3
December, Muong Gion to Muong Kim, 50km
Minh Thuc Guest House 200,000VND
Many years ago a friend told me he thought the worst
vice was ad-vice. I tender some nonetheless. Do not travel too fast on
Vietnam’s roads; you never know what you may find around the next corner.
Yesterday we encountered a small herd of cows taking their afternoon nap in the
middle of the road; today, we met two geese paddling in a pond in the middle of
the road where a stream of water dropped out of the hills, ran across the road,
filling the sizeable potholes there, and then disappeared into the valley below.
We’re still lost, but less so. Muong Kim is not marked on our map, but as we
entered town this afternoon we saw a sign to Than Uyen just 10km away. Than Uyen
is marked on our map – yay. It is strangely disconcerting to have no idea where
you are and therefore no idea where you might spend the night. Even the route
markers were of no help today as they are in the process of being repainted and
most presented us with a newly-whitewashed blank face rather than the usual
destination and distance information. We tried to put our vague anxieties aside
and focus on the glorious weather and scenery. Our road was hilly but doable,
running for many kms beside yet another recently built dam. Two more days
should put us back on our original itinerary.
Between Muong Gion and Muong Kim
Between Muong Gion and Muong Kim
Between Muong Gion and Muong Kim
Between Muong Gion and Muong Kim
Between Muong Gion and Muong Kim
Between Muong Gion and Muong Kim
Between Muong Gion and Muong Kim