14-Oct-2005 -- Though Vietnam GPS club visited 11N 108E last year, I still have not touched it. So the idea of paying a visit all by myself to 11N 108E certainly appealls me. I planned the trip 3 weeks before actually making it. The journey was scheduled at weekend. But 2 weekends come and 2 weekends go, I still do not manage to reach 11N 108E since I am wrapped up in work over weekend. Some pessimistic thought comes, maybe that trip is just another stillborn one.

On Friday, October 14th 2005, I come to office as usual. Suddenly, I am assigned to make an emergency business trip to Phan Thiet city, which is very near 11N 108E. Taking a look at the work schedule, I am very happy to know that I will be free from 1.30PM. An idea of merging a business trip with a confluence trip flashes in my mind.

Finishing the job at 1.20PM, telling my colleagues that I still have a private affair in Phan Thiet and I will come back to HCMC later by myself, I rush to the motor-taxi and head south toward Muong Man where 11N 108E is located. It is 15kms from Phan Thiet to Muong Man. At 2.02 PM, I am right here in Muong Man. I keep moving on the Provincial road 707. Last time, my friends visited that confluence by four-wheel vehicle. The road was not good enough for such a coach. So they had to walk a long way in the sun. This time, it is much easier for me travelling by motorbike. The motorbike is just useless when I am only 500mts far from the point. Rice fileds is all around me. It is a remote area. Hardly can I see people around. As negotiated, the driver must leave his vehicle here and accompany me to the confluence. If going with me, his motorbike will be out of sight and without guard. He starts being reluctant. However, he does walks with a worry of losing his motorbike.

We start marching on the edge of the two rice fields. The driver walks, keeping turning his head back and front to guard his motor. He continuosly asks me “Arrived ?”, “Arrived?”. When it is 100mts from the 11N 108E, there is a bush toward the direction to the target. He insists on stopping and waiting me here thouh from here his motorbike is still out of his attention.

Entering a remote and strange area alone makes me a little bit scared. However, the great pleasure of touching a confluence lifts me up. I keep going on. And it pays off. I manage to find the confluence first time all by myself. While trying to zero all the numbers, I have to scream “where are you?” to check whether the driver is still waiting for me or not. It takes me 10 minutes to get the numbers all zero. It is ridiculous that he is out of patience and runs to my place. We come back safely and his motorbike is still patiently waiting for us.

See you, the next confluence !