Days 27 -29
Several friends and family members have warned us of Typhoon Haiyan and after seeing its destructive capabilities in the Philippines, we decided to stay put for a few days before Haiyan passes. Fortunately for us, the typhoon petered out and made landfall in China, just sweeping the coast of Vietnam. We experienced some high winds, and very little rain.
We have now had a great amount of rest (12 hours of sleep per night), home-cooked meals, reading, language study, (Mandarin for me and Vietnamese for Cher). We also have chosen a route to Laos. Despite our reservations about passing through or near Hanoi, we eventually decided that AH1 is the safest route to cycle on to get to our next climbing destination Vang Vieng. We are now organized, lubed, fed, refreshed and eager to start the next leg of our journey.