"Dust and Diesel rise like incense from the road"

Today was fun, the ride from Buon Ma Thuot to Plieku is about 180km and took 7.5 hours. My bike broke down at the first petrol stop and last I heard is still there with the mechanics. Another bike (the Honda Shadow) broke down again, it has bee stopping since day one and it the the newest bike (only 10 years old), most of the other bikes are nearly 30 years old. Electrical problems seem to be the norm, although one other bike  today lost a footpeg.  All but 2 of the 7 bikes have broken down at some stage and we have another 2 full big days riding, 200km tomorrow and nearly 300k on the last riding day.

Riding here is not all that exciting, imagine riding down Victoria St Richmond, in peak hour, on dirt road at 40kmh for 200 km and you start to get the idea. If anyone is contemplating a riding trip with Asian Experience Motorbike Tours to Vietnam, be aware, it is always slow and not a lot of biking fun. There is also (despite assurances to the contrary) not much time to leisurely stop and take photos on the way, the pressure is always on to stick with the group.

Apart from that, Vietnam is sort of nice, however I would recommend the Air Con bus, as it is most uncomfortable on the road in the heat, traffic and dust. The initial novelty of bike riding soon wears off.

Eating is good apart from the Frog, Eel, Snake, Dog, Wild Boar, Porcupine, etc. Although the Vietnamese seem to love sweet things, there are lots of food and drinks here that are very sweet.

todays Pics

Schoolkids at second breakdown stop

The Honda with an electrical ghost

Mark's bike, it and one other have not broken down (Yet)

Dust and Diesal (headline pinched from Bruce Cockburn)

Typical view roads, often with oncoming traffic.

This is what the side of the road looks like nearly all the way, you don't seem to leave towns, they just continue for 50 or 60km like this along the side of the road.

We are in Pleiku, although no one is sure why, as it seems to have nothing here to see or visit, maybe thats why it is off the tourist route!!.

Pleiku

Tomorrow, back to the coast, which should be nice.