China-Vietnam

My road : Kunming, Shilin, Luliang, Shizong, Luoping, Xingyi, Anlong, Tianlin, Bose, Tiandong, Pingguo, Long'an, Chongzuo, Longzhou, Pingxiang, border with Vietnam, Lang Son, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hanoï, from 04-19 to 2006-05-08.

Kunming came to retain me for such a long time because of visa, the city has no attraction and boring. I therefore try to wait by making small stroll by bicycle. After 5 days here, I breath taking up the road, especially as it is to find my parents. Leaving the city remains drudger, the only indications are for highways that I am forbidden to take. My solicitations with people are laborious, making me turn around without finding the desired direction. It must a man stopped a motorcycle, so that his driver serve me as a guide, driving me on the road to take. In the day, to my surprise I reached Shilin, a route for which I anticipated 2 days. I am here to explore the stones forest. The meeting of Jean and Patricia, let me know that it’s not cheap, but it worth trying. We will see tomorrow!
In the morning, I have bad surprise in asking me to leave the hotel, a crane arrived to put walls to the ground. Without panic I tell myself that it will be easy to stay elsewhere, as I planned my day to visit this site. It is going to be otherwise, making me rejected, or then extorting me more than I would want of yuans. Furthermore I am without having had my breakfast. All this eventually annoyed me, saying to me that I have many other discoveries to come. After to have swallow something, I climbed on my bike and leave it behind me this tourism imposed.

My route continues towards Vietnam, having settle a passage in the north east of Hanoi. I am going through a good weather, great blue sky and the sun pointing to the east. I find myself to ride on a new axis, becoming wonderful, among a landscape which gives a semblance of Madagascar with the red land. The area is agricultural with rape and wheat. What surprises me is that we are already to cut them. It's a manual work, and then make sheafs, loaded onto carts and small trucks. The relief is only small valleys, to find when it is not the cultures, wood of fir trees. It is a pleasure to be among this nature!

From Yunnan, I did a short crossing in Guizhou, bringing me to Xingyi. Very close, beautiful gorges are on the road to Ding Xiao. From there I arrive in Anlong. Remains me only one crossing of province, Guangxi, and then I would be on the border with Vietnam. The weather is past uncertain with the rain of the night, starting I feel a journey not easy. As soon as the first kilometer, in fact share the road start to climb, but that is not going to last, finding me on a riding axis, passing in shelf and overhanging the valley, the scenery is superb! Then it's a long winding descent that I find, could give freedom to my bike, and that about 30 km. For this stage, I fixed rally Juizhou, but the route goes back hard, regularly in ascent and under the warmth. In route, the crossroads of another cyclist makes me do a half turn to go to greet him, it is a Chinese who goes to Tibet. In my pursuit, a violent storm blocks me on the side of the road, with the lull came, I make return towards a house which I have within reach sight. The man open to me his door and asks me to take refuge inside. This is a real shower I took, questioning my host for a possible night. Immediately he leads me in the attic, making me understand that I can stay here in showing me a bed. Then asking him for a meal, the man starts to cook, and at the appropriate moment invited me to sit at his table, accompanied that we are of his wife. It once again especially to be there, alone with this couple and their children, people living of the land, probably very poorly, with only apparent good a television. And yet these people give me hospitality under their roof. The next day, I reach Tianlin after a week of cycling since Kunming. I take a rest day before continuing to Bose and Pingxiang. The road is fairly easy, coming to leave aside Nanning. Then I go through the country-side, mostly being alone on the road, crossing a region of karst peaks, and following the river Zuo. In my stops, people appear surprised to meet a foreigner, wondering what I come to do here. Going inside a market, I created fury and crowding around me, but very curious and fascinating people for whom time does not count, taking pleasure to stay a moment with them. The vegetation is extremely dense and can feel in the tropics regions, with the crops of sugar cane and bananas.

Pingxiang is my last stop in China, where I can meet and spend my time with a girl, Lancong and her boyfriend. It will remain a wonderful time, young people who are rapidly becoming new friends, and asking to see me again.

After a day of waiting, I shall leave China for Vietnam. Contrary to what we was told me, the procedures are simple and it does not concern my bicycle. I am now way to Lang Son, where I must find dong. But I was here a Saturday at noon, banks becoming undiscoverable or closed. It is to the glimpse of 3 young ladies that a solution is going to appear, leaving them a sum of yuan, after a few moments, 2 of them reappear with dongs.
The next day, I make a long trip bringing me to 50 kilometers from Hanoi, and to reach it the next day. There I am, I still have to wait 2 days to find my parents. On 11 May, the meeting again after a separation of 20 months. Our first days, we spend them to Hanoi, making a break by going to visit Halong bay. But back, we must find another destination. Hanoi has become a hectic city, with an impressive number of mopeds, causing noise and pollution. It therefore go to the north and Sapa, a place which was unknown to me until now. Here, it's clean air and quietness that can be found, even if that place now is becoming tourist center. One advantage for a week, regularly travel from the village on foot, and mix with ethnic groups from the region. A trip by jeep takes us into villages and scenery of rice paddies absolutely superb and impressive. A remarkable work is made, in not easy conditions, and with a rudimentary equipment. Behind all this comes the day to return to Hanoi, our stay whole approach to its end!

My parents being returned to France, on my side I was back to my trip, I prepare for a new start, to return to China, then pursue toward southern hemisphere and Australia.