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Published: April 24th 2008
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Hanoi
The beautiful Scenery on our walk through the villages We have arrived at the train station and had a long walk around the trains to find ours we all had 4 berth cabins Des and I had one to ourselves as Helen and Les who were going to be sharing with us could not go as Helen was not well and could not breath and had to go to the International Medical Clinic and was not fit to travel. We ended up sharing with Ting our guide. We used our new sleep sheets that we bought in HoiAn they sure looked flash on the beds.
We had a good trip as it was overnight we both slept quite well but some of the others in our group did not fare so well. We were woken up at 6am and had 5 mins. to get dressed and be off the train, it was a bit of a rush and we all looked a bit second hand.
It was about an hour in a bus up winding roads with beautiful scenery to get to Sapa and to our hotel for breakfast. The bus had to back down a narrow lane with cars parked on the side it was no mean feat but
Sapa
Young 20 year old with her baby he did it.
In the afternoon we went on the bus up very windy roads if you could call them roads (highway no. 6) Des called it highway number fix!!!!!It was a bit hairy scary and when we got to Heavens gate it was so misty we could not see anything. After that we went to a Village where we got mobed by the village people wanting to know our names and how many children and grandchildren we had and then about 3 of them followed you about until you bought from them, they were lovely people and very happy and sooo many with babies on their backs, the babies were so good non of them were crying. In the evening we went to a local cafe for dinner, when we came out there were 3 children about 8 or 9 with babies on their backs selling things I bought a couple of baubles they were very cheep
The next day we went for a 5 klm. Village walk again the villagers were waiting for the bus and we each had 2 or 3 stay with us for a lot of the walk and then they say (you but from
Sapa
Barb walking with the villagers me) this is the catch phrase, I think the babies say this before they say Mum or Dad It was a lovely walk with beautiful views and lovely people. Des could not go as he could not walk on such hilly tracks. We had the afternoon at leasure so we shopped in the town, I bought more bags amongst other things. Out for dinner again this evening (Des says he does not want to see another Asian meal when he comes home)
The next morning at 6 am. we start off on our long bus trip back to Hanoi. WOW what a journey it was soooo bumpy and the bus left a lot to be desired it was smaller than we had been used to and not so good. The airconditioning was not working so after a while we had to stop to replace the belt that drives the Air Con. It worked a bit better for a while but not very good, so when we stopped at a local market he had to get another one and put that on. after that It worked a lot better. It was a bit of a horror trip but beautiful scenery. It
Sapa
students in the village school was a long day we stopped for lunch at a place with little tables and little plastic chairs and had some interesting food, we ate some of it.
We continued our trip and then Kaye and Jim noticed that their seat was colapsing and Kaye swapped with Sharon and Jim sat up the back. Later on the seat got very close to the ground.
We arrived back in Hanoi about 8.15pm and stopped at a lovely Restraunt for Dinner we all were a bit bedraggled after the long day. After dinner we were all glad to get back to the Hotel and straight to bed.
The next day was at our leasure in Hanoi Des did not want to go anywhere so Barb and I caught a local bus to the Old Quarter and did a lot of walking around and found the Don Xuan Market which was very interesting but extremely hot and quite congested but we enjoyed it we were out for about 4 hours and arrived back by taxi ready for a cool shower.
Out for dinner again in the evening, The next morning we bid farewell to our fellow travellers from Sydney and Brisbane and then
Sapa
Up the top of heavens Gate had the day to ourselves, We went to the Old Quarter again for a last look Des found it hard to handle all the motor bikes all over the place so we did not stay to long.
We had to be out of our rooms at 3 pm. There were only 8 of us left and we were not being picked up to go to the airport until 5.45. It was pouring rain from about 3pm onwards, and when Ting arrived at about 20past 5 he told us the roads were all flooded and the traffic was terrible, so we loaded our stuf on the bus and went straight away, You would not believe the trip we had the traffic was unbelievable, as so many roads were flooded and it was peak hour you have never seen the likes of it. Motor bikes and ever some cars were driving on the footpath as well as the road, I think I counted abou 40 rows of Motor Bikes across our side of the road and footpath and then it all stopped after about 20 changes of lights and not going anywhere Ting got out of the bus to see what was
Sapa
Young girl with her baby brother happening after about 10 mins we say he was directing the traffic so we could eventually start to move but it did not help for long. After about 1 and 1/2 hours and travelling about 1 klm. he decided to change roads so he got out and started directing the traffic again so as we could get across the road. We ended up going back past the hotel and going on another road, which was bad but not as bad as the one we had been on. We were sure we would not get to the airport in time to catch our plane, and the time was going on. It was about 1/4 to 8 when Ting said that we were going to make it. we all breathed a sigh of relief. We got to the airport at 8.15 and had to check in and go through customs and then run for our flight as they were calling for us to board. We ran to the Boarding Gate and everyone got on the plane except me as they told me to stand over there!!! I still don't know why I stood there for what seemed an eternity but probably was
Sapa
Selling their ware in the main street of Sapa about 4 mins and then they let me go I ran on to the plane, then they shut the door and we flew off, I never want to be in that position again, we were all exhausted and very relieved to be on the plane and on our way to Bangkok.
We had a good flight and arrive in Bangkok on time here we left the others as they were going back to Melbourne and we are staying in Thailand for 11 nights.
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