I was up at 8am and packed all my stuff away, but I wasn’t leaving I was moving room as I had decided to stay an extra night to enable me to do the cave trip I booked last night. Pick up was 8.30, that came and went, as did 9am. Checking the booking I had made the error of booking it for the next day. So I booked a third night. Now what?
I checked over the bike and adjusted the chain. It needs a wash so maybe I’ll find somewhere to do that and it’s due an oil change. I walk towards the tiny town square, noting a bike repair shop. It’s closed but could be ideal tomorrow. In the square I get myself a coffee and some banana and chocolate pancakes. I’m watching the world go by when another XR150 pulls into the square, a non plastic helmet is a give away, it must be another traveller. I walk over to the guy who has met up with another, I introduce myself just as they are striking up a conversation with a lady in a ticket booth. Suddenly one of them asks “Hey, do you wanna go caving?” Well, yes I did.
And so it was that myself, Levi and Zay booked a tour boat for three before we even introduced ourselves. It turns out they are brothers from California also travelling north to Hanoi on bikes.
Zay is ex military and now works on event production and staging. He has travelled plenty, while Levi has returned to study at Harvard University after a career in IT. He has done lots of motorcycle adventures with over 40 countries ticked off. They were huge fun to be around.
Phong Nha is situated in the Ke Bang National Park and is home to Tigers, Black bears and elephants, as well as spectacular limestone casts amongst the towering mountains. The caves were only discovered in the 1990’s and turned out to be some 37km long. The lower cave entrance is big enough to take the boats used by our guide. The stalagtights formed of various elements contained in the dripping water have built up over millions of years.
It was a fairly long river journey to the two caves we were going to see but wow was it worth it. Our timing couldn’t be better and it seemed we had the cave system to ourselves, well us and the bats.
Whilst on the boat I managed to cancel my trip for the following day. That left me with a dilema as I now had the hotel booked for another night. Anyway back on land we decided we would meet up that evening for a meal.
The Lantern restaurant was fairly busy and had a great atmosphere. We spent a few hours chatting eating and enjoying the buy one get one free drinks. The guys also met four others they had previously travelled with. It was great fun. I’m going to have to stop saying I don’t drink!
Earth, Wind and Tyres 