“This isn’t a tale of derring-do, nor is it merely some kind of ‘cynical account’; it isn’t meant to be, at least. It’s a chunk of two lives running parallel for a while, with common aspirations and similar dreams.” – Ernesto Guevara, The Motorcycle Diaries

There’s some thing special about a motorcycle.  It’s such an amazing way to travel.  Romantic and adventurous by nature.  But it’s more than that.  It allows you to feel apart of your surroundings while traveling.  A bus or a car isn’t the same.  There is a mental and physical barrier.  On a bike you are forced to confront the world, even if you are uncomfortable.  You instantly become connected with the environment and soon after the culture.

That’s what I hope this column will embody.  To steal a quote (and not to mention the title of this column) from Che, “it’s just a chunk of my life, of my aspirations and dreams”.  I will take you along my travels as I explore Vietnam.  Most of these trips will be one to two-days excursions exploring the area outside of Saigon.  The countryside is inviting and rich in culture.  I encourage you as the reader to involve yourselves.  Throw a dart at the map near Saigon and ask me to drive there.  Or better yet, if there is a favorite part of Vietnam that you know of, either from personal experience or from stories you have read, recommend that I explore it.

In Vietnam, and most of SE Asia for that matter, the motorbike is the preferred mode of transportation.  It’s cheap and functional.  The machine is usually an auto or semi automatic transmission that is rated no more than 110 cc.  But don’t let that fool you.  You can easily get up to speeds of 100 km/h.  That is, if a water buffalo doesn’t get in your way first.  Here entire families transport themselves from one city to the next.  Unimaginable amounts of goods are piled upon these motorized bodies as local Vietnamese play their role in the building of a capitalistic Vietnam.

Once, not so very long ago, the water buffalo was an important member of the farming family.  Often times, it was treated better than anyone else.  Now, this buffalo is being traded in for a motorbike.  It won’t be long until every family in Vietnam has one.  There are more than 80 million people in this country, which is smaller than the state of California.

I have riden some form of a motorcycle in almost 10 different countries over the past 3 years.  I have seen the sun set on the amazing mountain scape of Vietnam and China.  I’ve seen the waterfalls meet the ocean in the northern Philippines.  I’ve even been lost in southern Cambodia hopelessly searching for a hotel while driving without a headlamp at night.  Each trip offers it’s own adventure and story.  I look forward to being able to share these with you.

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Kevin German is a photographer who lives and works from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  His column, “The Motorbike Diaries” appears every other Wednesday.  He is a founding member of Luceo.