Der Sonne entgegen - Den Wind im Gesicht - Das Leben als Weltanschauung >>> Travel Alone But Not Lonely
South Vietnam – Hồ Trị An, Đồng Nai
South Vietnam, February 2023, Region Tri An Lake/ Hồ Trị An – SUP tour around the entire lake – Chèo SUP xun quanh Hồ Trị An.
Travel alone but not lonely!
(Description of pictures will follow as soon as possible.)
1st day paddling
First paddle strokes around the island „Đảo Ó – Đông Trường“.3 km ride to the mainland.Village of Thanh Bình. Refilling water can (20 l)Village of Thanh Bình.Schools is outTasty tropical fruit, bought in the villageThe journey can start. The sun is shining „well“!My board is traveling the first time in the tropics. But has done very well!Couldn’t withstand the fragrance. Despite being not really hungry. Nice lunch.Heading for the first sleeping place at the far west end of the lake.Will set up my camp on this little island not far from the shore.The Karaoke familySome silence here. Nights in Vietnam can be very noisy. Karaoke, dogs, roosters …The journey is about to start. The island Đảo Ó – Ðồng Trường was the place from where I set off to start the paddle trip. It began with a three kilometer open water crossing to the village of Thanh Bình. Tailwind!
2nd day paddling
They keep the house! (-: … and get on travelers nervesVietnamese coffee is so tasty!Now coke …… now coconut water …PapayaFloating restaurantFloating restaurantBask!You can enter only by crossing the water. https://lang-be-tri-toan.business.site/ https://goo.gl/maps/qzW4ByKD3cHVrkBP6Raft villages are to be found throughout VietnamDidn’t expect seaweed soup being so delicious!First storm. Had problems with setting up my camp and keep the board safe. Thanks guys from the campsite for your help!
3rd day paddling
Village of Mã đàThe market of Mã đàIt’s hot.You need good sunscreen.Lunch. I love these green oranges! They are normally used for making juice.In the tropics! Fruit plantation.Second lunch. Be aware! If you travel Vietnam! Your day could consist of 50 meals. There’s a lot of eating and lots of invitations to meals here! (-;Many anglers at the lake.I brought my SUP board from Germany to Vietnam. It’s my own.Some local angler, so I thought …This time only pictures of my work in Germany. Children’s entertainer.
Evening at the next campsite. Grilled fish. And vietnamese noodles … and …
4th day paddling
Vietnam’s weather is so hot, you need to apply sunscreen.Many Vietnamese eat mango unripe with a spice powder.I love the tropics!Typical countryside.A man with a conical hat called Nón Lá.Meet the locals.The local school of Cay Sung village.The teachers. Some of them wanted to marry me – noooo fun!!! …Always a head taller! (-:Guided village tour. The owner of this farm had a bomb crater on his land.Một hai ba zô! Cheers!
5th day paddling
From now on with a conical hat. A good source of shade.The lake is artificially, a reservoir of more than 300 km². Taking pics on the water is a bit tricky today because of the waves.There’s a lot of fish.Well shadowed by the Nón Lá.Next village in sight.Never seen such a vessel ….. but everybody is curious to test it.Some fun!Had some kind of mussels for lunch.Selfie timeTemporary home. Must be extremely hot inside.Taking a lunch break in the village of the New SUP lovers.I had countless coffees! (-;… and icecreamLife along the villages shoreline.As soon as I entered a village, I was followed by a swarm of children.On it goes.Travel alone, but not lonely.At first I liked these plants because they bloom so beautifully.Some weather ahead.My european tent is not made for the tropics as it turns out soon. Much better ventilation is needed.
Endless Horizon – Hồ Trị An
6th day paddling
Nice breakfast place.For Vietnamese this means food …Get ready for the next day.Floating houses everywhere.Some have tv and washing machine.Be aware of the sun! At the end of the trip I had blisters.Get the rain out from last night.FishermanFishing nets were all around. Sometimes difficult to cross.I nearly reached the estuary of river Dong Naii. So the far eastern end of the lake and turning point.Lorely place. But I have internet again. That was bad over the day.Back country here looks good.The place here wasn’t lonely for long.I got dinner and shower here.If your internet is bad, ask the locals for the Wifi login. Villages have their local Wifi.
7th day paddling
Powerpacks don’t like this sun. Two of mine ended up grilled … But they lasted long enough for the trip.Locals have fun with my board.Close to the far east end of the lake and La Nga bridge.Traditional life meets Google translation.Very modest and kind people.Some friendly „local guides“ took me to the village shop. (video below)The raft village shop.Never was shopping in such a floating store …… floating store(video below)They are always save on the water. The boy in the blue T-shirt stood at the very tip of the board and paddled.These plants look beautiful when they bloom… Was half an hour in the village for a coffee and an icecream, when I returned … In some areas you should be aware of th direction of the wind. This can happen quick …La Nga bridge. Turning point. Now heading west again, towards Saigon.For the night I ended up on an island. Not bad.Thanh Son https://goo.gl/maps/3Nk9zDrWSM5r8Cbh9Good night!
Some friendly „local guides“ took me to the village shop.
8th day paddling
Island Thanh Son https://goo.gl/maps/3Nk9zDrWSM5r8Cbh9These plants form small islands of just a few square meters. They drift with the wind.Two families are left to live on this island.Mango for lunchNgon quá.- DeliciousChilllllYou’re never lonely here.The swarm again (-:Selfies with the stranger.Dinner was not bad.I was given this jug filled with fresh coconut water and ice from an islands palmtree by one of the two families living still on this island. Very friendly people. Hope they are well. Thanh Son https://goo.gl/maps/3Nk9zDrWSM5r8Cbh9
9th day paddling
One day off, so no paddling. Discoverng the area on foot instead.bọ cạp – a scorpion – Can’t believe this. I sleep out there …English teacher needed.School is out.It’s better with ice though.Moon, Venus and Jupiter in a line. Was just looking for something to eat, but as soon as I entert the village, half of the villagers were followig my footsteps, watching every move. , Turning their necks when I pass by, watching me sitting on a stone eating something udefinable from a take away with big interest. They probably have never seen a European in their village … amazing. … I have full attention here.
10th day paddling
local storeCan you find my tent?You are one of the few guests I meet in a remote area – So I’m fine here! – Yes!That’s a general vietnamese probleme. Looking for a bin seems to be strange.Fruit was my main food over the day.Village of Bến Nôm 2 – A replacement village for the one submerged in the reservoir.Bến Nôm 2 Phú Cường Định Quán District Dong NaiThe woman who sold me the coconut water was the number one topic of conversation that evening.Bến Nôm 2 – CuriosityMy lips look bad.Bảy Cua Camping – Noisy campsite. A farmer had a diesel pump running all night, for watering his plantation.Curiosity! I think in some of the villages I visited a European never was seen. While having a coconut drink, they took tons of pictures of me – a few even sreamed me live, talking to their friends or followers about the stranger sitting in the „coconut bar“ of their village. While filming me with their mobiles one or two of them, you could say, literally scanned me from as close as one meter – starting with my (watersport) shoes, ending with my blue grey eyes. All live! I feld a bit like already been bodychecked at the airport! But they are friendly, just curious. (-: (Now you are live! (-; )
11th day paddling
Bảy Cua CampingBảy Cua Camping – not far a farmer kept his water pump running all night to water his plantation – and avoid any sleep …Bảy Cua CampingGood singers – Bảy Cua CampingFruit plantation.Plantation workers. – Every 200 meters an invitation.Waves and paper. Didn’t close the bag proper when I left to meet the guys above. Visa, plane ticket and so on …Right in time! Last day on the water .. It seems Vietnam isn’t willing to let me go yet.Good bye lake!Last night at the lake.
