DAY42 Tan Son Nhat International Airport: Ho Chi Minh-KIX(Osaka)

Day 42, I woke up at the airport, my head was hazy and I wasn't sure if I had slept or not.

My body still hadn't accepted the loss of my daily routine of running at sunrise.

The end of a travel is always cruel like this.

There are countless tourists at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Of course there are solo travelers and couples, but also families on trips, and groups that look like they were on a package tour organized by an agricultural cooperative in the Showa era in Japan...

People who come to the city for the first time from rural areas and board a plane look like that at a glance.

When you keep moving every day, you lose your desires.

If I can sleep in a place with water and food to survive the day, and a roof, ceiling, and walls to protect you from the rain and wind, I have a simple feeling that everything is okay.

When I return to my normal life, I'm covered in worldly desires again, but sometimes going on a trip like this helps me reset my consciousness.

These are the Altra Torin 7 that I started wearing at the beginning of this year.

They provided solid support for my 1,350km run across Vietnam.

Considering that I didn't have any foot injuries, these shoes were a perfect match for me.

Global Wi-Fi was my constant companion throughout my trek to Vietnam.

Not only did it send me real-time information no matter where I was, but it was also an essential item for me to always catch the information I needed.

I waited about six hours at Cam Ranh International Airport and then took off about 40 minutes later. It was incredibly fast to travel a distance that would take 10 days to run in that time.

Moved from the domestic terminal to the international terminal.

At 9pm, I spent the night at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

There was a delay in the flight, so I ended up waiting at the airport for about 30 hours.

It was interesting to watch people coming and going.

It was also meaningful that Ho Chi Minh City was marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

I finally took off at 2:35am on May 1st.

I arrived at Kansai Airport around 9:30am on the same day.

It's been about a month and a half since I left Osaka. I'm feeling nostalgic about a lot of things.

*Today's distance: 0km 

 Total distance from Noi Bai International Airport: 1,350km

*Today's photos are here

*YouTube video playlist is here

DAY41: Final Run to Cam Ranh International Airport

On the final day, Day 41, I woke up at 3:30 as usual.

The airport was about 6km away. The scheduled departure time was 6:15pm, so arriving too early would only mean a longer wait.

Still, it was better to go outside than to stay in the hotel.

I checked out before 11am, but the right rear tire of the buggy was flat. I immediately replaced the tube.

It was my first flat tire in Vietnam. There was no foreign object in the tire, so it was probably caused by the deterioration of the tube.

I arrived at the airport in no time. It was a very unexpected final run.

I dismantled the buggy and took a break at a cafe after settling down. I had banh mi and cafe muoi for lunch.

I checked in at the counter after 4pm. The buggy cost an additional 4,000 yen.

The plane was delayed due to strong winds. In the end, it departed at 7:10pm, about an hour later than scheduled.

There was no point in rushing. It was a 45-minute flight to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

I walked a little from the domestic terminal to the international terminal.

There was a quiet area on the third floor, but the air conditioning wasn't very good and it was hot, so I went down to the second floor.

There were many people departing on the second floor as well. There were chairs, so I waited there.

I am supposed to leave Ho Chi Minh City for Kansai Airport at around 1am on May 1st. I arrive at Kansai Airport just after 8am on the same day.

It's always easier to run than to wait.

All I got to do is wait patiently.

*Today's distance: 6.8km 

 Total distance from Noi Bai International Airport: 1,350km

*Today's photos are here

*YouTube video playlist is here

DAY40 Off@Cam Ranh

 

I woke up later than usual, finished working on my computer, took a shower, had a light meal, and headed out to town. It was already 31 degrees by 10am. I was sweating after just walking 1km along the Asian Highway.

As usual, there wasn't anything in particular I wanted to see or eat, but I walked, keeping my eyes peeled for anything unusual.

This was my last time seeing the various shops and signs along the Asian Highway.

I went into a restaurant and ordered Banh Xeo, the Vietnamese version of okonomiyaki, and sugarcane juice.

I realized that I had only eaten limited kinds of Vietnamese food.

Well, it's not like I'm on a gourmet trip, so it's fine.

I bought food for tomorrow and Vietnamese coffee powder as souvenirs at the supermarket.

When I get back to Japan, my family will be in a Vietnam boom for a while (lol).

There are many Vietnamese restaurants and stores selling Vietnamese food in Osaka Prefecture.

I knew there were a few in Tondabayashi, but I haven't visited them yet. I'll definitely visit them when I get back to Japan.

I think there is something in common between the food we eat because we are all the same rice-eating people.

In other countries (especially America and Europe), there are quite a few foods that I don't like, but strangely, there was nothing that tasted bad in Vietnam.

I'm sure I'll discover many things in Thailand, Cambodia, and India, which I will visit in the future.

The 29th was Showa Day. I left before noon and headed to Cam Ranh International Airport. I disassembled the buggy and took an evening flight to Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

On the 30th, I spent the whole day killing time at the airport. My flight back home departed at around 1am just after midnight. I'm scheduled to arrive at Kansai Airport around 8am Japan time.

Finally, I'll back home. The end of the travel is somewhat sentimental. Will I suffer from Urashima Taro syndrome for a while?

*Today's distance: 0km 

 Total distance from Noi Bai International Airport: 1,343.2km

*Today's photos are here

*YouTube video playlist is here

DAY39 Nha Trang-Cam Ranh

Day 39, I slept well and feel good.

Today I run 40km to Cam Ranh.

On the 29th, I am supposed to run 6km to the airport.

So my journey across Vietnam will end with less than 50km.

It's sad to think that there is only a little road left to run.

After 17km, I took my first break. I ate a banh mi that I had bought on the way.

After 27km, I reached Cam Lam. I took a break at a cafe. I had Cafe Muoi.

A resort area with a beach and many luxury hotels.

31 degrees is not that hot.

The blue sky, which is rarely seen in the north, is common in the south every day.

The natural heat of the tropics feels different from the unnatural heat of Osaka.

After that, I cooled down with tapioca.

Around 2:30pm, I checked into a hotel in Cam Ranh after running 40.4km.

It wasn't that hot and was quite comfortable.

The Asian Highway, which I have been running all the way from Hanoi, is finally coming to an end.

The day after tomorrow, the 29th, the final run will be at Cam Ranh International Airport. Only 6km left!

*Today's distance: 40.4km 

 Total distance from Noi Bai International Airport: 1,343.2km

*Today's photos are here

*YouTube video playlist is here

DAY38 DayOff@Nha Trang

A day off to adjust the schedule. Finally, my return home is approaching.

On the 27th, I left Nha Trang and run 40km to Cam Ranh. I stayed in Cam Ranh for two nights. On the 29th, I run about 6km and arrive at the airport.

This is the actual goal of my run across Vietnam.

After packing the buggy, I take a domestic flight to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

On the 30th, I stay overnight at the airport (I don't go to Ho Chi Minh City), and take a Vietjet Air flight to Kansai Airport just after 1am on May 1st, when the date changes. I plan to arrive around 8am.

This morning, I visited Tam Market and wandered around the area. There was nothing in particular I wanted to see, so I just took a walk and came back.

I ate pho, drank cafe muoi, and bought some food. I don't need to carry much drinking water or extra food anymore.

When I arrive at Cam Ranh International Airport, I will reach 20,000km, exactly halfway of PEACE RUN's 40,000km journey across five continents.

PEACE RUN started in 2011, and it's embarrassing to say that I'm only halfway through after 14 years, but during that time, I had to take care of my parents, the COVID pandemic, and I turned 60 myself, so there's a lot that's happened.

There are still 20,000 km to go, and there's still a long way to go in Eurasia, Africa, and South America.

No matter how old I get, my life's work is to complete 40,000 km. I'm going to keep going steadily.

It may be said that my journey is weak compared to the young people who are traveling the world by human power now, but safety and health come first above all else.

I'm risking my life, but I'm not going to sacrifice my life (laughs).

*Today's distance: 0 km 

 Total distance from Noi Bai International Airport: 1,302.8 km

*Today's photos are here

*YouTube video playlist is here

DAY37 Ninh Hoa-Nha Trang

Day 37, today I go to Nha Trang.

Although there is a small mountain pass, this route allows me to enjoy the mountains and the sea.

As it is the tropical dry season, there has been no rain and the weather has been dry.

I'll  take a day off in Nha Trang to adjust my schedule. Then, on the 27th, I head to Cam Ranh, which is my goal.

After running 18km, I took my first break.

I ate pho at a restaurant. Even if I lose my appetite because of the heat, my energy and appetite will return as I eat.

I can also eat a lot of vegetables.

When I tried to pay 30,000 dong, the young lady said she didn't need it and treated me to a meal. Thank you.

The minimum temperature in the morning was 25 degrees, and the occasional cloudy sky made it feel cool. The maximum temperature during the day was 32 degrees.

While I was running, an old man on a motorcycle gave me some water. Thank you!

I drank fresh coconut juice at a food stall cafe.

Now having Milano coffee, 5km to go until Nha Trang

It's been a while since I had cafe mui (salted coffee).

Just before 2pm, I checked into the hotel in Nha Trang after runnng 37.1km.

When I come to a big city, the traffic volume increases suddenly and it becomes difficult to run.

I have to be careful at intersections and roundabouts.

Today's room is on the 5th floor with a great view.

Happy to have a refrigerator.

Tomorrow is a day off. The day after tomorrow I'll head to Cam Ranh, and the day after that I'll finish at Cam Ranh International Airport.

Fly back to Ho Chi Minh City.

*Today's distance: 37.1km 

 Total distance from Noi Bai International Airport: 1,302.8km

*Today's photos are here

*YouTube video playlist is here

DAY36 Van Ninh-Ninh Hoa

Day 36, only 6 more days of my trek in Vietnam.

I will finish at Cam Ranh International Airport.

From there I fly to Ho Chi Minh City.

I return home a week later.

Vietnam seemed long but short as I run through it.

Asia is interesting because it is different in many ways from the past countries.

32 degrees is still not too hot.

It's much better than when I was running across America, when it was over 40 degrees every day and I was running without any shade.

If you are in that kind of environment every day, your body will naturally get used to it.

It's good to have a mind and body that can adapt to any situation immediately.

I cool down every time I find a food stall. I went to a food stall cafe twice today.

The first time, I drank a Red Bull with lots of ice.

The second time, I drank a sugarcane juice. At the second shop, they put ice in my thermos.

There are almost no completely empty areas (areas without shops or towns for the whole day) in Vietnam, so it's nice to be able to rest in places like this several times a day.

Just before 2pm, I checked into a hotel in Ninh Hoa after running 37.5km.

The road was mostly flat, but it was hot again today.

It exceeded 30 degrees after 8am, so the key is how seriously I can run in the early morning hours.

I feel like I haven't eaten much solid food, although I've been drinking a lot of water every day.

Before I knew it, I was already less than 500km away from Ho Chi Minh City. I wanted to run to the end, but I decided to pass it up this time.

*Today's distance: 37.5km 

 Total distance from Noi Bai International Airport: 1,265.7km

*Today's photos are here

*YouTube video playlist is here