SAPA

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Sapa is about 350 kilometers north of Hanoi, just a few klicks from China. This is an no holds barred, incredibly beautiful part of Vietnam; if you are using a digital camera bring plenty of memory; every turn, twist in the road, or town requires, demands to be acknowledged by a picture. The hill tribes in their traditional dress-read not for tourists, but the genuine article- requires a photo. If you value color, drama or, in some cases, pathos you have no choice but to use your camera.

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Photos

SAPA-Villa
On the road down the mountain; a picturesque first day.

That's where we're going!
The first day we trekked about 3 kilometers and the second about 12. However, with rain/drizzle, the clay terrain and steep inclines we found the footing tought going on occasion; most of us were ready for showers and bed.

F'r Cryin' Out Loud!
The second day found us meandering among the clouds for much of the time, with just the hint of terraced rice fields across the valley.

Our Incredible Guide
This is "Ling" a our H'mong guide who impressed with her incredible, desperate one might say, need to learn. She had taught herself English without school but by listening and questioning tourists. She grilled me on my rusty French which of course was part of the colonial legacy of Vietnam.

A Heartbreaker
This whisper of a child was totally blind robbing her of the only evident benefit of living in this poor part of Vietnam, the incredibly beauty of the landscape.

Three Expressions.
These H'mong females were clearly in their element not only in terms of their physical environment but also in dealing with us tourists. Their "costumes", according to our guide, were not for the benefit of tourists but were their everyday garb, parts of which distinguished themselves from other hill tribes.

Welcoming Angel
This little angel welcomed us into her home. Sure, a welcome for "tourist dollars", but her family seemed to connect with genuine warmth. A small purchase helps these incredibly poor folks.

On the Bridge
This picture was taken toward the end of our trek. Although it still pains me to say, I had taken a few tumbles during the day and this sure footed, H'mong girl had taken me in hand, literally, and helped me over the dikes, mud flats and clay slopes to safety. If it looks like I'm leaning on her; I am. She was incredible and only asked that I "buy something". She had little to offer that I wanted except for this picture which was a bargain.

The Blast
About 1 a.m. an explosion ripped through our hotel (a gas leak in the kitchen) and demolished the kitchen and pretty well totaled the rest of the interior of the hotel. My room is to the right on the first floor.

A Wakeup Call
The blast forced moved through the interior of the hotel as evidenced by my room door, along with most others on the floor, collapsing into the hallway. We were moved to another hotel quickly and the staff, in spite of their own trauma and I\'m sure thoughts of the future, made the guests their number one priority.

Enough Already!
How could I not take this picture? This little kaleidoscope of a child, with mis-matched socks, was going to school in the early morning.

Comments

[Christina]

It sounds like you had such an increadable experiance in Sapa. Much like mine in 2004. Wonderful people and the most fantastic sights. THis place might have been the most memorable of Vietnam.

[Ray Koob]

hola cont.
My last comment was cut off in mid stream. Truk is a place I always wanted to check out and never got around to. The weather is supposed to be better than Mazatlan and the prices cheaper. Accessibility's the problem. Now I can't tell if my original comment was posted or is just up in cyber space somewhere. Have fun