Sapa

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I know I've been quiet the last few days, but I've been in Sapa waiting for the weather to clear. Part of the downside to traveling in the rainy season - it's been solid fog for four straight days. The scenery in Sapa is reputed to be stellar, so I decided to kill the last few days in my visa and hold out for a good one.

Finally today the sun broke through. And worth the wait it was.

I rented a small motorcycle and took it out for a 5 hour spin on the twisting mountain roads. Incredible scenery - terraced rice paddies, indigo, and a little farther out some amazing mountain views.

Some of the roads were a little muddy in spots. A big push to modernize roads is clearly evident, but there is a lot of ground to cover, and it's all in very difficult terrain. I saw a huge tour bus power through some mud after some helpers got off the bus and pulled some rocks into the bigger ruts to level the path. A lot of fun on a motorbike though.

Some beautiful waterfalls in the mountains - with the low cloud cover it looked like they were pouring down from the sky.

Sapa itself is in the northwest corner of Vietnam, near China and Laos, and is home to several ethnic minority populations. Their dress is very distinct and much heavier than elsewhere in Vietnam that I've visited. For the first time I needed blankets at night and used my rain jacket as a wind breaker on the bike just to keep the chill off. The constant fog and dampness adds to the coolness too.

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Photos

my first guesthouse
note the regional decorations

stock photo of Hmong Woman
very cool native dress worn by men and women of all ages

Comments

[janel]

puppy
Is it really that little puppy on the spikot or it is twisted Eric being a goof (I hope its the later :( )

[ehall]

Hot Dog
No lie - it's a fido - don't worry - I didn't eat him. But I did watch him turn on the spit for a while.