Funny stories when being off-road
It was 12:00 then and I was in Gia Lai based on the road from Buon Me Thuat to Quy Nhon. I and my friend were dealing with Google Maps in such crazy hot weather. We must choose between driving in 2 hours and driving in 45 minutes by shortcut as we were supposed to travel a whole circle based on provincial road number 662. However, if we choose to go based on shortcut, we just have to go straight. The provincial road number 662 was about 60 to 70 kilometers. As for the shortcut, it took us a very short time to reach Kong Chro district. After we had driven about 30 meters following the shortcut, we saw a crossroad which was different from what we search on Google Maps. Eventually, we decided to follow the shortcut. We asked local people whether we are going the right way. Luckily, they nodded their head and looked at us as if we were aliens.
The shortcut was full of sand, which made it difficult to move. We had to depend on Google Maps for road instructions. Suddenly, my friend shouted “ Oh shit, we have lost mobile phone signal”. I started to panic. Then an ethnic man driving a kid with black skin as result of sunburn appeared.
“ Hey, this road leads to Cong Cho district, doesn’t it?” I said to him
They didn’t seem to understand what I was saying.
“Kong Chro?” the kid asked me.
“Yes. That’s it, Kong Chro district” I tried to spell exactly like the kid.
Then we followed them but we could not keep up with them. We drove on many sandy roads in the first 3 kilometers. Then we had to drive on slopes of 45 degree covered with many rocks. This road was for farm vehicles only. We could not overtake the farm vehicle in front of us as the road was too narrow. Consequently, we had to suffer from its emissions.
It is only 20 kilometers off road, but sometimes I wonder what happens if there is something wrong with my motorbike. It is quite a problem being stuck in the middle of forest. It is the first time that I have experience “off-road”. In fact, there are moments when I am afraid and want to give up. However, I try to eliminate such negative thoughts and keep on driving. It is conquering, isn’t it?
Some interesting tours to Asia are Vietnam and Cambodia tours, Thailand Vietnam Cambodia tour and Vietnam Cambodia Laos tour