Biking Vietnam continues. More random shots and stories.

Leaving Hanoi we headed in a west, south direction. We're starting a 20km run in a national park in Vietnam.  Left to right - me, Matt, Al, Han. 

In the park there is a primate rescue centre. However, I came across this walking stick insect. He looked to not need rescuing. Happy guy. 

Next day we were near the Vietnam/Laos border in the mountains. Stopped for lunch which is basic - either fried noodles or rice with vegetables or noodle soup with vegetables which they bring raw to your table and you just plunk the veg in the hot broth and add your own spices - chillies or more chillies. Everything is fresh. 

And next door you could get  'thit cho' - dog meat. They had  live dogs in a cage out front (very sad) but I could not get a  photo as the proprieters are a bit sensitive to being exposed. It's a very rural mountain town and no one bothers them much but it's not exactly legal. They bring the dogs in from Laos but they actually originate in Thailand. All completely illegal trade but it's there and it's done and maybe that guy on the bike is taking some fresh dog home to his wife. 

Leaving Vietnam I could not resist one more pig shot. He was too  big to be strapped onto the bike. 

Hello Laos 

The drink of choice - most times no choice - this was it. 

Laos is one of the poorest countries in the world. It has about 6 million people and it is mountains everywhere. First night we were staying in a very rural mountain town in basically grass huts - think camping. I walked in and saw these curtains and gasped. Had to get the photo. It was a surreal moment.   

Next day as we were leaving the place we stayed were having lunch for local dignitaries. This was the ladies table and they were very happy to have us join them but we had biking to do.  

 More on Laos to come.