It really is quite interesting to see how people behave when they don’t have easy access to the internet. Lots of gnashing of teeth and loud wailing can be heard and the sight of groups of people wandering around waving their phones and tablets in the air trying to get a decent signal is really quite comical. For my part, I got lucky and sweet talked the hotel manager into lending me one of only his two mobile wifi kits for an hour or so a day. This should be enough to keep me going until normal service is resumed – probably when I get to Manila on Sunday. So, unlike others, I can be fairly relaxed about the situation and get on with my Phileas-ing!
It’s quite a while since I rode a bike and I had forgotten how uncomfortable riding can be when you are out of practice, especially on an old bone shaker.
Ironically, this machine was made by a Taiwanese maker in Vietnam who I bought from back in the day. Supposedly, it was built for comfort, not speed but I have to say I achieved neither. However, I did have a gentle trundle out of Hoi An where the growing of rice is, clearly, an important – albeit back breaking – industry.
A few weeks ago there were some terrible storms in this area with flooding. The aftermath on the beaches that I found was self evident.
I would have been really pi**ed off if I had chosen this location in which to stay! In fact, this entire coastline looked a little bleak,
strewn with flotsam and jetsam from the recent bad weather. The young lady who sold me a cooling Sprite (it was 30+c) spoke a little English and explained how badly this had affected her soft drinks and sun lounger business,
many of the latter having been swept out to sea. In typical oriental style she was amazingly philosophical about her plight.
Further along the coast I came to An Bang beach which is full of simple beach restaurants
I was almost tempted to pop into Mr Hung’s eatery
but the thought of ‘Live seafood’ rather than ‘fresh seafood’ in another one rather put me off.
Although I was not overly impressed with this narrow strip of sand (rammed with sun loungers), I was intrigued by what I assume were some kind of fishing vessels.
Could these be the Vietnamese equivalent of the Welsh coracle?
Despite the hot weather, the sea looked quite uninviting and even dangerous as witnessed by the warning signs.
I didn’t stay around long enough, though, to find out what happened to these brave (stupid?) souls.
With a slightly sore bottom I pedalled my way back to base and will probably revert to leg power only tomorrow.
It’s now time to give my wifi thingy back. Hopefully I will be able to borrow it again tomorrow.
Phileas
thelasthurrahsite 