Smile, we’re in Hanoi.Homes in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.Jen presents Hanoi.Road-side fruit markets.Mug shotNeed AC – back to the room we go.Another lift shot on the way to City View Restaurant… food and drink not recommended.EveningIncessant traffic, non-stop beeping!Scooter PanningWalking and exploringBusy streetsMarketsCrossing the road ... difficulty not to be underestimated
02
Hanoi27 Jul 2012
North Face Knock Offs
Jen capitulates and buys some practical clothes.
03
Lào Cai27 Jul 2012
Lai Cai Station
Yawn.9 hours later but only 2 hours sleep.
04
Sapa27 Jul 2012
To Sapa We Go
Our sleeper cabin for the overnight train to Sapa (technically the train heads from Hanoi to Lai Cai Station followed by a 30km winding passenger-spewing mini-bus ride to Sapa).Tight squeeze – luckily we booked all four beds (thanks Vex!).Hello.
05
Sapa28 Jul 2012
Bits And Pieces Of Sapa
Skewered pig street food……and same again at the shop next door.Escaping the rain.A very common meat market. It’s hard not to be vegetarian when you see this.En route to Hmong HutsSapa localFolks from Belgium – Agnus and Matti.Very, very nice Dutch family. Nice work travelling through Vietnam with two kids.Chilling at Sapa Rooms.I love you (written by Jen)
06
Sapa28 Jul 2012
Sapa: Jen in Heavy Duty Rain Protection
Walking the streets of Sapa. Torrential downpours on and off.
07
Sapa28 Jul 2012
Hut Life
View from our hutFinally we arrive. Our hut in the background.Relaxing as the light blues and fadesHut lifeTeething little puppy drove us crazy. Pregnant cat above.Our basic little hutAnother evening view from our hutBathroom would be niceBrushing teeth (with bottled water, of course)When no one was looking this beautiful cat would enter the open kitchen and rummage through all the meat.Two more photos of us with our 400,000 VND North Face jackets (pretty sure we overpaid!).Two more photos of us with our 400,000 VND North Face jackets (pretty sure we overpaid!).Self PortraitOur hut in the rice paddies at evening time.
08
Sapa28 Jul 2012
So Old With No One To Take Care Of Her
09
Sapa29 Jul 2012
Hmong Trek: May, Choo And Me
I just kept saying “amazing, amazing, amazing” as we ventured through this beautiful landscape. I loved this trek. If you don’t want to see any tourists and visit Hmong villages call May Chau Thi on 012-7595-0036. This experience gave me a split second snapshot into where and the way some of the Hmong people live in the surrounds of Sapa. I'm very grateful for my guide's openness.Getting started.Guides May and Choo.Meet May – 28 years old, three kids and one more due in 3 months’ time.Surefooted May never slipped once. Meanwhile I almost stacked it many a time.No one in sight.Motorbike interlude. May is six months pregnant – she kept asking me if I was okay but I was far more concerned about her.I tread carefully ... umbrella in one hand, camera in the other.Plant life. Think I was stepping on someone's turf here.Meet Choo who accompanied us on the walk. Choo is forty years old, petite and has three kids. This is May’s home.May’s living room – thank you for inviting me into your home.The above three photos show just how basic the living conditions can be in these communities. This is a mud floor.May’s kids and nephew by the stove in the kitchen making us tea.May and Choo drinking tea and preparing to sell me bracelets. I didn’t negotiate.Cheers – accepted the offer of very strong green tea but had to decline the apple wine.May's daughters.Family portrait.
10
Hoi An30 Jul 2012
Making our way around Hoi An
Riverside in Hoi An.The world’s best travel agent consults ‘The Book’ and finds us……the honeymoon suite.Bar Ber.Self portraits at the Bar Ber. Ear cleaning demo in the hanging photograph.Vietnamese lunch.Petrol station.One more photo of Jen… just can’t resist.
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Hoi An1 Aug 2012
Hoi An Motorbike Adventure: Getting Out of Town
The Minsk.Rice Paddies – Vietnam produces 40m tons of rice each year, ranked fifth globally.Floating bridges.Scenes from beyond Hoi AnBikes of burden. This one is carrying a vegetarian cargo but we’ve seen many hauling open pig carcasses.Single laneGive me some tongue.Posing on floating bridgeSurroundedThe fish don’t stand a chance.Hard work pays off.Parallel lines
