Vietnam

[Mizmazzle]

We’ve been in Vietnam a little over two weeks at this point. We landed in Da Nang way back at the beginning of this trip. At the end of the Da Nang leg we wanted to ride over the Hai Van Pass by motorbike. We found a place to rent the bikes, jumped in the Grab car and headed to start our moto journey. When we arrived to the bike rental place we jumped out super excited. Once inside we started filling out the paperwork for the bike and the horrific realization came crashing down on me…my cherished 33B had been left in the car, which had already left!!

This was my very first IH piece and had traveled all over the world with me ever since. My heart sank and a crushing feeling of sadness flooded over me. My shirt just drove off in the back of the car into the chaotic city of Vietnam. I literally almost started crying.

Morgan tried calling the Grab company to connect with the driver. The features on the app weren’t working. Our bike was ready and we had to leave asap. I was once so excited for this part of the trip and now I was just pissed at myself for not double checking the seat before we got out.

The owner of the rental company said he would try and get ahold of the company and asked what time we’d be back. Sadly I said, we won’t be back. We are moving on to another city.

Fast forward two weeks and we arrived to Hanoi at the end of our trip. So many wonderful things had happened and the people of this country have treated us like royalty. But I was still carrying around the feeling of sadness and loss from my 33B. We arrived to our final hotel of the trip and upon checking in this is waiting for me….

I couldn’t freaking believe it!!! The owner of the rental company had tracked down the driver and recovered my shirt!!! He sent it to my hotel for me and when I arrived….BOOM!!!

He saw how distraught I was and I conveyed how special this shirt was to me and he made sure I got it back!!! I freaking LOVE the people of this country!!!

[Tago Mago]

@Mizmazzle Wow, that is absolutely fantastic. Will probably make this shirt and trip even more special to you

[T4920]

@Mizmazzle that's amazing

So glad it was returned, wouldn't want any shade to be cast on such an amazing vacation!

What was the highlight of the trip for you guys?

[Tago Mago]

@T4920 you mean besides getting the shirt back

[ARNC]

@Mizmazzle great story. I wonder what comes next: shirt monogamy or locking up the 33B so it can never escape again?

[SKT]

@Mizmazzle what a story and adds another incredible memory to this trip. Thanks for letting us travel with you guys!

[mclaincausey]

@Mizmazzle amazing. A less cool version of this happened to my treasured belt from @seawolf many years ago when I left it at airport security in Minneapolis and thankfully was able to later retrieve from lost and found. And then there are the items that I wasn’t so lucky about. I try to forget about those.

[Denman John]

Glad to hear Vietnam has treated you so well!

Now, I remember you talking about getting a tattoo … any updates?

[ROman]

@Mizmazzle Great story and ending.

[Mizmazzle]

@Denman-John
Man! I had my tattoo consult yesterday. To do the dragon to match the tiger I already have in size and quality they worked up an incredible drawing. The problem is the session would be 10-12 hours!! I’ve for 7 hour sessions before. But that’s about my limit I think. 10-12 hours has me pretty freaked out. Need to decide in the next couple hours.

[Mizmazzle]

@T4920 oh bro!! I’m going to need to reflect on that one for a bit. The whole trip has had so many incredible layers!! Riding motos has been a huge highlight. We’re thinking about getting a motorcycle when we get back home !!

[Denman John]

@Mizmazzle You got this! You’re in the land of dragons in the year of the dragon … it’s fate.

Glad to hear you’ve enjoyed riding bikes there. Did you get a chance to ride the Ha Giang Loop? I heard there has been some flooding there recently.

[Mizmazzle]

@Denman-John haha. It is the year of the dragon!! Fuck. So many hours.

[Fadez]

@Mizmazzle the Vietnamese blew me away with their kindness, courtesy, and friendliness. Every small shop to big restaurant were always so happy to talk. Anyone and everyone practiced their English with me. If only one phrase. Random people shook my hand or thanked me for coming to their country. Especially when I was with Trang and they could tell we were together. You could see them so happy for us.

I’m so happy you got your shirt back. I kinda ruined my 212-WHT there and am a little salty about it. I couldn’t imagine a total loss. I’m so happy it made its way back to you. I feel like that’s the power of the Viet people. They really embody treat a neighbor as yourself. Good luck with your tattoo! It’s the year of the dragon you kinda gotta do it. Rồng is việt for dragon

[Mizmazzle]

@ARNC haha. That’s a great question. I think I’ll keep bringing it with me everywhere I go and next time not be such a nimrod about jumping out of the car so quickly.

[Mizmazzle]

@Fadez yeah man. Couldn’t agree more. Truly beautiful people. So glad you turned me on to SC/MC Hanoi chapter. Guess they’ve only been open for 3 weeks up here. Of course we had to swing through and support the cause!!

Chau was jonesing hard on the 25oz Fanny pack. Said it was his dream item.

[Fadez]

That’s so rad @Mizmazzle Im glad you got to check out the shop! Solid pick ups too. The trucker hats come in clutch

[seawolf]

What an epic trip!

[FlavourFade]

@Mizmazzle the 33b story is epic! When I travelled south east asia in 2017 for a couple months stuff like this happened so often, people you knew for a day spend a whole night helping you out with stuff you f'd up yourself out of pure kindness.

[T4920]

@FlavourFade I was in SEA for the first half of 2017 too, we may have crossed paths!