Beach time and motorcycle adventures

John started wearing a face mask in Laos when he wasn't feeling well. He said he wanted to "keep the germs away". He has recently focused on the fact the tourists usually pay more for things than locals, and so he wants to get local prices by going undercover. When he explained this to a fellow tourist from Australia I was speaking with, she hinted to John that his hair may still be a giveaway.

I see local ladies riding their motorcycles and mopeds completely covered with no skin showing. They'll wear cloth masks, jackets and even coverings for their hands. I'm told lighter skin is a sign of beauty here, and so women are trying to avoid getting a tan. This might explain why I see so few locals on the beach. Maybe they are on to something since too much sun is damaging.

I'm always amazed by what I witness everyday on the back of a motorcycle. Everything I could possibly imagine and more is carted around on the back of them. Just yesterday I saw a live pig in a cage on the back of one. Everyone rides them from young to old. Fathers ride with their whole family on board, grandmothers with this grandchildren, mothers take their young children to school, and of course young men ride with their sweethearts on the back sitting sidesaddle in short dresses and heals.

As I was waiting in line at an ATM, I spoke to a few young men, one each from Australia, Ireland, Italy, and the U.S. They had met a few weeks ago in Vietnam as backpackers and had decided to travel the country together. They each had purchased used motorcycles in the country for a couple hundred dollars and were riding their way down the coast from north to the south. One of them now needs to sell his bike to help pay his way home, but otherwise they each said they have had no problems travelling. One claimed they didn't even need licences to ride motorcycles here, and the police are very tolerant with tourist travellers and will look the other way at all but the most egregious traffic violations. I admired these guys for their adventurous spirit, but I looked it up later and and they should take the time to get valid motorcycle licenses for Vietnam. For those who have a valid motorcycle license already, it should only take a morning at designated police stations to take the test and costs around $50. If they don't have a motorcycle license already then this really isn't the place to learn. Without a licence they are not protected should they have an accident or a run-in with the police. I have a feeling my views would not have deterred them from their adventure.

For the last couple of days Catheleen has gone to a local tailor shop to get some clothes made, including shorts for John and some dresses and skirts for her and Elizabeth. I for one had a couple of shirts made, using an existing shirt as a template. The shirts turned out really well and they were very well priced. The best part was I didn't have to actually visit the tailor shop to bargain or endure fitting sessions.

The last couple of days I've gone back to the beach, one day with Elizabeth and the next with John. The waves have been huge both days and would constantly knock us off our feet and sometimes toss us around. True to form Elizabeth only came out of the water for refreshment, but came back to the hotel with too much sun on her face. John fared better the next day. What fun to enjoy the beach.

Here's a photo I took of a fishing boat on the river. Nothing to do with this blog but I like the picture nonetheless.