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So I've been in Asia for quite a few months already. Having been spoilt rotten with my Minsk in Vietnam. This bus bollox into tourist traps is killing me. Currently thinking of whizzing through Cambodia, Laos and Thiland. Maybe get back early Jan or late Dec, work like a dog for a few months. Get some more cash on hand. Buy a decent bike to ride from South Africa to France.

Reckon it would take 4 months easy riding taking in the sights along the way. So any takers out there? Now's the time to speak up.

All of Cambodia has come to town it's water festival time. There is no space to walk on a pavement or patch of grass the street vendors occupy it all. The police have blocked most of the roads so there is some re-leaf from the motorbikes for a day. The streets are jam packed with people looking to have a good time. The king is out in public view on his chair watching the boat racing down the river. Street vendors are blaring their megaphones all trying to scream loader than the other. I don't get the point no one can hear them as it's just one big noise. The smells drift from sweet popcorn to sewage. This is Cambodia in party mode. It's said over 1 million people have made the trip into the city for the event.

It's my forth country in Asia and still don't get why were are charged x3 for everything, they call it white mans tax.

First day I arranged a moto man to take me to the shooting range. You can fire a tank for $2000, $500 gets you a cow and a RPG grenade launcher. Not having $2000 or wanting to kill a cow I opted to fire a AK-47 at $40 for a clip. I hate guns esp those nutters walking around the shopping centers in South Africa with rifles. But I have never fired a gun before and it really gives one an appreciation just how mad these thing are. So I had no idea what to expect.

So the 30'th arrived all to soon, my last day in Vietnam. I had the motorbike for sale at $100 all the way down from $300 I was asking for it when I arrived. But still no one wanted to buy my beautiful Minsk. The Minsk dealer down the road only offered me $50 for her. That was more like a slap in my face, so I decided to give the bike away. After grabing some free breakfast I walked out side to find her new owner. I had it in my head that I would give it to a cyclo driver. Many of the cyclo drivers in Saigon are ex-south Vietnames soldgers. It has been their punishment that the only job they are alowed to do is become cyclo drivers. It did not take two steps out the door, when I spotted one who looked down and out.

I called him over and told him that I'm giving him my bike. It took quite some explaining that it was his for free. The crowed that had now gathered were all to eager to explain this to him. Poor guy he had a pretty big grin. Once I saw he had started to move the bike away, onto his cyclo of allthings. I left the amused on lookers.

I don't know if I have just been spoilt in Vietnam getting to all the out the way places. But Saigon felt like I was sucking on an exaust and it was killing me. The madness just gets to one so much chaos, feel like I need a holiday just from poppin in. There is so much to see and experiance though in these huge mangeled messes of Asian citys. I think it was more the 'pressure' of trying to sell my rocking bike. That kind of spoilt the first few days.

I did some of the sights in town the museum for Chinese and Amerian war crimes, what a gruesome exobishion. Had to see that one just baised on the name. Cholon the Chinese markets off the beaten track, the only white face bobbing around for the day felt more like it. Walked a fair bit something I've become rather unacustom to having the Minsk.

Not really looking just heading in the general direction has worked like a charm. Up to today that is, I got into the general area of Mui Ne effortlessly. But trying to find the right place to sleep took me ages. Stoped for coffee and ice-cream, did the back wards and forwards shuffel more than once. Until I realised I wanted to stay over the hill. Then more time riding up and down, trying to find something cheap. Far too many rich tourists around here.. But eventually found a good spot.

There was very little air left in my lungs to really do anything that night. So I did very little.. Nice to have a quiet place to chill.

Most of the day cooked on the bike in the sun, except for last bit cathing a wee shower. Arriving in Nha Trang I ran outa gas.. A little pushing. Thank heavens the bike made it in. I was worried that the patch job would not hold. So after crusing a bit for a place to sleep. I missioned off to get her fixed, Nha Trang was supposed to have a good mechanic according to the manual.

I found the address where the shop was supposed to be. But it's either closed down since the manual was written or never existed. A little bit of missioning and I found a kid who helped me. I was playing the poor student card.. They whisked the bike away to have a look at the problem. I was sure I could try fix this for 300,000.00 VND. But after they relized what I tried to explain a warn cog and loose chain. They said sorry they could not help. Shit sticks...

So it's been pretty drab in Qui Nhon, with no motorbike it been hard work walking the streets. Really just wonderd about until my legs gave up. There no eye candy about here, so watching the sea reading also been a distraction.

Woke up to rain in Hoi An, fliped a coin in my head to leave. But did not have enough cash in hand to pay for accommodation. So toddled up the road in the rain to get some. By the time I got back and the soaking I received, I said I'd stay another night rather at reception. But tottering about on the net for a while it all eased off. Since check out was at 12 and it was only 10 ish. I checked out this time. Poor girls at reception, "ahhh Lathan you make me crazy". Hehe.

The ride into Hoi An was rather uneventful, compared with the last few days. With my phone flat it was a little mission trying to find the right part of town. First landed up at the hoiti-toitie resorts near the beach not what I wanted.