Blogs

Leaving Delhi heading for Amritsar around 460km. The first day with the bike had arrived so fast it was now time to figure it all out. The breaks and gears are arse about face on the bike and she is quite a bit bigger than the Minsk. But after a couple of stalls with what seemed 5 million hooters aimed at me it was all smiles. The sound of her as we go under bridges it amazing. It's almost like I have my cuzes GT40 on two wheels. The traffic is insane in Delhi much like Hanoi in Vietnam. But the roads outside the cities are much better and the traffic more chilled. We left Delhi at 10am after a few odds and ends, taking a good hour to leave the grips of it. It's still amazing to see just how many people are living in India. Mumbai has 53 million people living in it, that's my hole country in one city that's much the same size as Johannesburg.

Getting in was a bit shocking but it always is. But after spending the first night in a horrible hotel. We moved to the backpackers lane (thanks Yavone for that info) where the poor seem full of life and there are smiles every where. Finally got to see the red fort which I missed last time, entered the lotus temple this time and the large Hindu temple.. That was the sight seeing list. Another day we tried to figure out if we could go to Nepal and back to India.. As this hole visa story has changed.. Let's just say we are more confused now. So we will just go to the border and see what they say. The rest of that day Claudia had the Delhi belly and mine followed the next day. Tossing a coin to get a bike we decided to look, after all seemed stable at all exits.

Jumping on the train to Delhi. We arrived at the station on time this time. But the train was not parked as per usual 30 min or so before, that had me scratching my head a bit. But not to worried it arrived on time and finding where we were to sit was difficult. The ticket we got was for sitting anyone who has been on a long distance train in India knows what that means. It's as close to the unreserved seating u get. Where 10 people all try get the same seat biting, scratching, kicking what ever goes. Ours did not have the biting, scratching or kicking.. But there were 20 people sitting in a space that's supposed to have 7, that's with out the people standing and all their bags! Luckily it was only 6hrs and having spent a few days in heat that's just not human we came out smiling a little.

Bwhahaha, India rocks.. get off the plain. Jump on the first bus I find no idea where its going... coz i decided I'm headed for the train station. Some how I find it even though every one on my buss kindly for got how to speak English *bullshit*. Fought my way to the front of the que to buy a ticket to churchgate station.. get that. Find the plat form.. as everything is in HINDIE on it. Literally ram my way into it half hanging out the door. Next stop you get flung out with the crowed.. fight my way back in an get a good spot and talk crap for 15 min with the rain streaming through the window. Walk in the general direction of where Coloba is.. over shoot it a bit but land up at the cheapest guest house in town 385 rupees an night. Delight Guest house is the name, but its a maze of doors all looking the same and you can never find your way back... its awesome.

Not bad for my first day back in India... But I'm buggered my clocks are literally fucked. The plane trip was a nightmare so cramped I think I have grown 10 feet, it was not like that last time.

It all changes again just over 3 more golden months of my self. The last 3 have felt like an eternity, the grind of a mac screen kills me! The harsh reality for me has not been the issue of fitting into society again.. It's been the revers locked up in a cupboard. I don't know how I'm going to keep my head down when this fat lady has sung. My dream of launching my self into africa has felt so far away. But my pupils are still locked not caring how HARD it might be or the fear everyone else has of Africa.

The mission from Lao to Thailand started at the embassy. After waiting far to long in the sun, I got my visa. Whoop whoop a new sticker! Exiting the office I joined a group of peeps heading the same way. Tuk tuk to the boarder crossing called the friendship bridge. Still with a wad full of bloody kip I raided the duty free shop, which seemed to make no impact. Stamp stamp and the filled out swine flew form. I still don't understand how that form makes on exempt.

Down to Lang Probang I went. A city that looks and feels a lot like Hoi An. Some how though it's a lot more appealing. Think it's because there are not so many families running about, and much more to do. Some how it did not turn out to be some where I would spend much time. Even though I found a ridiculously cheep place to sleep, I still was not to enchanted by the place. Mostly just mission'ed about the town snapping photos and rambling about the night market. I looked into getting my Thailand Visa how ever I was informed I had to go to Vientien to get that. Bollox I had to go back to that crappy capital city.

After getting messy in Vang Vieng it was time for a change. I decided to head off to the plain of jars. Besides the huge stone jars scattered about this place. It has the record for the most number of bombs dropped per person living in the area. So I was sure to see some bomb craters and old ammunition. It was a tough choice saying good by to all my new found friends. It's only been a few days on the river but they were like family already to me. So I burnt them each a DVD with the pictures and videos of the last few days. Popped it under their doors and headed for the hills.

Arriving in Vientien, we quickly got to the other end of town to jump on yet another bus to Vang Vieng. Well was it not one of the most picturess places on this planet. Strange what a oxymoron the place is with everyone getting smashed not taking in the stature of the place. There are these lime stone pillar hills that rise up around the river, surrounding one with jungle amidst these hills. First thing was first, got the cheapest room we could find in town dumped and the bags. I bought a dry bag for my camera (the kewlest invention since sliced bread) and we hired tubes headed for the river and bucket madness.

A long bus journey into Pakse from Dong Det, left very little of a day to play with. Once we were dropped off in town, after the usual bus shuffle. The first place we looked at staying at was booked out. We wondered the streets for a while looking fir something around 40,000 Kip basically R40. The cheapest thing in town we could find was 85,000 Kip, but not to bad as that was split two ways between Kailey and myself.