Day 43: Sa Dec - Vinh Long - Frankie goes to.....Indochina

February 13, 2018

Day 43: Sa Dec - Vinh Long

Routing: some side street and #80

Yesterday I asked whether I had ever cycled less than 30 km in one day as I did just 28. Therefore today´s question has to be: Have I ever done less than 28 km on a full day of cycling without having any health or mechanical problems? Yes! Today. 26. If I do continue with such homoeopathic distances I will arrive in Malaysia around christmas....

The day started with the most yummy misunderstanding possible though. Last night I walked a street parallel to the river and saw a man eating a soup in a stall. I sat down, just pointed at his bowl and said: The same please! The same was actually the best broth I ever had in my whole life. Ever! It looked different than the Pho Bo`s I had so far but the lady didn´t understand my question whether it was called any different as well. She just pointed to the labelling on her cabinet and I thought I had eaten two bowls of Bo Bit Tet and went back this morning to order it again. What did I get served? A lovely meat dish of steak, minced meat, fried egg and potato on a sizzling plate.

I have time to talk about those things as the ride was over long before noon. I had started off on a bumpy but most enjoyable side road along the river which unfortunately only lasted for a bit less than half of the distance. The last kilometers had to be done on the very busy Hway 80 which was acceptable though due to a wide shoulder. When I got into town I was immediately fascinated by all the colour and market activities along the Mekong. My brief consideration to carry on a bit further as it was still so early turned into the opposite when I rolled past the Lo Phuc Hotel in that orchid pitch dominated side street. I saw their balconies facing the street and when I was shown the small but very bright, well equipped (fridge, excellent wifi, locker for the valuables) rooms for 300000 dong I instantly booked myself in for two nights. What I didn´t know then was the fact that stalls in the neighbourhood sell pets and as some of the pups are kept in cages outside their whining had impact on my sleep. I would still go back to that very same hotel again!

This is the glorious Pho Bo which I mistakenly held for...

... Bo Bit Tet (pronounced Todd). I am usually not the biggest fan of whole pieces of meat like steak but this one accompanied by some crunchy baguette was divine though!

These two amazons were trying to sell their flowers to me and....

...I wish I would have had the opportunity to transport some.

The Loc Phuc Hotel in Vinh Long with my little balcony on the very top of the picture

Today's ride: 26 km (16 miles)
Total: 3,450 km (2,142 miles)

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