We made an early start for the Vietnam border meeting our 2 drivers at 6am on the roadside with sunrise still 20 minutes away. The guys stuffed our backpacks on the front of their mopeds between their legs and we set off for the 80km ride. There is no tarmac at all, just dusty red tracks. Whenever a truck went by it threw a wall of red dust in the air. We were all absolutely covered from head to toe in the stuff looking like we'd been tangoed!
Diane chatting with a chap who ownsthe land where they had just finished planting 200,000 rubber trees. Takes 5 years before the sap can be tapped from the plant.
Diane's driver had also run out of juice so after blowing into the tank to get the last dregs to the engine, he went off down the road to the closest petrol seller.
Dusty road to the border, nice to get off the bikes for a short break and appreciate the peace and quiet
Driver are you absolutely sure this is the right way ?
Wind picking up the dust from a passing lorry. We eventually got to the border at about 10.30am. A fairly remote place that sees very few westerners. We presented ourselves to border control like a pair of red dust devils. After a search of our backpacks we hopped in a waiting minibus. Whilst sitting in there, a border guard came over to the bus with a bag. Inside, were a couple of porcupines. There is a trade in almost all wild forest creatures. It wasn't clear whether they had confiscated the little critters or were selling them to the driver. Knowing the Vietnamese culinary repertoire they were probably destined for the dinner table 
Pepper plants. You can just see the little bunches of pepper corns hanging down. Picked fresh they have a really subtle flavour and are soft and green. Dried in the sun reveals the black pepper we love on our pizza and when that black husk is removed they are ground into white pepper.... now we all know about pepper.... Lesson over class :)
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