Friday, December 27, 2013

Sapa, Day two

Two things I don't do well.

Cold and long walks. Glynis booked this trip. Next time lets do a self drive motorcycle tour somewhere hot.

Start of the 14km walk

Down the road past the service station. You cant miss it.

Some locals joined our hike

We were adamant that we were not going to purchase from them and made it clear.

Thought the hills and rice paddies we trekked

The path was slippery and wet in places. The locals girls were with us the whole time and sometimes gave a hand at the slippery sections.

I don't know why but it is not possible to travel with people and not feel a connection. These girls knew it. We did buy from them once we got to our first pit stop. There were very happy but I regret not buying more. A few dollars is nothing to us but important to them.

Undecided if she is going to jump or is limbering up to the run the last few kilometers.

Constant rain made a great stepping waterfall.

Even the little kids ended up over taking me on the straights.

So engrossed in this animal I did not realise there was a pig in a cage behind it

Sapa , Lao Cai. Day one

This was my view from the bottom bunk of the overnight train. It takes 9 hours from Hanoi to Sapa which is in the hills to the north close to the chinese border.

Glynis told me the train leaves at 8:30 and it was only 8:20 so she was going to nip out and grab some beer from the hawkers on the platform. My heart skipped when the train silently departed at 8:25 (Its proper time). Luckily she had just boarded the train just as it set off.

Fish in the front, chicken at the back. No need for a refrigerator. We were in one. We had gone from 30 degrees in Penang to 8 degrees here. Give me a stick and call me a popsicle because I did notice that 22 degree difference.

Our first warm up 4 km hike. Glynis made some friends.

Contrast of the clothes to the dull misty day

Someone does not look happy with his lot but I am sure he is smiling inside.Such a grand looking buffalo.

Time to check out the latest outfits. The guy with the red hat is our guide. My shoes were falling to bits so he repaired them by drying them over an open fire and superglueing them. Great job and good for another 200 km.

House made of clay.

Bottled snake.
What is it good for?
I dont know.

Family photo. We were probably the most under clothed travellers that day. Almost all were decked out in serious alpine clothes. Head to toe (fake) north face gear was the norm.

Would have loved to see a kiwi farmer do the walk. Gumboots , shorts and singlet.

We passed on the pigeon and buffalo meat

But did enjoy the kumara (sweet potato) roasted over the hot fire. In fact I got more comfort using it as a hand warmer than eating it.

Sometimes the cloud settled in the valley below and we had a great view

Later the cloud base would come up and it would be back to fog

Hanoi

Used an ATM machine at the airport. Flowed out a very modest 2,000,000 Dong. Lots of 0,s in the currency.

Arrived at midnight. Seren was so tired but enjoyed her fancy juice drink.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake with a view of the Huc Bridge.

English translation is lake of the Returned Sword with a view of the Morning Sunlight Bridge

Never far from dragons which Serens loves

Saw this quaint old lady resting her frail body. She looked vaguely familiar

Posing next to the famous Hanoi cat. Rows of tourist lined up to take tiddles picture. We were so grateful to finally get a picture of this most famous feline. Unfortunately we never did find the giant turtles that inhabit the lake.

In their hands

Moth to a flame
Serenity to fresh donuts

A double photo bomb

The traffic in Hanoi is insane.Scooters flying everywhere. To add to the excitement they park on the footpath so pedestrians are forced to walk on the road curb.

They love theirs horns as well. Twenty four hours a day you hear a crescendo of beeping and tooting.

We sat outside and had lunch at a corner cafe. I wondered how the traffic did not collide as they barrelled both ways through the intersection....no lights or stop signs.

Somewhere in the noise and confusion we both realised that it we were not living in Penang this would have been a great option.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Someone has a birthday

Dont know why she is so excited...not her birthday

Celibrate...Anglels Elves and Santa

Diverse mixture of religion and culture means there is always some thing to celebrate in Penang. Everyone celebrates everyone elses celebration. I would drink to that. Here is some party people

Angels (Marni..borrowed your photos)