Vietnam Sapa (Day 2)

Day two in Sapa, started out to be a much clearer day, some light fog/mist in the valley below, but a nice day, until... Well, lets just say I started to feel ill... After a visit, or two, to the bathroom, we headed down fro breakfast where all I had was some toast, and a small peach juice. I was feeling ok, but just as we were about to leave, I felt a little light headed, which passed quickly, but I HAD to get to the bathroom where I brought up breakfast!!!

Anyway, as I had felt better, and not wanting to miss out on the minority tribe people down in the valley, we met our guide and jumped into the bus for the drive down into the never never!

At one of the 'lookouts' along the way, my stomach started to twist and turn, but I pushed on until we hit the valley floor, where all I wanted to do was to stay in the bus and sleep; which I did! J and M took my camera into the village, which looked pretty good!

When they returned, it was time now to drive UP to Sapa, and through to another minority tribe people. Along the way, I dozed in and out of sleep, and felt a little better when we arrived! We walked along a road, but about 2/3 along the way, I could walk no more, and whilst I rested, J & M pushed on with the guide. I stayed and rested on a log.

Whilst there, a group leaving with local women carrying their wears in back pack, and all seemed to be having a good time. Next thing I knew, 3 young boys (maybe 5) came up from the track we walked along. Two of them came towards me from the front whilst the other (I noticed) went behind me. Luckily I knew my wallet (in my front pocket) was safe, and whilst I was chatting with the two, I felt a small hand on my wallet! I gave a very stern 'NO' to him, and he giggled it off... I grabbed some photos of them, but when I went to take the attempted 'pick-pocketers' photo, he waved his hands and didn't want it taken at all!. I was showing the two in-front the photos, again I felt a small hand tapping my wallet, and I snapped back a 'NO', and gestured them to leave...

We eventually walked back to the bus, where we drove back up to Sapa (and the dodgy hotel) for a rest, before dinner (I did not eat) and the train back to Hanoi.

However, the drive down the mountain was in very thick fog, we saw an accident of a car into a gutter, and arrived to a hectic scene inat the station. We quickly found our carriage and got settled in!

The overnight train however, was a complete disaster! It was hot, so hot in fact that my bed was drenched, M moved down from her bunk at the top to the floor, and we ended up having the cabin door open, the window pop as well, simply draw out the heat! It didn't work...

A small bit of confusion regarding location of pick-up, guide or no guide, but it was all sorted out quick enough, and we eventually got to a hotel to shower and have breakfast prior to the drive out to Halong Bay. But that is for another post...

Hoo roo for now...

------