Prostitute at a funeral
It was time to make a decision, do I head North to Ba Be Lake and the huge waterfalls on the Chinese border or West towards Laos? I collected Lilly from the bike shop. They had fitted a new gasket to stop the oil leak. I could see the new gasket but I was sure the oil was seeping from a lower point.
I had picked a hotel just 97km from Hanoi at Ton San. I was heading West. My thinking was that to complete the trip to the Chinese border then across to Laos is about 15 days and I have done a lot of it before, so I was headed for the Dinosaurs Spine. A ridge along the top of a mountain range in Tu Xua.
Riding from Hanoi I was in jeans and a hoody. Before long it was clear that I’d need my jacket as it was cold. Less than ten minutes later my optimism was gone as the rain started. To put it into context, it’s not bad as the temperature is still ok, it would just be nice to be in the sun.
I think, from the lack of photos, you can tell the journey was just a means to make miles. A few short hours later I arrived in Tan Son. A small town, just a stop over at a great looking family home stay. It’s not a spare room situation, as the name implies. It was a small hotel.
The room on the third floor was nice enough despite the bathroom smelling of cabbage (weird). The bed, rock hard and the TV not working. In town I found a shop that had a sign stating Coffee, Food and Massage. Inside an elderly woman asked if I wanted a massage. Errr No, just a coffee please. Two younger girls appeared and via Google translate I got coffee, just a coffee.
It was early but I went back to my room and dozed on the bed. It was cold and the constant rattle of a piece of machinery in the building didn’t help. About 9pm I was woken by the sound of a party, at 10pm the noise of drums and trumpets was too much. If I can’t sleep let’s party. I walked back into town in the drizzle and located a group of about 30 people, some wearing white headbands, in the middle of the gazebo was the ‘band’. It was so loud. I looked in and was joined by a man wearing a brown suit. “Is this a party?” “Yes, a special party for a funeral” “Oh I’m sorry I will leave you to carry on” I sort of bowed my head and stepped backwards, but he wanted to say more (all via translate). “You can join us, we have prostitutes!” What is this town for goodness sake. I left and headed back for more restless sleep.
Earth, Wind and Tyres 