Goodbye Taiwan... Hello Vietnam!

Hanoi, Vietnam

Immediately after my last blog we hit the road in our scooters (Dave, Chris, James and I). We headed east of Taichung to the middle of Taiwan, heading for Toroko Gorge. It started out pretty cold but the drive was absolutely marvelous.

Driving on a scooter through the hills was amazing.

Along the way, rain came and it became cold. I had a few layers on and thought it would be fine. Then it just turned into hell. Pure fog, pure rain and the temperature around 2 degrees. We stopped at a random lodge. Myself and James had our own scooter, while Dave and Chris shared one. Within 10 mins the lodge said it was closed and we had to leave. We were completely soaked and frozen with still 2 hours to go. We got back on our scooters and kept going. The next 20 mins was probably the coldest I had ever been. Hail, sleet, everything came down.

Two days earlier I was in a t-shirt and shorts in 25 degrees and now I was driving in a sleet storm and saw snow on the mountain. Forty five minutes later we pulled over to the side of the ride. The conditions were brutal. Hysterically we broke out into a twist and shout dance routine. That was the TSN turning point. We got back on, and finally made it there hours later. This was a view from the roof of our Hostel.

Toroko Gorge may be the most beautiful place I have seen in the world.

Taiwan is full of things no one knows about, as there is not marketing towards their tourism. We visited a temple on the hill and then had some dinner.

There was a Chinese buffet. I thought those only happened in North America. We met some random people who wanted to take photos with white people and I joined in.

After that, exhuasted from the trip, just went to bed. Woke up the next morning to beautiful sunshine. We got up very early, played some Euchre and just hit the gorge. This was the view from our balcony. I was very lucky the one day I was there, the weather was marvelous.

We trekked down into it, where people don't normally go and just enjoyed the day. It was peace on earth. I uploaded so many photos becuase I loved them all. The boulders were massive and we just jumped from one to another. You can tell how huge they are by seeing how small Chris is on one of them.

I was lying down on the top of a rock and snapped this shot. The scenery was amazing.

Chris and James decided to go far into the cave exploring.

After that, we made our way back. Enjoyed some food and I packed my things. Dave, Chris and James were staying a few more nights and heading South of Taiwan for a Chinese New Years vacation. I had to catch a flight to Vietnam the next day. I had to bus from Toroko Gorge to Hualien. From Hualien I had to take a train to Taipei. From Taipei I had to take a bus to Taoyuan. From Taoyuan I caught my flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. The journey was long, to say the least. At 6 p.m. I jumped on a bus from the Gorge. And arrived in Hanoi at 11 a.m. The train ride to Taipei was super fast bullet train. I made it to the airport for midnight. My flight was in 7 hours and I had already been traveling for 6. The airport was competely empty and had only chairs to sit. I found a couch in a children nursery/play area and got a few hours of sleep. I woke up with parents and children looking at me; pretty funny in retrospect. I hopped on the plane, landed in Vietnam. I had not been able to use internet and realized I was in the Vietnam airport with no idea where my friends were (Jacob, Button, Curtis). The internet in the airport was down so I somehow convinced a clerk to let me use her personal computer, after she continually said no. I found out where Jacob was via email and jumped in a bus and hit Old Quarter Vietnam. Just like that I had met up with Jacob and Co. Felt great...

From the moment I stepped off the plane, Vietnam has been beautiful. Smaller mountains surround the airport; just gorgeous. This is a lake down the street from the Hostel I stayed at. There was also a celebration at the Temple on the lake.

The area where the hostel we stayed is completely tourist central. Just a big party, all the time. And there are so many street vendors at all times. Not sure what I ate, but it was good.

After not sleeping the whole night I stayed awake the whole day. At night we went to an Irish Pub (they are everywhere in this world). Jacob convinced me to play pool for 20,000 VND and I got owned by some Aussies. Felt like home...

Today we are going to lunch with a family friend of Curtis's who just happens to live in Vietnam. Then we are off to visit Northern Vietnam to a place called Sapa. It is a 13 hour overnight bus ride. I expect it to be long and unbearable. Sapa is supposed to be one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam.

I do not know when I will have good internet access again so I posted these photos.

Most Valuable Buds

This has been a short leg, but the Most Valuable Buds must go to Jacob Kuehn, Sebastien Button and Curtis Eastman.

They took the time to stay a few extra days in Vietnam to meet up me and have let me crash their traveling party. I will probably travel with them for the next 5 - 6 weeks and I am looking forward to it. Great guys who make great jokes at great times.