Well… I made the right call I guess. I am already getting a bit sick; so going into 12c water and freezing my ass off would’ve not been the best decision.

So I paid the entrance fee for Dark Cave but when I put on my boardshorts I was already shivering so much I didn’t want to push my luck. Everyone tells me it was really awesome but its not worth losing a few days of being sick. I need to make it south.

Apparently the weather around the world is changing because it has never been this cold around here. (Coldest day in Vietnam ever registered 25JAN) Everything is build for extreme hot weather, the locals are also pretty shocked about this temperature… And then you thought you left Holland for nice warm weather… Think again!

While my travelbuddy was doing the cave I decided to just drive around, I drove around the nicest road I’ve ever seen and almost made it all the way to Laos. My motorcycle experience comes in handy here, although the quality of the scooters is really bad! Also I kind of miss my gear, my boots, helmet, gloves, pants and jacket would be really nice now. Too bad I couldn’t minify it!

Ah well just be smart and I will be fine. (Mom I promise to be careful!) Although the helmet you got me is still in Netherlands, I’m taking the spirit with me!

— update 27 Jan 7:00 ICT

So I’m now in a mini-van, going to Hue via the DMZ (Vinh Moc Tunnel complex)

— update 9:40 ICT

The tunnels where impressive and made me realize how awful war is. Changes your mindset about refugees, more people should try it. But I can relate: its really hard to imagine if you are sitting in your central heated house having to go to Albert Heijn for some food and access to basically everything in the world at the click of a button.

And I saw the sea!!! With actual waves, they kind of reminded me of Holland. Brown murky water; not so much swell… But it got me stoked anyway.
Surfing is like heroin… Truly addictive! Oh I so miss surfing, I’m willing to get sick for a few nice rides ^-^

Update 13:00 ICT
Now arrives safely in Hue… Already halfway through Vietnam! Tomorrow the famous Hang Va pass (Top Gear drove it) and off to the tailors in Hoi An

OMG! Its fucking freezing!!! Really it’s Sooo cold, and im not prepared for this. I got here with a night bus and arrived at  04:00 the only good thing was I could obtain a highly desirable blanket only the Vietnamese guard woke me up at 6:00 and took it off me for some unobtrusive reason.