Docket Day 2: Bicycle

Another early start to the day. We filled up on the hotel's breakfast buffet (which was not nearly as good as Ruby's) and headed to Vietnam Active to meet up with our guide for the full-day bike tour. The tour began with a leisurely ride through the city (yes, that's sarcasm, since there are no stop signs in the city, there are traffic lights at only ten percent of the intersections, and no one actually abides by the traffic lights at all). But we were out of the city pretty quickly, and cruising alon the countryside. To be clear--because it was not clear to me when and if we were on or going to the "countryside"--the countryside is a cement path about ten feet wide that winds through the jungle forest between little villages. I make this clear, because the tour literature and the tour guide kept using the term, and when I think if countryside, I think of a highway running through wide open spaces. Anyway, We made our way to the base of the nearest mountain and took a right. That's a right up it, I mean. It Was a good thing they supplied us with super nice, rugged mountain bikes, because there was some steep rock climbing going on. A first for both of us and super fun. We headed down the other side of the mountain and made our way to the Ancient House, where we swam in the beautiful pool and ate a yummy lunch. On the way back through the countryside, we stopped for some fresh sugar cane and made it back to the city just in time to get the massages that came with the tour...what a deal -- bikes, drinks, lunch, guide, multiple stops for treats, and a 60-minute massage to boot, all for only $65/person.