BIKE RIDE

HOI AN to HUE on the back of a motorbike

We'd been told all about the company 'Le Family Riders' who organise trips on motorbikes out of Hue in central Vietnam. The one day trip via the Hai Van Pass (as featured in the now 8 year old 'Top Gear' - Vietnam Special*) was near the top of our 'to do' list. It proved to be possibly our best experience and highly recommended. 

* Despite the years since this programme was broadcast, Jeremy Clackson, in contrast to his current falling star status in the UK, is regarded as some sort of demigod in this part of Vietnam. They sing his praises and give thanks to the fact that everyone visiting this area wants 'to do' the 'Top Gear' Ocean Cloud Pass - "a deserted ribbon of perfection - one of the best coast roads in the world". The PR has been welcomed, certainly by 'Le Family Riders'.

This day trip can be done in either direction. As we were in Hoi An we were collected from our hotel at 9 o'clock (on the dot) by Mr Thang and his son Dung. Our luggage we strapped on the back. Helmets were supplied and we climbed aboard to ride pillion on a journey we'll never forget.

See our map for a guide of the route and check out some of the numerous videos posted on YouTube by loads of fellow riders (links will appear at the end). They do capture it and bring it all back.

On yer bike

Marble Mountain > Danang > through the mad traffic to the airport, to collect some left luggage, we'd left when we arrived the previous Sunday, a good example of 'Le Family Riders' going out of their way to go the extra mile. Something that would continue all day, as they really looked after us.

Along the deserted waterfront at Danang and on to the 'Hai Van Pass'. Most of the local traffic goes via a tunnel under the mountains, so apart from a few trucks, one full of pigs, the pass was mostly clear and ideal for motorbikes with opportunities to pull over and admire the scenery as we made our way up the switch back road.

A little wind swept on top

Lunch with a view

After pausing at the top for views that showed the sun increasingly breaking through the clouds, lunch called and what a lunch too. A restaurant on stilts on the Lang Co bay lagoon called 'Son Hai' and a table full of fresh seafood, which was delicious, with a view to match.

Fed and watered it was back on the bikes as the narrow road skirted the lagoon, we sat back (not literally!) to enjoy the ride. A visit to Elephant Springs and a chance to swim, which we side stepped, so soon after lunch and because the waters looked more chilly than inviting.

Via a fishing community before finally engaging the late afternoon traffic into Hue. Darting in and out of all the other road users a small posse of orange bibbed 'Family Riders' pulled into town, veering off to various hotel destinations. 

Le Poseurs !  Mr Thang, Margaret, Bill and Dung.

We sat with Mr Thang and Dung one last time in our hotel lobby. Thanked them for their company on a brilliant day out and wished them all the success in the future. Vowing to return some other day for a different trip. Truth was, I'd have happily done the whole thing all over again the very next day. 

Cost was $58 (U.S.) per person - door to door. Food and drink was included, as was Marble Mountain and the Springs. Book online at www.lefamilyriders.com  You can mention us, but Clarkson will probably get you greater nods of approval. 

Our best view.  (There's those jackets again)

Links to other 'Hai Van Pass' videos as promised:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDZGSerol6Y  (this one is long, but very good - music soundtrack)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZLhWGukmok  (arty, black and white video, in the rain - music is The Doors "Riders on the Storm")

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiPUdYu8YBc  (short video, but sweet)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=plB2ZURRjfc  (these people are on bicycles - the music is Mumford & Sons "Hopeless Wanderer")
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jOFuCCwKXg  (another ride but no music just natural sound - 11min video) 

Lumiere London

Aquarium. In a Telephone Box

A fantastic Light festival came to London over the weekend in the shape of Lumiere London. Produced by Artichoke the 30 Light Works were on for four evenings, illuminating the city from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
With a variety of amazing installations from different artists, and with Regent Street and Piccadilly closed to traffic, London was transformed and taken over by thousands of people enjoying the FREE show in a great atmosphere of wonder and happily just getting out in the city.

If you look carefully at the Aquarium (right) you'll see the pay phone dialling box (top left).

Called 1.8 London. This enormous net sculpture floated above Oxford Circus. 

Luminéoles above Regent Street.

Garden of Light, Leicester Square.

Margaret by the Garden of Light.

We didn't see everything and this is just a selection of the many shifting and changing light displays and of all the photos we took. 

Margaret had taken videos and animated sound bites of 'Keyframes' dancing all over a building, bird boxes in the 'Sanctuary' and 'Lightbenches'. Some of these files were pretty large, which I couldn't reduce, so I decided against loading them.

However I have placed one of the smaller files at the very end - more as an experiment to see - no sound I'm afraid but the Luminéoles do float back and forth to give you some idea. 

The Light of the Spirit.
On the West Front of Westminster Abbey, were kaleidoscopic illuminations by Patrice Warrener.

December 2015

All our very best wishes

We back… jammin'

It's nearly four years since we last made any Jam, due mostly to the yearly bounty of plums from my garden no longer being available. But this year having picked loads of blackberries while out cycling around Hurley, we then came by a windfall of apples. So we put the two together and present for 2015 our double batch of M&B jam.

Batch 1: Blackberry & Apple. 

Batch 2: Apple & Blackberry

The second batch was named differently for no better reason other than it had more apples than blackberries compared to the first batch.

Both are labelled 'Phoney Jam'. Geddit ?

November at the Cinema

The month's big film release was undoubtedly James Bond in 'Spectre', which is excellent and a must see on the big screen. 

However, two other films have come out that should also be on a not to be missed list. 

Brooklyn

The tale of a female Irish immigrant in 1950s Brooklyn, NY is a wonderful film. Starring Saoirse Ronan (pronounced Sear-sha).

The Lady in the Van

We actually saw this earlier in the year at a pre-production screening and were sworn to secrecy. Now we can tell you, it's great. Starring Maggie Smith as the Lady and Alex Jennings as the man in whose driveway she parks her van. True story.

*Coincidentally the excellent Jim Broadbent appears in both these films

Now pay attention 007. We have a budget of $245 million, can you by the 25 November make $683 million worldwide?

James Bond can do anything.

October 2015

Venice and birthday celebration.

This month has been about celebrating Margaret's birthday.
First of all in Venice
(see: http://mandbtrips1.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/venice.html and then with friends at our Italian restaurant across from the flat.

Having avoided the hundreds of selfie-stick wielding tourists, here we are practising
our own selfie pose on the very picturesque Venetian island of Burano. 

Happy Birthday and cake too.

September

Much of this month has been spent planning next month !  Watch this space…..
So for now here's a couple of pictures of the amazing Red Arrows taken at the Bournemouth Air Show in August.

I also had a short video of an RAF Typhoon flying past the beach front, but it wouldn't load onto the site even though it was only 12 seconds long.

August

The highlight of this month was our day at the Bournemouth Air Show on Friday 21st August.
Unfortunately the following day at another Air Show, 70 miles away in Shoreham a plane crashed while performing a manoeuvre, killing people on the ground. 
Writing about our fantastic day and posting pictures in the light of this tragic event seems inappropriate at this time.
Maybe at a later date.

Family Photos

Left to right: Aunt Theresa, cousin Elaine, Aunt Geraldine and Margaret.

Margaret, cousin Graham and his wife Gina.

Margaret and cousins Stephanie and Sarah (with Chloe hiding)

Aunt Theresa, cousin Mandy, Aunt Eva, Margaret and Elaine.

July 2015

See: http://mandbtrips1.blogspot.co.uk

Says: Your are the better for Guinness. Don't argue, I say!

15th June: 1215 – 2015

Magna Carta 800th - The River Relay

Two days before the official ceremony at Runnymede to mark 800 years since Magna Carta, a river relay took place starting at Hurley and arriving at Runnymede on 15th June. This received very little TV coverage by comparison. We were there at Hurley Riverside for that start at 9am, to witness the re-enactment of the story and the first boats leave to row down river.
Later in the day we caught them at Cookham Moorings. Joined by the Queen's Row Barge 'Gloriana' and an extended cast of players for another performance all about the Great Charter. (We took a 13 minute video - which unfortunately is way to large a file to post here).
For more on Magna Carta: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta

This way to Runnymede.
Queen's Row Barge 'Gloriana' arriving at Cookham accompanied by numerous river craft.

Transporting the Charter, the lady (centre) wearing glasses, has the scrolls.

'Gloriana' on route to a place in history.

May 2015

We're back down the van, messing about by the river…

Floral Flotilla

Labelled as part of the Chelsea Fringe, an alternative garden festival, held at the same time of the year as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Henley's Floral Flotilla mustered at Mill Meadows on a lovely sunny Saturday morning in May.

Powered and un-powered craft of various sizes, dressed and decorated in horticultural harmony, filled with participants as colourful as their vessels, paraded up and down the Thames, waving and singing their merry way. 

A catamaran with a circular table and chairs, all very civilised with glasses of Pimms and a mad-hatter. Boats with wicker arbours covered in lilac, lupins and dangling wisteria. Pink wigs - at least it looked like false hair? A home-made coracle that rather waddled along from side to side, moving slower than the ducks and a boat that was actually a car that was a boat. Not really James Bond 007, more Mr Toad & Wind in the Willows.

Brilliantly eccentric and loads of fun. 

Pimms anyone ?

Is it a boat ?  Is it a car ?