http://hongkongvietnam.blogspot.com.au
14 September 2018
What a great adventure we had as we headed out west to Sapa. An early start, arriving in Sapa 6 hours later for a late lunch. Our transport was on a sleeper bus. A new experience for us both. A big bus with 6 reclining seats like a bed down each side of the bus. Then in the middle of the bus was another row of 5 reclining seats/beds, thus giving 2 narrow isles. There was a ladder to reach the bunk seat/bed above, thus taking 34 passengers. There were 3 reclining seat/beds across the back and above them, also a toilet. The seats were permanently reclining so we could not sit up. The bus was full. We were given a plastic bag to put our shoes in while travelling and when we alighted for morning tea along the way we were given scuffs to use in the restaurant. It was quite a unique experience.
After lunch we went on a tour of Cat Cat Village (see separate Post).
The next day Robyn undertook a 9 km trek, but I was taken to Ta Van Village where she would finish.
(see separate Posts for Robyn's and my adventures).
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| We boarded our sleeper bus in Hanoi for Sapa |
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| Sleeper bus that carried 40 passengers |
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| View from sleeper bus |
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| View from sleeper bus |
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| Ricefields |
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| Agriculture |
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| Farming with family tomb stones |
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| Better it rain while we were in the bus |
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| Farming area |
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| View from the bus |
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| Stopping for train to cross level crossing Note plastic covers on riders |
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| Bus pulled into comfort stop under shelter so that we didn't get wet |
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| Time for snack, stretch and toilet |
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| Plenty to choose from |
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| More ricefields |
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| Ricefields |
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| Typical house - narrow and often with 2 storey |
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| Children in Vietnam find enjoyment with anything |
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| Typical housing |
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| Arriving in Sapa note building materials take up half the road |
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| Building works flow over footpath and onto road |
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| Lunch before Cat Cat Village tour |
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| Sapa main street Railway station yellow building |
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| H'Mong Sapa Hotel where we stayed |
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| Commanding view from our Hotel room |
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| View from our Hotel room |
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| View from our Hotel room |
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| Mother dog and her pup |
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| Flowers in Hotel garden |
We were picked up by taxi from our hotel and taken to Sapa station to catch a shuttle bus to Cat Cat Village.
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| Note the traffic One car passing & cutting in front of us |
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| Busses lined up outside railway station |
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| Sapa Station |
Refer to my Post on Cat Cat Village which is the home of Black H'Mong ethnic people and is located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. Our local guide showed us daily life activities of the locals. We trekked down into the valley and of course had to walk back up the hill for the shuttle to take us back to Sapa. The trek was about 3 kms and lasted about 2 hours.
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| Back to Hotel for dinner and an early night |
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| We slept soundly under mosquito nets |
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| Next day we were up early for trek to Ta Van Village (see separate post) |
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| Breakfast before an energetic day |
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| Shuttle into Sapa from Hotel |
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| Sapa |
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| Sapa - note building works again |
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| Sapa |
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| Sapa |
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| Leaving Sapa in sleeper bus |
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| Sleeper bus - Sapa to Hanoi |
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| Rural Vietnam |
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| Agriculture |
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| Bought some snacks for the bus trip Mr. PO came with us in spirit |
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| Sapa to Hanoi |
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| Rural Vietnam |
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| Rice fields |
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| New house construction Note scaffolding |
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| Level crossing Note boom gate |
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| Sun setting |
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| Setting sun |
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| We stopped for dinner 7.30-8pm |
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| Dinner with my glasses on! |
After dinner we rested before our arrival into Hanoi. I took my glasses off and rested them safely on my backpack. When it was time to hastily disembark the bus in the dark I didn't remember that I had taken my glasses off. It was not until I arrived at the Hotel that I realised I had lost my glasses. We contacted the bus company but unfortunately they could not be found. Were they lost or stolen? A shame as they were reasonably new as I had only recently needed to wear glasses full time.
If you wish to contact the author, Joy Olney with any comments, please email on:
joyolney@gmail.com
If you wish to contact the author, Joy Olney with any comments, please email on:
joyolney@gmail.com
