked here.  With most of the my lady friends run off and married with kids and all that I have been given the boot.  I have been told the women I prefer only want me for money.

 Uh, I am not that well off that I can support any gold diggers.  But, one in particular lady did have me on the run for while.  That said, she has been told the party is over.    Not proud of that as she really needs the help. The family is into her for everything from vocational school for her brother, doctors bills for all of them, and the consistent need for new phones.  IPhone 4S is running 1600 USD in Saigon, believe me, I know.  Samsung Galaxy S III not much less at $1200.  The S III a bargain if you think in terms of Apple.

Knowing the down side of Saigon, I still love VN and like many who go there, I see it as the wild west.  No McDonalds, Burger King etc.  Outside of Saigon, the "Mall" disappears completely.  There might not be a safer place to have a great vacation adventure.  And yes, the women are attractive, available and looking for someone to marry them, or at least support them and their families ad hoc.  Just remember they are completely honest about that so don't get pissy over a few grand here and there.

For now, I think Thailand and Cambodia are on the books for 2013.  This year, Soaring "Glider Planes" and hot air balloons along with generous doses of the new motorcycle will help keep me busy.

Ladies, chase me!

With a little luck, more soon including some good pics from Sapa.

Peace everyone.