Thread: My Trip Through Vietnam

Don't see any "devastation"

Originally Posted by kaa45

Don't see any "devastation"

The place was riddled with craters - anywhere that wasn't a large city. Complete townships gone - cities destroyed.

Hi,
great trip, how did you find the Urals? I didn't know they were still being made, last I heard of them was back in the early 70s.
Was it a privately organised trip or were locals and $$ involved?

cheers

Just need a couple of Hueys flying up the valley.

awesome can you post more pics?

Originally Posted by alexturner

The place was riddled with craters - anywhere that wasn't a large city. Complete townships gone - cities destroyed.

Did you see my brothers legs, he left them over there. Left them there and came back with Hep C from infected blood from the transfusion afterwards and has suffered terribly ever since.

I know you're young and I know the Vietnamese people suffered horribly but don't forget devestation went both ways in that war. Please don't forget our vets and what the war did to them. I hope you gave at least some thought to them when saw the after-effects of war. Its good to see time has healed many wounds and I envy you your great adventure.......more pics please.

Originally Posted by ugu80

Did you see my brothers legs, he left them over there. Left them there and came back with Hep C from infected blood from the transfusion afterwards and has suffered terribly ever since.

I know you're young and I know the Vietnamese people suffered horribly but don't forget devestation went both ways in that war. Please don't forget our vets and what the war did to them. I hope you gave at least some thought to them when saw the after-effects of war. Its good to see time has healed many wounds and I envy you your great adventure.......more pics please.

Hey mate I totally understand and I also understand that our vets had no choice. My grandfather served in Vietnam and to this day he refuses to share his experiences. I don't agree with the cause of the war as (from the Viet's side anyways) it seems as if the Americans came and trashed every square metre whilst no Viet visited American land.

Never the less History has taught us to move on from the past and learn from our mistakes.

The Urals we rode were ex military police vehicles that once carried side-cars. Apart from the trip being an amazing experience (historically) - riding a motorcycle that didn't stop, didn't go and couldn't turn was unbeatable rider training. Having busses coming towards you at 80Kph on a one way road - on the side of a cliff-face was daunting to say the least. As the Ural was designed to carry a sidecar when you'd lean to one side, the Carb would flood and you'd lose a cylindar... or the whole motor...

The trip was organised by an Aussie (The same bloke that took the Top Gear guys around) but many 'on-the-spot fines' were paid to the local police. All in all I believe I travelled a total of 3000km on the Ural and broke down 30 odd times - once requiring a road-side engine rebuild.

One of the guys on the trip (a budding film-maker) filmed all the events from the ex US-army Jeep and has made a movie from the events. So far he has uploaded the trailer to Youtube, but I'll be sure to link you when the film is complete. I'll upload more pictures tonight

Alex
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZsCWOzS8HM&feature=channel_video_title]YouTube - ‪The Wet & Winding Road Trailer 1‬‏[/ame]

Hi Alex

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

I was surprised to see craters still visible in the bush south of Darwin, left behind by the WW2 bombings.

I wonder if there is any politicians still alive, from both sides who are able to agree and tell us exactly why the Vietnam war was needed.

Cheers Arthur