Nam Nao National Park Day 1

November 5, 2024

The weather turned pretty foul last night. Strong winds and a lot of rain, a spillover from a big cold front that has hit Vietnam, meant we didn't get the best night's sleep.

As instructed, we reported to the Nam Nao Police Station just before eight o'clock this morning. A police officer came over and told us to wait for "one minute". At eight o'clock sharp the officers all mustered on the parade ground. The flag raising ceremony followed with the national anthem sung and a declaration of allegiance recited. Then there were few bizarre moments as one officer was called to the front to show off his perfect haircut. Two more were called out, with less than perfect haircuts, and were instructed to do ten push ups as punishment. After various speeches and a demonstration by an instructor and four "volunteers" on swat team type tactics, the parade came to an end after more than forty minutes.

Once the parade was over two of the officers came over to us and said they will take us to the National Park and we should load our bicycles on the back of their police double-cab pickup truck. Quite honestly, we were expecting that the police would have arranged a local commercial pick up for us. Instead for the first time in my life I was instructed to get into a police vehicle. In addition, it was a free ride to where we wanted to go and not a case of "Go straight to jail. Do not pass GO. Do not collect £200".

The young officers who delivered us to the National Park, almost a hundred kilometers of kindness shown to dumb cycle tourists. Notice the long trousers, Merino wool top and down jacket. Today was the first time we have experienced a temperature below twenty degrees.

By half past nine we had arrived at the Park's visitors center and had secured a bungalow for the next two nights.

It has been grey and rather damp the whole day but the weather is hopefully improving tomorrow. Nonetheless, we've had a pleasant day birding in the immediate surroundings of the visitors center with a few excitement generating bird parties getting our adrenaline going after a rather dull start.

Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus).

Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster).

Today's ride: 4 km (2 miles)
Total: 1,850 km (1,149 miles)

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