The 3rd day and it was getting easier although getting on the bike for the less agile amongst us was still causing a problem. Less kilometres today after the punishment of yesterday. Leaving Kontum we headed for the minority village of the "rong" people here life was still as it was many years ago. The well had only being completed 5 years ago here the children were pulling up bucket after bucket. Next to this was the big Community house a bit like a town hall here the villagers met for meetings or big parties. The prize water buffalo would be sacrificed for New year and a giant bbq would take place. Around the corner was another village it is in these places you see all sorts of characters. Kids gambling with their New year lucky money and old ladies everywhere carrying all sorts of stuff. The Rong people were so friendly though and we got such a buzz walking through their village saying Happy New Year and waving, something unique to many unless you go off the beaten track.. Just down the road was a very old catholic church a memory of the french missionaries from centuries ago. Many of the ancient customs are still followed and there were ceremonial poles adorned with various items representing the village and day to day life all prepared for the new year. 

 

The journey that day was probably the best of the lot in terms of scenery and sheer enjoyment in the freedom of being on a motorbike. The first part of the day we climbed higher and higher into the Highlands often being the only people you could see on the road for miles and miles. For every uphill there is a downhill and this is where the guides skill and experience really showed. Cruising down these sections with a passenger and a rucksack on the back is not easy but they made it appear so. One of the stops that day was one of the victory monuments from the war ercted to commemorate the fallen from the Highland provinces. In addition they had two tanks which had destroyed many yank tanks. As always whenever we stopped we were surrounded by children asking how are you? At this monument about 20 followed us everywhere giggling and laughing, it doesnt get much further than this but still so cool. 

 

Late that morning we joined the Ho chi Minh Trail which stretches all the way to the north. The hardship of the villagers becomes more evident the further we travel and its getting colder. Stopping along the way at loads of viewpoints gives you time to recover and give your bum a rest. One of these stops was the Monkey bridge, which had many planks missing when crossing to say the least!Again children seem to pop up from anywhere as soon as you start walking around. They decided that shaking this rickety old bridge was the best game in the world especially while we were on it. Aaah!  











Finding somewhere to eat was not easy that day many places are still closed for the New Year but we find an shack serving meet and soup. Not sure what we were eating we dig in likes the guides although as the meal went on it became less enjoyable. Nik especially unsure as to the origins of the meat but the usual slurping and spitting of the bones on the floor came with it!

 





The Ho Chi Minh Trail for the most part follows the same route as it has done for many years except for some of the more mountainous sections. Here a new road cuts through the rock and is more direct but all the time you can see the old sections with the villages still there, rice paddies and row upon row of coffee plants stretching up the hilsides. The original road was dug by hand and took many years to complete and for me was the best part of the trip. Riding along through this area was awesome and one of the memories of the trip so far. Along this way we saw Scorpion waterfall and walked along part of the old road.






Our destination that afternoon was Kham Duc not a place I would want to grow up in, it was like a ghost town and very damp and cold!


Everywhere shut apart from you guessed it a Pho cafe more noodle soup Wahoo!! The lady was doing a roaring trade and helped by some rice vodka and beer we washed the meal down. As for our hotel compared to where we had been staying not great very damp and smelly. But we wrapped ourselves in our sleeping bags and slept somewhat fitfully awaking very early readyish for day4, our last day....