Kids First Riders

[Jason Woelfel's account]

I don’t normally keep a journal, but in the interest of satisfying those inquiring minds out there I thought I’d make an exception. Besides, Arden Norvold sent us a very nice guide with pictures, schedule, and blank pages to write in. She’s Chairman of the Board and Kid’s First President. The transpacific flight to Asia lasted 14 hours. The trip to Hanoi was another 5. Though the trip was long, we adjusted quickly and hit the ground running. Our first day in Vietnam was Sunday, February 22nd.

Tortoise Tower, Hanoi

Although the bike tour was the main event, our schedule was full of other activities that allowed us to explore the Vietnamese culture and its history. We arrived in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, about 1:30pm. Hoan Kiem Lake in the center of town proved to be a great place to walk and sightsee. Many large, ancient trees lined the shores. Tortoise Tower sits on an island in the middle of the lake, tied to the legend of a magical sword used by emperor Le Loi to defeat the Chinese and given back to the Golden Turtle God. The ice cream in Vietnam is very good. After seeing enough of the lake, we ventured into the street commerce and markets of the city.

Jason gets a shave

While approaching a streetside barber I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten my razor and my chin was getting itchy. I motioned to him and prepared for a relaxing shave. The straight razor blade was very dull and I began to get nervous, wondering what infections I could get from an open wound. My fears were unfounded, however, because this gentleman showed marvelous talent with his meager tools. My face was not as smooth as I would have gotten it, but it was worth $3.00. The rest of the afternoon was spent walking through town observing local shops, traffic, and a few monuments.

Hi Chi Minh's Tomb

One particular landmark was a highlight of our stay in Hanoi; Ho Chi Minh’s tomb. He was the first communist leader of Vietnam. Tourists, school children, and local residents line up early in the morning to take the tour. No one is allowed to take anything inside, and a list of rules are posted for everyone to follow. To summarize, the line of visitors must remain two-abreast with no gaps, hands by your side, no smiling or talking - laughing is definitely not appropriate - and no stopping. One rule explains the dress code, “…no unserious costume,” which means wear long pants. It made us laugh. Good thing we were not in line when we read it. Every sign here has been translated with not-so-perfect English and is usually very entertaining to read. We did not expect to see Ho Chi Minh in the flesh, literally. It was like open casket, but more open so that everyone could see. The glass was very clear without even a blemish, though at an angle as we turned a corner I could see it ripple. I would have taken a picture if that was allowed. Pretty erie seeing this man decades after his death. Continue reading “Journal of Bike Tour Events”

8,000 skulls were excavated at The Killing Fields and put in a stupa to honor the victims.

A visit to Cambodia gave us three days to learn about its history. First on our list was The Killing Fields, the largest burial site from the Cambodian genocide in the late 1970s. On this site the remains of thousands of victims still lay in the ground. A memorial, called a stupa, holds 8,000 skulls honoring the dead. Overall two million - almost a third of Cambodia’s population - lost their lives to the Khmer Rouge, between 1975 and 1979. We also visited the prison, once a school, where many were tortured.

There are many floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. People live here because it's free. We saw floating churches, a school, and a basketball court. The water was very dirty, though, and the stentch was almost overwhelming.

Next we toured several ancient temples more than 1,000 years old. Please visit our photo gallery. After that, we took a boat ride to one of the floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. One of the observations during our journey through Cambodia was that many people are poor and desperate, even when compared with Vietnam.

A young girl pours palm sugar into a mold to make candy.

We saw many young children (as young as 8-12) working in construction sites, selling goods in the markets, and peddling souvenirs at tourist attractions. Many children might attend school for four years, then drop out to support their family. 60% of the population is under age 20. The illiteracy rate is 65%.

In town, straw shacks lined the dirty river. This river is used like a sewer. To say that we witnessed unsanitary conditions is an understatement. This might sound to you like we had an awful time, but we did not. Enlightening, yes, but also enjoyable.

Visit our photo album for a visual tour. Full captions and journal will be coming, so please check back later.

Although our bike tour portion of the trip is over, we still have several more days in Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). The ride lasted 5 days with a moderate pace. The ocean rides were very enjoyable as was the meandering through farmland and countryside. Hoi An marked our last day of the ride, an ancient town with interesting buildings, vendors and markets.

A ride to the beach rewarded us with a great view and swim in the South China Sea. This is where I encountered a small group of children swimming and playing on the beach. As with most children, they greeted me and were very friendly toward westerners. One noticed my camera and invited me to take their picture. I have to admit I am a little shy taking pictures of people, as I do not wish to offend or make uncomfortable.

I will share more later, with a complete journal of events and more photos. Stay tuned…