The magic of an open calendar

We're currently on our third day i Na Trang, and were determined to leave this place today. But we're not the quickest cats in town, so we didn't get up until 1:30pm, and we didn't reach the ticket office until 3:30pm. By then we were set on going to Dalang, 5 hours inland from Natrang. However, the last bus of the day left at 4pm, and there simply wasn't enough time. We already settled that we didn't want to go on a 10-12 hour bus ride up to Hoi An and Hue, because that would result in us taking the same bus back down again 4 days later(a 24+ hour ride!!) Bummed and looking for other trips, a moto(motorbike taxi) comes up to me and askes if i want to go to Dalang today. I answer that I did, but the last bus already left(all the time aware of any way he might try to scam or trick me. Not the most honest people these Vietnamese, and especially not the moto's).

This man said he was an easy rider, and could take me on his big motorcycle. We wee actually talking about cruising around with an easy rider in Dalang the next day, and asked for a combo deal. He wanted to take us to Dalang tonight, and onward to Ho Chi Minh for the 8th, when our scheduled plane to KL is set. Now my scamdar was on high alert(scam radar), and I was very sceptical of this man going back and fourth to the shop with information and price suggestions. Then, all of a sudden Papa Hahn appears. It seemed like the others respected him, and backed down. When replying we were Norwegian, he showed us a book with comments by 3 Swedish girls, on how great his services were, and how much of the unwalked path they were able to see with him. My scamdar level dropped dramaticly, and Chris was super psyked for the get go. Onward, we went into his "office" where he showed us the route and detailed information of each stop. He had Chris at easy(in easy rider), and I was fully convinced at this point too. 55 USD a day, which covers everything(probably not food, but what can you expect).

Therefore, a day that started with us planning a 10 hour trip up north, ended up in a crazy two wheel adventure! That's how I like to travel....


Remi Elias