Canoes, Weddings and Bike Rides

Early morning on the Son river

It's wedding season! We've been invited to five weddings this Month, we couldn't both get to all of them, but between us we had them all covered.

Which way is up?

As well as the weddings, we've been busy (as usual) with tours of Hang Son Doong and Tu Lan but in between we've also been canoeing along the river and bicycling along some of the back roads.

Going to be a hot one

As far as canoeing goes, when I say 'we', I really mean just Ruth, canoeing's not really my cup of tea so I've only been out once (I was really just along for the ride, and to take pictures). I did paddle a bit, not much, but a bit, and that nearly killed me! How odd to find a sport I'm not good at.

Rest time

The only advantage (as far as I'm concerned) with early morning canoeing is that you do see some interesting sights along the way, oh, and it's cooler and the weather seems to be better. Still. I prefer to sleep.

Scrubbers

The first wedding was our neighbours, a loud affair especially as it took place just outside our bedroom window. Fortunately I wasn't there but Ruth managed to go. One good thing about wedding parties here is that the celebrations all seem to finish by ten pm at the latest, even if they do go on for days!

All set for the big day

Next up was Jamie and Thanh. Jamie used to be in charge of bookings for Hang Son Doong, until she had a baby, Thanh was a guide, until Jamie had a baby! We were both on separate tours which meant that Ruth got the pre-wedding party and I got the main event the next day.

Indoor fireworks, is that really safe?

The very next day was the wedding of the daughter of the owners of the Vung Hue restaurant (which we go to quite regularly). Ruth was in Son Doong so I went on my own, meeting the rest of the Brits there, I arrived on time but everyone else was about ten minutes late so I was sat on my own for that time, a definite spare part at a wedding!

The happy couple, Quang and Yen

The final wedding was a double event, Quang, who is an assistant guide in Son Doong, was getting married to Yen, who packs our equipment for Son Doong. In Vietnam, there are two wedding parties/ceremonies, first the bride (at her house) and then the groom (at his house) which meant two weddings in two days (three parties if you count the 'stag do' the night between. Not really a 'stag do' as women are present, including the bride).

After the party, some cleaning up required

After Yen's party (we were all a little drunk) Watto had sloped off early, somewhat the worse for wear, but as we left, who should we see but Watto cycling up the road on Seamus's three wheeler bike.

Taxi!

Ruth and Geraldine jumped on for a ride back to our house.

All aboard, home James and don't spare the horses

Sadly, there was no room for me so I had to walk, less than five minutes though so no real hardship.

Wait for me!

While I was busy working, Ruth went on a couple of bike rides with Adam.

Near the end of the road

One was along the opposite site of the river to us. The plan was to cycle along to the ferry near Phong Nha cave but this was thwarted when they ran out of road shortly after they had passed a very muddy section, so muddy that the wheels wouldn't turn until they had been cleaned in a nearby stream.

Bike washing

Their other ride they had was along some back roads in the direction of Dong Hoi, stopping off at The Pub with Cold Beer, The Duck Stop, Phong Nha Farmstay and the Moi Moi restaurant.

River reflections

Once I was back from a tour, Ruth and I tried to repeat this second ride, we didn't quite manage it but we still had an interesting ride, going places neither of us had been to before!

Ferry, bikes and people only

Initially we followed the route taken by Ruth and Adam, out of Phong Nha, cross the river and turn right. The idea was to follow this small road and then take the second ferry back across the river.

Phong Nha Ke Bang panorama

We turned off too soon and ended up on the first ferry. Just before this a massive new church is being built, I can't see how they are ever going to fill it, but perhaps there will be some divine intervention!

Giant church to be

Then we followed the road to get back on track where the second ferry crosses but we soon became lost again when we couldn't find the correct track to the Phong Nha Farmstay and ended up taking a shortcut to The Pub With Cold Beer where we had lunch (and cold beer for me).

Where's the road gone?

After lunch we started off on the normal route back but tried to avoid a boring stretch along a busy road, another interesting diversion where we got temporarily misplaced again! Still. we eventually found an interesting and obscure route back to Phong Nha.

Boats and fish farms

Evening meal was back to one of our old favourites, Banh Khoai, street food at its best. After a brief stint as a hairdresser last year they are back in the catering business, but they are still trying other things so now they do travel bookings as well.

Banh Khoai restaurant

Occasionally we see some interesting things on the back of motorbikes (like a washing machine!), sometimes we even manage to get a picture like the one below, of a large metal tube. I'm not sure what it's for but this guy regularly drives up our street trying to sell them.

Tube seller on a motorbike

Finally, for this entry, one day we were sat by the river at Khanhs' Cafe when we noticed some pollution in the river. Mr Khanh was soon on the 'phone to some official who came out for a look but we used it as an excuse to ride up to Phong Nha Cave to see if the pollution was coming from there or from the other branch of the river. A nice quick ride before sunset.

Wheeee