Bugged out. 

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I have eaten some great food whilst here and some not so good. 

The guy said if I ate three (spider, roach and scorpion I get the frog free. I do love a bargain. All 4 in one sitting ????

  
   
    
    
 
The Roach was grim. The shell and wings took a bit of chewing to get down. The frog ( last pic) was lovely. Spider was ok too. The Scorpion was awful. Tasted like it had been washed in bleach. Wouldn’t go back for a Scorpion but the others….

  
Locust from few days before. Practice ???? 

 Wash down time. Tiger Beer ????
Thanks for the pictures Jamie. 

Pictures courtesy of Jamie Mumby. 

Gooood morning Vietnam!

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March 22nd.  Arrived in Vietnam this morning…

Hi all,Sorry I missed a few days but that will happen. 

Riding so far has been flat and very hot. No respite. Stop peddling and you stop travelling. Not like after a climb in the Pyrenees where after the summit you have a few miles of full speed Freewheelin. This riding takes its toll and after a day like that I need to hydrate eat and sleep. (Drink beer and not worry about too much ????). 

18 March. 96 miles. Drafting a bit ????. 

100 mile reward:  

Slept well. Not having much trouble now jet lag has buggered off. Whilst packing in the morning I spotted the first aid kit. I’m ya man if you need some pills ????. 

  I know what each is needed for and which you can take simultaneously, home work pre trip. 

Just lots of riding today. One thing though is the people of Cambodia and Thailand for that matter is the people are so friendly. Before I came out people said the trucks don’t care. Be careful of your stuff and yes, you need to be sensible as with anywhere. The trucks toot you give you the thumbs up. If you signal last minute they stop. Literally almost stop. Hold traffic so you can turn. I have been slipstreaming Tuk Tuks, trucks lorries etc. People spot me doing it and offer me food, drink or as one guy did pulled over and offered me a lift. He thought I was nuts when I said I will just keep pedalling behind you. Not sure he got it until he pulled away and I jumped back on. Saw me in wing mirror and it was all thumbs out the window and tooting. 

   Child catcher. 

  Skipping girl. 

  Taking brother to school. 

 Everyone stops what they are doing and stares. Probably thinking ” look at the mad white boy in the mid day sun with the Beckham football shoes on. One guy asked me if they were football boots ????. As soon as I ring my bell (yes I have one. A golf one ????????) they light up. Kids, adults, construction workers even the police. Massive smiles and shouting “hello”. I have past schools where the whole playground (20-30 kids) stop what they are doing and run to the gates shouting. Their smiles beam. Keeps you going. 

  
Some useful info. Thailand change stirring. Cambodia only in banks. Some as Vietnam. Dollar is good. Just thought I would mention it. Thailand drive on the same side as us. Cambodia and Vietnam don’t. 

Shit loads of scooters everywhere but in Vietnam shit loads more than that!  

  
Today met these dudes. It was almost 5pm so can fully understand. Tried to get me to drink beer which for those of you that know me, tried is a little wired. I still had 20 miles to go so was on the water. Great bunch. 

  Oops wrong picture. 

  Their the boys !

Met these kids that were more than happy to motor ace me s mile. Gave them the equivalent of 50p and they were running round the moped.   

Hit a few dirt roads after 70 and 90 miles. Only 4 mile stretches but already dehydrated the dust didn’t help and my arse was not happy. 

Booked the smallest hotel room in the world in Phnom Penh.   

A busy place but nothing like Ho Chi Minh. 

Bed X 

   
    
    
    

 

Last 5 days. 13-17 March. 

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Whilst at the log cabin (last post)  I found a bottle with a message in on the beach  ????. Very exciting.


Actually contacted the girl who’s daughter threw it in back in January. It travelled 50k. Not exactly a 10 year journey but still fairly cool I thought.

The following day (13 March) we rode to the border of Cambodia. Had passports checked and stamped after paying some street guy 300BHT (£6) to photo copy our passports and fill some forms in for us. Felt a bit shady but I guess that’s the way it is.

img_1126.jpg We rode to first big town, Krung Khemara Phoumin booked a crap hotel where I could take a piss in the toilet whilst showering. My traveling companion, Jamie was woken by a massive cockroach on his face ????????????. They are big here too. I are one st the market but that’s a story for another blog. I thought hotel was ok actually.


The next day (14 March) we took a bus to Phnom Penh and then an evening bus to Siem Reap to see the temples that featured in Raiders of the lost ark. Arrived at 2am. A quick 3 mile night ride sea us at our next guest house and this one was great. Golden Takeo guest house.



Building bikes at bus depot. No one else there.

The following day. 15 March. We got a Tuk Tuk. (Motorbike that pulls a cart you sit in). Our driver was Tea Tea. Great guy. Spike great English and he totally made the day. Took us all round town, temples and for dinner that night. With a few beers obviously. For $18. We looked after him though. Had a great night out and Tea Tea said I should stay at his parents house the following night 60 miles away. I agreed.



Me. Tea Tea and Jamie. 
16th March.  Left late. 40 degrees out. Got on the back of a Tuk Tuk for a few miles at 25mph and the guy in the back signalled to me to pull over. He then gave me a 1.5 litre bottle of fresh pressed orange juice. It was his company that pressed it.


It was so hot (almost 42) I thought I might fry an egg on the road. The road temperature must have been 55+. It was not quite hot enough although I only waited arround for 5min.  ????????


Arrived at Tea Tea’s parents and although they spoke zero English they put me up. Fed me and I had a few beers with them. Had a few laughs too. Was great to spend a night with a family that live here.


17th March. They were up at 6. Which meant I was ????. Had an hour or so riding in cool 26 degrees ????.  Got hot again though and I was tired. Managed 50 miles and got to hotel by 2. Need some beauty sleep. Planned an optimistic 100 miles to Phnom Penh tomorrow. Want to visit the killing fields. A few pictures of today below. Good night.

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Cambodia tomorrow.

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Today was a rest day. Booked a nice but very basic lodge by sea. We are the only ones here so very quiet although tonight there seems to be a coach load of karaoke singers arrived. 

Last two days we have covered 75 miles and have had some super hot days. Both hitting 40 plus. Tomorrow Cambodia !

I have had a cold and feel a bit tired due to zero riding before I came out so pleased for the rest ????????????. 

A few pics from the last few days:

  

Watermelon lunch. We gave the guy one of our jerseys. No way it would fit but he seemed very happy as you can see. ????

   
 
Good marked in Trat. Great food. Ate till I felt sick for £3. 

  
Spent the rest of the night squatting mosquitos with my Crocs. 

   
 
Road side lunch. £1 ????

Had a bright idea on the beach ????????

 

  Last night and tonight’s lodge. Good night X 

Mae Rumphueng beach to Chanthaburi.

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Great day today. Left a little late though so rode in heat of day longer than would have liked but got some great mileage done. 64 to be exact. 

The heat makes it a lot harder than I thought but it has been hotter than expected too. We have seen temperatures as high as 41 in Bangkok city. The average temperature we have been riding in is 32 Celsius. Sun is strong too. I had a base layer on today you can just see the light through it if you hold it up to the sky. I burnt through it. Now I have a permanent pair of white bib shorts on ????????☀️☀️. 

  
The bike has been faultless. Pic below of it before today’s trip outside the hotel. 

  
Before lunch which was home made veggie pizza we saw this fellow on the road. No snake bites so far though on the WTB Nano tyres ????????. Sorry.  

 
Lunchtime was a chance to remove the shoes which reminded me to mention that they are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn!  Brand new out box never peddled a yard and I ware them here, in 35 degree heat for 200 miles currently and forget they are even new shoes. Had to mention it. Great job Gaerne ????. 

  
Even managed some riding along the beach this morning ????.  

That’s the base layer by the way. It’s not perforated or anything! 

 
Food time for me now. Hope to have another good day tomorrow. 

Had these as a starter at the food market. Locusts. Bug things and a massive cockroach looking thing. 

  

 

Beats working ????

Pattaya to Nice Beach Hotel in Mae Rumphueng. 

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A quick update. Ride 60 miles today through some great countryside away from the main road with temperatures in low 30s C. Hard work in the heat. 
Ate lunch for a £1 and booked hotel for £11. Nice to be out of Pattaya it’s much cheaper. 

Got some more nice sunset pics on the beach before dinner. The Thai food is amazing, can’t get enough of it. ????????☀️