Friday, May 6
We live on Lotus Hotel in Sapa. The weather is at its best, so there was a great trip down the mountain today. We made the trip a little short than last year when we had several things on the agenda this afternoon. There were many who followed us. Especially many Red Dau although it is normally not their territory here. It used to be Black Mong and Giay women around here. Especially Henning D had the company of a very eloquent (English) Red Dzau woman. It was hot - 32 degrees - so we enjoyed being driven back to the hotel coolness, where we had a light lunch. Our trip was the card of today, because we had to try the new cable car that leads to the highest mountain in Indochina (Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) Fansipan. The track opened 2 months ago. We drove the taxi the 5 km up to the field. What they have built is very impressive. I have seen many cable cars in France and Austria, but this is very big. It ran for a stretch up to the top, and all of the buildings in the form of pagodas and buildings with public facilities was impressive. Henning D and I made the first 200 steps further up than the pitch went. Khoa and Elisabeth took the last 500 stairs to the top. As the field has a huge spread is sensitive to the wind. We saw that it stopped once due. Wind but luckily we escaped to stay still between heaven earth. Now we enjoy ourselves on the common terrace and at 20 we eat at a restaurant in town. Khoa to eat with some friends.
were plowed in the rice fields today. Water buffaloes are patient animals. One should not be very large to control them. It had the ring in his nose.
It was teeming with women who would sell.
Finally, on top of the mountain.
whole group between heaven and earth
cable car
Saturday, May 7
Calm and quiet breakfast. We drove our car to Ta Phin village. Here live many Red Dzao, an ethnic group, which for many years were nomadic travel. They came many years ago from China. I've seen a big development year by year. They supported themselves by farming, but now there are new sources of income. They grow orchids in style - many thousands. Many of the large houses built out so they can have overnight guests. Pham Mays family can have two families living at a time. On the fields the user is no longer water buffalo, but small milling cutters, when the rice fields to be plowed. At the family Pham May was only the man and his mother at home. We were given tea and beer. I got the man to help me down the rice fields. It was difficult. The paths are very narrow, and you have to wear shoes that can withstand water, as we go over several small rivers. We all came down with ease. It was good that I was the man to help me. Pham May have started as a guide. It's a good supplement to the income. We shared clothes out in the village. We drove to the market, where we had lunch at Luyen and daughter Phuong Dung. Elisabeth was not as fresh so she did not take on the trip to Cat Cat, a very beautiful trip, especially on a day like today, when it is clear weather. There is a very beautiful view. However, it is also a tough trip with thousands of stairs. At the waterfall we saw a dance performance, before we began the ascent - again many stairs. When we got to our car, we were very tired. We drove directly to fosmassage. We ate dinner at Luyen and Phuong Dung.
In the village had started to cultivate orchids
Water buffaloes have been replaced by small cutters
Sunday, May 8
We said goodbye to Lotus Hotel in Sapa. There was a lot we had to reach, so we started kl.6.30. The weather was still good, but hot. There are about 80 km from Bac Ha. We arrived at. 9.15. We got a room for our luggage + a towel so we could take a bath later. It is the ethnic group known as the flower H'mong, which dominates here. They meet colorful costumes. There also lives a group Tay, going around in black suits. Khoa says that they are not an ethnic group, as they have been living in Vietnam always. The market in Bac Ha is the largest ethnic market in Vietnam. It starts at. 5 am and ends at the 13 time. People come from afar, and the market is a festive spectacle. There are also many things designed for tourists. Here there really took a lot of pictures. We ate lunch at noon. 11:30 at a restaurant for Westerners. We met with Khoa pm. 13 to wander through the plum orchards. The heat was intense, so it was a hard trip up. We visited the play - and whiskey man "Ho" and tasted his grain whiskey. It could be drunk - 55% alcohol. Khoa rang our driver so we could be driven back to the hotel. It was only Henning D and I, who was along for the ride. Elisabeth still struggling with a slight stomach upset, so she was only the easy part of the trip. We took a bath in turn and then drove towards Lao Cai. We made a stop there, where you can look over to China. Then we went to the restaurant where we waited until the train departed at. 21. We reach Hanoi tomorrow at 5th
There were many water buffaloes for sale on the market
Flower H'mong women is a festive spectacle. Their costumes are very varied.
border with China
Monday, May 9
We started the day sleeping. We were tired after the trip from Sapa / Lao Cai. I rented a bike and rode around West Lake. Henning went around the streets around the hotel, and Elisabeth was in the room, hoping that her stomach pump would go over. Houng rang. she would like to see us at. 17. She had been handed over its mission at the last minute, but still reached to have made a fine menu for us. It was a pity that we could not eat that much. Houng, her friend and the friend's sister was there. It was quite a task to find the place. When the taxi could not drive anymore retrieve Houng us. We walked through a maze of streets - many no more than 1 1/2 meters wide. There were no other tourists, so now it was us who were looked at. It was a great experience to see where and how she lived. Elisabeth made sure that we were singing "Where the forest, however, is fresh and great." They know well the cuckoo here so it packs a punch. We were back at the hotel at. about 22 - good tire.
Houng led us through the crowded streets to her home. This neighborhood slightly reminiscent of Sevilla in Spain. Narrow alleyways and suddenly a small open square filled with people.
Well arrived we were met by stone-cart and his sister.
was made the finest food in very little space. There is only a single cold water tap in the toilet and no sink!
The sweet young people have the right dished up.