Sapa - homestay trekking, psychopaths, waterfalls and laughs

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12-13th December
We took the night bus from Hanoi at 10am and arrived at Sapa to meet our guide at 4am, the bus was full of people going to do the trekking so unlike most buses no locals, a better atmosphere. Most slept through the journey, but I'm sure there was a manage trios going on at the back. You have no idea what is going on the buses as limited English, as we pulled up in pitch black I realised we were an hour and half early so got some sleep. When the guides arrive there's a quick scuffle as you change and wet wipe and even clean you're teeth and start to trek with a bunch of strangers. All part of the fun We met our guide pang pang, 33 years old with 3 kids.about 4ft and dressed in her black Mongh tribal clothing. We set off for breakfast and then started the trek. After reaching the mountains it was clear this was going to be terrifying and dangerous (no one warned us about this when selling it) Amy wasn't Able to continue after the first section, it had been raining the day before and made it very slippy. She headed to where we would have lunch with a local by moped. It was a cloudy day so we were disappointed as the views are immense but we couldn't capture it in a photo. We trekked up and down a mountain, 12km most if this in fear for our lives. Pang pang kept us safe and lots of kids and other locals joined to help us (unpaid) we would stop at little villages where children would surround you trying to sell bands and chanting "will you please buy" at one point I was surrounded by 12 children chanting and begging, it almost broke my heart. After the trek we headed back to our homestay (in one piece) we had a group of 6 including our new Brasilian friend Diego and his lovely girlfriend Orlaith. Upon arriving at our homestay we suddenly realised we would be staying with a Canadian 3 Aussies and a couple if Dutch people. Who greeted us by running towards the beers so we didn't get any....... We met the family and headed to our rooms, we were lay on the upper level with a mattress on the floor and nets to keep out the bugs. Each bed next to one another, the 6 of us found our beds and then head down to drink and have dinner with the family. 3 generations. After a lovely meal with the family and 11 of us drinking rice wine, we headed to the bar right at the bottom of the steep hill in the pitch black and a couple of the boys from Holland came with us. We found a bar that was all bamboo, and we headed to the upper level and sat around a big table on bean bags playing bullshit and "I have never"....... I think a few of the younger boys were a little shocked, but we laughed and played until we headed back about midnight. At about 4:00 in the morning we heard walking in the home, it went on for about 15 minutes and with no lights to see it scared us to death, so much so we all crawled into 1 bed huddled and feared. We called out hello a couple of times but no response. Lisa finally plucked the courage to jump out and it was just one if the Dutch lads (I think he had lost his bed) this left us all a little scared and found it hard to sleep for the rest of the night. Day 2 we had breakfast and set off for our 7k trek, the day was sunny And clear do we were excited. Amy plucked the courage to join us as was told it was a jungle and rice fields trek with no steep climbs it drops. It was amazing the views and we went to a waterfall, and only Nad could fall in it, I thought she was a gonner. I can't explain the feeling and the happiness bring in this beautiful place, so picturesque and felt so happy I had the opportunity to do this. Dad I still wear make up, I'm clean shaven and still looking glamorous, travelling has changed us in mAny ways, but thus isn't oneX

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