Slow ride through the central highlands

Hi everyone,

After leaving Hoi An, we took a six day tour through the central highlands of Vietnam. But not just any tour, it was a motorbike tour,. taken with the "Easy Riders!" Its funny how things change while travelling Before leaving, I told myself I would never take a motorbike. Two weeks later, after taking a motorbike, I told myself never in big cities. Next thing you know, I'm travelling exclusively by moto for six days straight.

The tour was really fun, and the scenery and people were great, but not as interesting as in Northern Vietnam, the other area known for its mountains and ethnic minorities. We visited an orphanage, which was quite moving for me. It was interesting how much the children wanted to grab on to you. I interpreted it as a need for affection and physical contact, Nika interpreted it as a subconscious or vaguely conscious understanding that if a tourist becomes attached to you, s/he might give you some money or sponsor or adopt you.

The other highlight for me was the night we spend in a wooden bungalow next to some beautiful rapids, surrounded by brushland. The resort served mostly Vietnames tourists, (we were the only non Vietnamese), and a couple of them asked me to pose in some pictures with them! I though it was a hilarious reversal, because I always ask Vietnamese if I can take there pictures, and they must think I''m crazy to think them farrming, building a house, etc is of any interest. The next morning, I went for a solo walk in the brushland nice in early. I saw some young local hunters kill a bird with a slingshot, which was pretty cool. But the best part was a bit later, when I hear a rustle, and looked over and saw an elephant eating its breakfast!! I found an elephant!!!! All by myself!!!! It was a 'free range' elephant, meaning it was clearly domesticated by the rope around its neck, but then they are left to run wild in the brushland, and then searched for when needed. I asked at the resort about the elephants, and they said they were all far away, but not too far for me to find!!

The other highlight was the great, cheap food. Travelling with the locals, you get to see the real prices and order the good dishes, so we normally spent about 3 dollars a day on food. AS for Vietnamese food in general, I really don't like it when I try it in Canadian restaurants. Buit here it is delicious. On the other hand, I did not see them use Hoi Sin Sauce once here, though it is on every table in every Canadian-Vietnamese restuarant I've been too.

P.S Anyone get the joke in the name of the post?