1. 50 km downhill cycle approaching Nha Trang Vietnam, and the culmination of our bike ride. This was our second to last ride, and was definitely one, if not the most memorable from the bike trip. We started out climbing the mountain in dead heat, only to climb high enough to put two jackets on it was so cold and windy. Once we made it to the top, we had the 50 km to look forward to. Our first 10 km were in the clouds, or heavy fog, where you were unable to see in front of you. The descent was steep enough that experienced riders screamed down the mountain going close to 60 km/hr. This was a surreal ride not only because of the pace, but because at any given turn the road would open up, and you could see through an entire valley, or mountain range.
2. Australian Open in Melbourne. As one of the four grand slams in tennis, you would never expect to pay 20 dollars for an open admission to such a fun event. Melbourne Park is acres of beautifully kept grounds, bars, and projection tv’s to watch the matches. We were lucky enough to catch the men’s final and had a blast while doing it.
3. Drive through Arthur’s Pass National Park in New Zealand. Even though it was not on a bike, because it would not be possible to do this via two wheels unless you were a mix of Hercules and Lance, it one of the most memorable paths in either of our lives. It’s hard to rank the beautiful drives throughout New Zealand, but this is absolutely recommended because the terrain was actually unbelievable.
4. Night and Sunrise dives on the Great Barrier Reef. The night dive was unique because our boat was the only thing is site for 2 hours in the middle of the ocean. We were diving and swimming with fish the size of our bodies in the absolute pitch black sea. We jumped in the water the next morning, just before 6 am, to dive with all the fish as they were waking up beginning to feed. Two completely different dives, and different perspectives.
5. Landing in Pakse International Airport. This was an absolute joke, and will never be forgotten for three reasons; they stamped Birmy’s Vietnam Visa for Lao, gave us laminated/ reusable boarding passes, and literally operated an international airport without electricity. (No, not even solar power, battery power, or reusable power….no power).
6. Bay of Martyrs. Great Ocean Road. This was one of the many stops along the famous road- but was incredibly gorgeous, isolated, colorful, and very surreal. Our tour group hung out on the beach for hours taking in the sites.
7. Day trips to Milford and Doubtful Sound. Fiordland National Park. As described before, each were beautiful in their own ways due to different scenery and climates, and gave us a new perspective to nature.
8. Stranded in Koh Phi Phi. Even though this is one of the world’s top 10 most beautiful beaches, we are stranded here with other backpackers left to listen to the local tunes that include the mosque in the backyard of our PhiPhi Don Chukit Resort, meowing cats surrounding the food left on the front porch of our bungalow, and the sweet sound of torrential downpour, or the beautiful noise created by our friendly neighbors who decide to host a family pig roast at 8 am in front of our bungalow covered in debris from last night’s monsoon.
9. The birthday dinner of one of our fellow riders. Not only was it a self grill bbq restaurant with rats roaming freely and 25 cent beers the size of a 2 liter cola, but it was one of the most fun dinners of the trip. We had the best group, and were all enjoying each other’s company for yet another 2000 calorie meal…but this time it was to celebrate not only a birthday, but the end of an unforgettable bike journey through Vietnam.
10. From the second we embarked on Aladin’s Magic School Bus until the time we left holding onto the back of a tuk tuk in the pouring rain, we are at a loss for words about Vang Vieng, Lao. From getting poisoned by dollar whiskey buckets (which equates to 6 cents a shot), to getting sick from tree bark burgers at a bar that played Friends all day with no tables only platforms to lay on little mermaid reused comforters, to meeting a friend named Martin who spoke at least 250 words a minute, to seeing the infamous river that can only be described as a water playground for monkeys or people who prefer drugs to water…Vang Vieng will never be forgotten (or revisited…but everyone has to experience this at least once. Just don’t try the burger).
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