October 27, 2024
Ian, Day 2 - delayed flights but arrival in Old Town, Hanoi
The day probably started when the plane was about 3000 km from Sydney and the clock struck midnight. It would be another 6 hours before the plane landed in Guangzhou at 0530, where a 4 hour stopover turned into 6 hours due to bad weather. It was something to do with tropical storm Trami hitting Danang; minor stuff when cycle touring.
I eventually arrived in Hanoi at lunchtime - about 24 hours after I left home. So, feeling weary, I set to at the tasks before me - getting a sim, charging my phone and keeping an eye on it, putting my bike together, asking a couple of fellow Australians to watch my gear while I dashed for a piss and a change. It's so much easier to do all of this when not alone!
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I was in no hurry at all and far more conscious of ticking off all of the jobs and not losing anything. Thus, it was a joy to wheel out of the airport and spin the pedals. It took me 5 minutes to cycle to where I shouldn't be - among cars going through a boom gate.
I got through that hurdle and was on my way to Old Town, Hanoi, 25 km away.
I was a few km into the trip when I stopped to photograph some philosophical thoughts that seemed relevant to my predicament and the unknown that lay just ahead.
As I moved on a young cyclist came from behind and we rode into Hanoi together. Miko, from Poland, had just purchased a bike to do a tour. I was tempted to go to his homestay but liked the idea of returning to The Green Hotel after 22 years. We exchanged contact details and parted ways at the southern end of Ho Tay. Unknowingly, I had walked into a trap that I usually avoid.
I easily found my way to the Green Hotel, but from this point things spiraled downwards. The GH had vacancies for all but tomorrow night. Thus I decided to cycle to Miko's place. Foolishly, I didn't get directions or ask him to meet me. I simply put Green Hostel into G maps and got going.
As bad luck would have it, I cycled very close to Miko's place and onwards to the wrong Green Guesthouse. And I did this in the rain, dark and heavy traffic. I contacted Miko for directions. He responded quickly but by now conditions were worse and my tiredness and hunger stepped in. I couldn't see my cycle computer and my phone screen was wet. Eventually, I got to Green Homestay just around the corner from a fine bakery. I was almost out of juice.
It was no time before I had moved in, changed and headed off with Miko and a fellow traveler, Igor, for a beer and a bite.
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2 weeks ago
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I slept well!
Today's ride: 46 km (29 miles)
Total: 46 km (29 miles)
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| Comment on this entry | Comment | 2 |
And on a different airline.
Typhoon incident they said.
Re navigating;
last tour I fitted one of those clever Australian inventions, a Quadlock phone holder, to my handlebars.
Having the phone securely fastened to the bars turned out to be immensely useful when navigating in unfamiliar urban areas.
Those situations where frequent peering at the phone screen was required simultaneously with steering, braking and looking out for signage and landmarks.
3 weeks ago