Climb that mountain! We didn't make it to Sapa when we were in Vietnam but it sounds like you had a wonderful time. Your Valley of the clouds photo is amazing. All those great views are up hill but well worth it.
the book is based upon the real life experiences of the Morse family, missionaries in Yunnan, northern Burma, and northern Thailand. Readers Digest published a book about them, "Exodus to a Hidden Valley" by Eugene Morse. It's a real life Swiss Family Robinson story. You can order it from Amazon. He and his wife Helen helped us settle in when we moved to Chiang Mai in 1974, and provided us with two hill tribes servants, Martha and Atsupah, who really didn't know how to take care of a western house. We cam back from a vacation to Europe only to find our front yarn knee high with corn. When my car wouldn't start, Atsupah told me to pray...very sincere and simple faith. They soon returned to the hills from whence they came. The Morse children, Tom, David, Ron and Margaret were our age or slightly younger, so we hung out a lot with them...swimming at the Rincome Hotel, etc. You can read my blog about our time in Chiang Mai in the one dated Feb 1974. Back to Berlinski, his dad is a brilliant agnostic physicist/mathematician, David Berlinski, who has written a number of books in support of intelligent design, most of which I've read. So a lot of connections to be made with the title of one book.
I love Sapa too! Lovely photos of Sapa, I went in May and it wasn't as foggy but your pictures did make my heart itch to want to return back there again!
Question Hello Kate- First of all, your blog was very very fun to read. I would love to go to that mud cave one day. I noticed that you booked your hostels on Hostelworld. But is there any other site to book hostels in Vietnam. Also, how do you book train or bus journeys? Can you use US credit cards in Vietnam, and in your experience, is this as well as using ATMs safe enough to do so? Very well written piece! Sam
Answer Thanks for reading! There are a bunch of sites to book hostels in Vietnam. I use hostelworld because I trust the reviews on there, and it's a really easy site to use. A lot of people use booking.com, other hostel websites, or just show up and walk around trying to find a hostel. I got an open bus ticket at the beginning of my trip, but I ended up ditching it to go to Phong Nha. I booked all my bus and train tickets through the hostels. It's a huge travel culture here, so the hostels are really helpful. If you use credit cards in Vietnam, they change 3% extra. However, the ATMs are very safe to use, so I just use my debit cards in the ATMs to take out cash and only use my credit card for big purchases (like my $135 Halong Bay cruise).
Answer Thanks for reading! There are a bunch of sites to book hostels in Vietnam. I use hostelworld because I trust the reviews on there, and it's a really easy site to use. A lot of people use booking.com, other hostel websites, or just show up and walk around trying to find a hostel. I got an open bus ticket at the beginning of my trip, but I ended up ditching it to go to Phong Nha. I booked all my bus and train tickets through the hostels. It's a huge travel culture here, so the hostels are really helpful. If you use credit cards in Vietnam, they change 3% extra. However, the ATMs are very safe to use, so I just use my debit cards in the ATMs to take out cash and only use my credit card for big purchases (like my $135 Halong Bay cruise).
Vietnam to vineyards! I've enjoyed this blog and a few of your past blogs this morning. You've got a good life and we are very excited about your new job starting in March! We will continue to read and follow your adventure. We are excited because it looks like we will get to do some traveling in Feb & March.
Organized chaos Saigon can be an assault on the senses with the people, noise and vehicles of all sorts coming at you. Sounds like you've got your travel stride....and the food is so wonderful
Unemployed and homeless Sounds like the perfect reason to go for a hike. You've really seen a lot of the country. Eager to read more of your adventures.
Life is too short An adventure is to be had each day if you are willing. Sounds like Seoul has soul. I've always wanted to go to Seoul. I'll have to move it further up on my list. Looks like beautiful architecture and amazing foods.
Adventurous eater! I can't believe you ate octopus that was still writhing--you have the palate and stomach of a perfect traveler. Clearly, you were in appropriate company to enjoy all those exotic treats. When you said you were going to the Dog Cafe, I was a bit nervous because, besides eating wiggling beings and stuff spicy enough to clear your sinuses, they are a little famous for eating dog! Come down to Peru--you can drink frog juice! What will Taiwan offer?
My name is Kate, I'm 26 years old, and I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in fall of 2012. I have my teaching license through Colorado, and I spent 2 years in Hungary teaching grades 1-4. I spent all of my time off traveling around Europe.
I traveled for a year after high school as well, which is what all of my really old are from. Feel free to read and catch up! This blog is my primary way of staying in touch with people while I am away, but anyone is free (and encouraged) to read it.
I spent the summer of 2015 working at home to fund a trip around Southeast Asia, w... full info
D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Reclining Buddha
So many Buddha's, so little time. You got a nice shot of them one....hard to capture.