Continuing on the Ho Chi Minh trail was more of the same and still amazing. Whenever we would enter a city a giant red banner would greet you and one would wish you well leaving. The roads in the cities were usually the same. Lined with a section of lights in the middle and Vietnam banners and communist banners usually lined parts of the roads. I have been so shocked with the modernity of the cities in part of Vietnam. I am not sure why but I was not expecting to see any of these towns built up like they are.
Halfway through the day we reached the point where we had to separate from the hi chi Minh and take a minor road to cut back across to the coastline. This led to many more winding up and down mountain hills and small villages again. Many of the villages were tunic minority groups. The women had black skirts with embroiled patterns and could be seen carrying heavy loads on the side of the roads. The very old ladies carrying stacks and stacks of grass in baskets were incredible to watch. They have to be super strong.
In one of the villages we stopped to have lunch. We chose a little place that looked like they would have food. We walked in and sat down on the stools. Morgan ordered two bowls of pho for us. After eating the woman came and joined us. She was extremely hard to read and I could not tell if she was mad at us or like us. She started out by telling us things in Vietnamese. We when tried to say we didn't understand she would slap our legs. Ouch! Do you hate me or are you joking.
She went and ripped a page off the calendar and began to write in vietnamese. I pulled out my ipad and typed it in. Google was losing things in translation because none of it made sense. Some of it was comical coming up about maritime chickens and other nonsense. This continued for awhile and the slapping got harder and harder. Come on lady! You arent going to slap the answer into me. Slapping is not going to make me understand! Convinced she hated us we tried to make our get away. This is always the hardest part.
It turns out she loves us!! She decides to motion for pictures and more pictures. Hugging us and pinching our cheeks and smiling. Ok then. I take the paper so that I can have someone translate it later.
Back on the road we enter a stretch with no towns for awhile. The drive is one of the best so far. There is fog hanging around the top of the mountains giving the entire experience a mystical feeling. We stop on a bridge to take some gorgeous photos and take it all in. Just as we sit back on our bikes the rain starts. Why does this always happen!?
Since we are directly in between towns we have no choice but to drive forward. Lightning strikes and thunder rings out every so often. It doesn't seem too close but the rain is super heavy. Laughing the two of us continue driving and hoping to make it to the next town which is 30 kilometers of mountain roads away soon!
I look to my right and then it happens. Lightning strikes a tree!!!!!!!! The road of thunder is immediate and my heart skips a few beats. My entire body shakes from the sound. Morgan was ahead of me so I drive as fast as possible to catch up. As I pass her I scream "lightning just struck that tree we have to get out of here!"
Terrified I drive without thinking. The sooner we get to a town the better. I really really don't want to get struck by lightning. I felt like I was running from an ax murderer. The distance signs kept saying we were getting closer and closer. Now I was praying they would have a guesthouse. I couldn't believe my eyes when we pull up to the town and in neon lights it says guest house. We quickly check in, drop our wet bags onto the floor, lat in bed soaking wet and hysterically laugh.
In the evening once the rain calmed down we went and ate the worst dinner. After that we walked around town and joked around talking with a lot of the locals. On the way back I was crying ice cream. There was a sign and I excitedly walked over to purchase some. The lady said no ice cream and pointed across the street. Oh well I guess I didn't need it. The place she pointed did not look like it would have ice cream but it was worn a shot. Sure enough under the counter there is a cooler and she was selling ice cream. My night was made!
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