The Wow Travels

After getting a bus back to Hanoi (again!), I walked into the closest Motorbike rental from my hostel.
"I would like to rent a bike for four days, starting tomorrow", I ask the man.
"Where to?", the owner asks me.
"Mai Chau."
"Then you need a semi automatic."
"I don't know how to drive a semi.", I say.
"I teach you."
"Ok, thank you."
"As a deposit, I take passport or 150 dollars."
"I only have a 100 euro bill here."
"Can I trust you?", he asks and I laugh.
"Yes of course."
"You want a coffee?"
"No thank you, I don't drink coffee."
"A lemonade, then."

One lemonade, a lesson in semi-automatic bikes and a promise to come tomorrow later, I had a plan for the next four days. Drive 3h 30min to Mai Chau, explore Mai Chau for three nights and then go back to Hanoi, one day before my volunteer experience would start.
The next day, I got the bike.
I put on a mask and sunglasses. Less obvious that I was a tourist (driving without a license).
I started early and was absolutely not in a hurry. But just like when I am hiking alone, I forget to take brakes. During these 3h, I stopped once to get a green tea (and one stop at the gas station).
I went to my first homestay, Pu Pin. It was a village with absolutely nothing going on except wonderful landscapes and children that wave hello and ask what your name is. I booked this accommodation by accident. I put "Mai Chau" on booking.com, found a nice homestay and didn't check the location since I was on a motorbike and it didn't matter anyway.
I did not regret my decision. I was in a dorm with the beds on the floor, room divided by curtains. It was peaceful here.
After me, to more guys arrived, somebody from England, also on a bike, and a guy from Israel, with a taxi. He also did not check where this homestay was and had to get a Taxi from the actual Mai Chau Village. It cost him 700k dong, which is about 25CHF.
We ate dinner at the homestay. The owner prepared several small dishes, along with rice and soup, which was absolutely delicious. We talked about our travel plans, like the english guy renting a motorbike for a month and was now riding through Vietnam like that. He started in Ho Chi Minh.
The israelien guy was in Vietnam for vacation too, just exploring the nature and finding his way somehow to this remote village in the Mai Chau region.

The next morning, we had some Pho for breakfast and then I continued my journey with Jude, the english guy. We stopped at some waterfalls (Thac Go Lao, Thac Tat Nang), had a coffee (matcha) along the way and at some point, he continued farther up north and I made my way to Lac Village, which was the actual place people go when they go to Mai Chau.
The weather changed several times between okay-ish to misty and light drizzle. My driving skills were tested with lots of big trucks on the curvy mountain road, but either my skill or plot-armer protected me from getting crushed between two vehicles.

Arriving in Mai Chau, I suddenly saw lots of white people dressed up very... special. There was music somewhere in the background, some dubstep, even though Mai Chau itself was an idyllic place with green rice fields and farmers. I was confused.
I went to my homestay, checked in and asked the owner what was going on. It was 4pm and there was definetely a party somewhere.
The owner explained that this weekend, there is a cave rave in Mai Chau, a 3-day rave party inside the Mai Chau cave.
Aha I say, then I go to my dorm (a bed on the floor divided by curtains again) and take a nap.

I didn't see anything of the rave (only hear), and it wasn't too bad.
On the next day, I borrowed a bicycle from the homestay and went around Mai Chau, relaxing in this nice place, reading a bit and having some tea while looking over the rice fields.

Another night and it was already time to go back. I started at 11am, since that was the check out time in the homestay. Again, I rode with only one break, where I saw along the mountain pass a rock with a flag on top and I decided to climb it to get some nice pictures.
Another stop for gas, then in Hanoi a stop for gas to bring back a bike with a full gas tank.
With no problems I rode into the busy streets of Hanoi Old Quarters and made it back safely, returning the bike and checking into my hostel.
In the evening, I rewarded myself with a nice oolong milk tea (not as nice as in Taiwa n, but still), and I packed everything ready for my volunteer experience starting the next day.

Four days spent well, I would say.
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