#Fahrenbruary 2019

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A few critters from my last morning in Ninh Binh earlier today. All of these were captured using manual focus, something I'm still getting used to, but it does tend to yield better results than using AF at times (as long as they little buggers stay still long enough 😂) 👍🏼 #Vietnam #insect #insects #insectsofinstagram #insectsrock #insectsphotography #amateurphotographer #amateurphotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife
Today @b0mbtrack_ and I got impromptu tattoos of our beloved moped numberplates at @1984.studios here in Hanoi. We've had such a brilliant and memorable time together it was fitting that we immortalise the moment in ink. 1984 Tattoo and Piercing Studio couldn't have been friendlier and more helpful. I heartily recommend them if you're ever in Hanoi and crave ink (like an idiot I didn't get the name of my artist, so if anyone at 1984 tells me I'll edit this post😊) 🇻🇳 #tattoo #1984tattoostudio #Hanoi #Vietnam #travelling #travels #travelswithmyson
Today we bade farewell to our trusty steeds and the Sons Of Namarchy are no more...for now. Though we started in HCMC, bused7 hours to Da Lat, took another overnight bus, 15 hours, to Hoi An, these little guys have taken us 1200km (745 miles) from Hoi An to Ninh Binh with only a single puncture to trouble us. Ben's battery died at the end, but we could kick start it so it wasn't a problem. I'm going to miss these guys, and riding a bike, very much. Without them this trip would merely have been magnificent. With them it's been superb, sublimely unforgettably magnificent. I feel I may have to learn and get my bike license back in the UK 😂👍🏼 #travelling #travels #travelswithmyson #Vietnam #bikingthroughvietnam #hochiminhroad #newbiker #moped
Today we did rode from Cam Thuy to Ninh Binh, just over 86km. A short hop, but once again we rode through all weathers to get here, spoiling our photographic chances, but we stole a few on the way. Limestone mountains and cliffs dominate this part of Vietnam, interrupted by large flat plains of farmland. We saw more traffic on this stretch too, but still not a lot really. We also bade farewell to the Ho Chi Mihn road. Both Ben and I were sad to leave it ☹️ So far we've covered around 1200km (~745 miles) on the bikes alone in the DHCM in 10 days. No wonder I've got such a sore arse 😂🤨 Tomorrow we explore the area a bit more, come rain or shine 😄👍🏼☔☔
Our road trip along the Ho Chi Mihn road is slowly coming to an end 😢 Yesterday we got wet. Like proper soaked on our 180km journey from Huong Khe to Tan Ky. The heavens opened for the first time since we left Hoi An just over a week ago, so we can't complain. It rained a smidge when we were in the rain forest - go figure - but this was the first time we got proper soggy. Fortunately our hotel in Tan Ky was excellent (unlike the previous night in Huong Khe, which was shit, lol), so we dried off and went in search of food. Ben got a street kebab whilst I had some excellent beef dish in a roadside café 👌🏻 Anyway, because of the rain we got no photos, but today was sunny so we managed a few. After having been spoilt rotten the previous few days, the scenery on this stretch has been much less dramatic, though no less beautiful at times. We've seen an increase in traffic (though still not much really), and farming and industry. There are far more people about. After the remoteness and isolation of the jungle and mountains that is quite a shock 😅 With increased people come increasing problems. Litter and general crap everywhere is a problem here; Huong Khe stank - it was rank even though the town itself was so friendly, our hotel receptionist aside, rude cow - but that soon passed and we were back into the countryside again. Today was much much nicer. Smooth roads, huge limestone mountains rising from the flat plains, and some gorgeous villages along the roadside. I found a beautiful dragonfly at the café we stopped at, and there were huge numbers of what I assume to be Black Kites in Cam Thuy, our current overnight stop. This trip has been utterly magnificent from the moment we stepped from Ho Chi Mihn airport and I really don't want it to end. Still, we have 4 days to go and two days in Ninh Binh beckon before the chaos that is Hanoi and my flight home early Monday morning 😄
Today we spent the day in Phong Nha. After yesterday's epic bike ride through the isolated jungle we needed a day off the bikes. This area is surrounded by huge, towering and densely forested limestone mountains that are the home to many a cave system, some that have only just been discovered. As such this area will likely undergo a big transformation in the coming years as people flock to the caves and the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. It's already busy with homestays, hotels and hostels, with many a westerner here, but it's still pretty quiet. We did our own thing, walking through the town and along the undeveloped riverbank on the other side. A local woman and her daughter offered to take us across by boat back to our side for a meagre payment (and we gave them a little extra). I'll be sorry to say goodbye to Phong Nha, but the Ho Chi Mihn road beckons once again. We're slowly reaching Hanoi, but there is much to see before then. 🇻🇳😊
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