Russian Chainsaws vs the North Western Vietnamese Mountains


Advertisement
Asia » Vietnam » Red River Delta » Hanoi
February 5th 2007
Published: February 7th 2007
Edit Blog Post

Belching smoke and with a high-revving high-pitch whine, the Minsk is a cast iron machine geared to challenge the unexplored territory hidden throughout northern Vietnam. Chiseled from steel, welded with rust and camouflaged in mud, the Minsk is the sweaty workhorse of Vietnam's rural economy. Seen hauling pigs, buffalos, lounge chairs, coffins, horses, and even full, occupied and bubbling fisht... Read Full Entry



Photos are below
Photos: 129, Displayed: 21


Advertisement

A crazily wide new street in Tam DuongA crazily wide new street in Tam Duong
A crazily wide new street in Tam Duong

At least they are planning big?
A bamboo rat caught by a localA bamboo rat caught by a local
A bamboo rat caught by a local

Tied live to the handlebars for dinner later
Our room in Sapa. Awesome. US$8Our room in Sapa. Awesome. US$8
Our room in Sapa. Awesome. US$8

For anyone heading to Sapa it is the "Cat Cat Hotel". There are three! This one is the first one on your right as you head down the hill to Cat Cat village.
Awesome to have a fire in our room but I think the chimney is a little blockedAwesome to have a fire in our room but I think the chimney is a little blocked
Awesome to have a fire in our room but I think the chimney is a little blocked

At one stage we had to open the door to let the smoke out which is a little counter-productive
Having a look at some limestone cavesHaving a look at some limestone caves
Having a look at some limestone caves

Apparently you can spend a few hours exploring them. These women are employing the old trick of make-friends-with-the-western-ATMs-then-pressure-them-into-a-sale. Fair enough.
Note Trace in the background being hammered with sales pitchesNote Trace in the background being hammered with sales pitches
Note Trace in the background being hammered with sales pitches

"you just look, no buy" "very niiice, very beautiful" "very cheap for you" "I have no maaney" "why you buy from her" pout "you buy from me too" "you buy one for me" "you buy one - good for you good for meee" Did I mention that Sapa sees a lot of tourists?
Laughing all the way to the bankLaughing all the way to the bank
Laughing all the way to the bank

Just joking, these people deserve all the money they get, even though they are probably well off compared to other rural people in Vietnam due to their proximity to Sapa
Classic.Classic.
Classic.

Trace's gift of her leather gloves was very much appreciated
Minsk powerMinsk power
Minsk power

Even a tree is not safe if a Minsk is available... These trees are collected for Tet and encouraged to bud so they blossom for the right dates
Our friend from the Cat Cat hotelOur friend from the Cat Cat hotel
Our friend from the Cat Cat hotel

Funny how Trace looks big in comparison!



Tot: 0.198s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 33; qc: 128; dbt: 0.1252s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.4mb