of Backpacks and Beards

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Spending 2 months on a motorcycle and a scooter can be pretty enduring. You become very used to constant movement, spending only a few days in any one place and always keeping your eye on the map to pick your next destination. In Bali, there were so many options that kept us moving. In Vietnam, we simply underestimated the 2100km it took North to South and therefore had to be sure we… Read More

Vietnam by Motorcycle – There and Gone to Saigon Well, after 10 major stops, open roads and congested traffic, a new exhaust, clutch, front & rear brakes, tons of new friends, and 2158km through torrential downpour, scenic mountain ranges, beautiful rice fields, and beautiful beaches we made the trek by motorcycle from Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). We’ve had bumps, bruises, wrong turns, bad roads and worse directions. But after… Read More

It was honestly tough to leave Dalat after spending a busy few days and recognizing that our 30 day visa was coming to an end. Our next destination would be Mui Ne, a coastal strip of beach that’s essentially a quick stop resort town. We said goodbye to the staff at Ken’s Backpackers and they sent us off with water and bakery goods for the road ahead – I’ve literally never stayed… Read More

Although the strong Russian influx can make for a good time in Nha Trang we’d stayed longer than anticipated and it was time again to hit the road. Cloudy skies and rainy afternoons had made up the last few days so waking up to a bright sun and blue sky I knew it was a perfect day to be on a road we’d heard amazing things about. We drove a quick Banh… Read More

This week’s Foody Friday will feature a dish that I indulged in at least twice daily, if not more. It’s a perfect breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night snack. It’s absolutely delicious, it comes in multiple varieties, it’s available on virtually every street throughout Vietnam, and it should never cost more than a dollar – IT is Banh Mi. Banh Mi is essentially a delicious sandwich on a fresh baguette. You can… Read More

Day 12 After spending much more money than anticipated due to the purchase of a suit and some other odds and ends we knew we’d better set our sights on the next location, Nha Trang. Now, talking to a few other backpackers we’d heard mixed reviews about this city. Some people thought it was a blast, had great nightlife, a fun amusement park, and a beautiful beach to soak in the sun…. Read More

After 500,000d in bike repairs and a day of walking through the city of Hue’s historic sights we decided we’d again revert to our rubber tramp ways. Pulling out beneath the Imperial Enclosure gates we departed from Hue at about 9am, preparing for a full day on the road and to come upon the legendary Hai Van Pass. This infamous 21km stretch of road receives its praise from its beautiful scenic views,… Read More

Keep in touch, it’s simple. Send a quick email, use Facebook messenger, hop on skype for 20 minutes, or send a text with Imessage. When travelling you’re constantly being overwhelmed by new sensations, experiences, and things to do that the down time required to type a small message seems unavailable. However, as any traveller should know life isn’t always go go go and the time is usually available – it’s often the… Read More

If you’re planning on travelling through Vietnam, whether you’re starting in Hanoi and heading south or starting in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and heading north be ready to eat Pho at least 5 times a week if not more! It’s the staple food in every major, minor, and one shop town throughout Vietnam. Pho, and most commonly Pho Bo (‘Bo’ meaning Beef) is a Vietnamese noodle soup made from linguine-shaped white… Read More

Day 7 After two incredible days in Phong Nha it was again time to set our sights on the next destination, the historical city of Hue. We’d met a cool Scottish couple in Hanoi and for the first time we were in the same location so we figured we might as well ride as a squad. As we pulled onto the HCM highway I felt the first few light drops of rain…. Read More