Day 212, Sapa, Vietnam

On the scooter

Sapa.....We rolled in on the train this morning about 6.30 and were met by a minibus to take us to Sapa town, about 35 k's from the train stop.

Coming into town, it took our breath away. Established as a hill station by the French in 1922, Sapa was built to make the most of the views over the valley and of the surrounding mountains. The French colonial buildings have fallen into disrepair and there is lots of construction sites with new hotels going up, but this does not take away from the magnificent views. 

The 'wrong' waterfall 

After an early check in ( Sapa House Hotel, excellent!) and breakfast, we set off into town to have a look around. We decided to hire some scooters as we wanted to visit the Silver Waterfalls, about 12 kilometres out of town. Hire is cheap, $6.00 each per day, so one each. Such fun, we both grinned the whole way up! So easy to ride and traffic not so busy here.

Silver Falls

We arrived at what we thought were 'the' waterfalls, a man tried to charge us for parking the scooters on the side of the road (what the heck) and then we walked up the steps to the waterfall. Quite pretty, but neither thought stunning. As we left we saw the sign around the corner for the Silver Waterfall, 2 kilometres up the road. Oh, oops. So away we went again, and this one involved a 1 kilometre walk. And this one was definitely wow. 

The ride on the scooter there and back was so special; the views of the mountains and across the whole valley, just spectacular.

Back in town to have a late lunch and return the bikes and by now we were getting cold ( we are high up in the mountains here) and ready for a hot shower. 

Later we walked into town for dinner and sort accommodation for Inger as I am going back to Hanoi tomorrow night and she's staying on till Sunday night. Town still humming with locals and visitors, as well as local tribes women who sell their handicrafts on the side of the road, along with their children bundled up asleep. We spotted one young girl, no older than 3 or 4, with a baby strapped to her back! She looked like she could barely walk herself, let alone carry a baby. 

Day 211, Hanoi, Vietnam

Flower street

Day one in Vietnam and I absolutely love it already. Vietnam is a little more like India than Thailand was.

After breakfast we booked our tickets on the night train to Sa Pa, a town in the north of Vietnam. It's known for its beautiful scenery, mountains and rice fields, so rather than spend the next 3 days around the city we decided to go up there.

At the lake

We walked around the lake that's right in the middle of the city, and it was just lovely, a really nice feel to it. People reading on benches, knitting, chatting. 

Two things stand out in the city. First of all, scooters. Everyone rides one, there would be twenty scooters to one car. They zoom past you, left and right, and it's a blessing most streets are one way, so you only have to mind one direction. They're pretty courteous though and will slow down for you and happily swerve to get around.

Scooters everywhere 

Secondly, the beautiful old French style houses. This is shabby chic at a whole new level mind you, but they are just so full of character and charm. You have to look up to find them, as the bottom floor is overtaken by sometimes very garish shops; whole streets dedicated to shoes, or flowers or toys. In fact, the street names reflect what goods are sold there, this comes from years ago when the only 'trades' allowed in the street were those mentioned in the street name. 

We had lunch at a street corner, perched precariously like the locals on a tiny plastic stool, eating noodle soup; very scrumptious.

Lunch being cooked

Inger decided she would like to buy an iPad, as you do on holiday, so after a bit of walking around and asking we managed to find one and Inger was pleased as punch.

Time to get back and pick up our tickets for tonight's train, and then dinner time.

The train

We took a taxi to the train station, and after some redirections by station staff, a young lad took care of us and showed us to the right train. The train was just like the sleeper trains on the movies with a little table in between, a lamp, and a door that will shut us in for the night and keep us cozy. What were the chances of having two Danish girls share our compartment; Inger and them happily chatted away in Danish while I'm writing my blog! 

Day 210, Bangkok Thailand to Hanoi, Vietnam

Catch up time with Inger

Country number 15 today!

I decided to take the skytrain to the airport, which was super easy and quick. Got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. The check in was open so that was good. Bag on the scales, 18.1 kilos. Bugger, limit was15. So I was told I had to take some out, so here I am furiously trying to figure out what was the heaviest to put in my hand luggage. I hadn't got too far in, thank goodness, when I looked up and noticed that the scales still said 13.2 kilos, which was the tray for small bags that had been left on there. Phew! That had me worried for a bit.

At Bangkok airport 

In the end I had to run to catch my plane! I had lunch at a leisurely pace, passport checks took ages, there was a queue at the ladies toilet, which is a universal issue, but other than that I thought I had tons of time. Except that the airport is huge, and the gate was miles away, so I ended up having to run. I'm making a habit out of this it seems.

Landing in Hanoi was straightforward; I had to get my visa on arrival, which went quite quickly, then taxi to downtown and the hotel where I was meeting Inger.

Problema....the hotel had three different sites and Inger had been given the wrong address, so she was waiting at one and I arrived at another, wondering where she was! We finally connected, after another taxi ride for me. It was wonderful to catch up again, we talked and talked all night! Lovely to see each other again. 

Day 209, Bangkok, Thailand

City from the river

Last day and really the only thing to organise were train tickets for the end of January when I am back here, so that was my sole chore today. Difference in price from one agent to another was 300 baht, so a little shopping about but mission accomplished.

Apartment living Bangkok 

Took a boat down the river, went a long way, and then back again, great to sit and watch the city from the water. Got chatting to a lady behind me from Finland, whose aunty lived in New Zealand. Oh, where about? Uhm, up north, she was married to Arthur Lydiard. Just like that, so an interesting chat.

It was very hot today, it's meant to be a little cooler in Hanoi, so that will be welcome. Here it's a constant struggle to find somewhere shady, haha!

Khao San road 

Back for a swim, nothing exciting, out for dinner to Khao San road; it just keeps calling even though it's crowded( or maybe because of that). Live music, beer, some good tucker, all for about $7.00.

Lastly, I haven't talked about the Thai toilets yet! A lot of squat loos, which is fine, used to those by now, but the weird thing is here that you're not supposed to flush the used paper down the dunny, there is a basket in the bathroom for that purpose! Goodbye Thailand!

Day 208, Bangkok, Thailand

At the show with Nina 

A final goodbye to the others on tour after breakfast and then it was time to reorganise my pack. At one stage in the last fortnight I had gear in 4 places; I left some things behind in Bangkok at the hotel, secondly in Chiang Mai we left our main bag, thirdly we left things we did not need on the hike at the Homestay place and lastly the gear I had with me on the hike. 

So it took a bit to sort and combine everything again and make it fit into my pack, but I still have room to spare so doing okay.

I changed hotels today as the other one was booked up, and afterwards I had a lazy afternoon reading and at the pool.

One of the scenes of the show

Close to 5 I wandered over and met up with Nina and Peter for a beer and dinner before Nina and I together went to see the Siam Niramit Show, a cultural performance like I have never seen before. It tells the history of Thailand of the last 700 years and I can highly recommend it. The set and the costumes were just stunning, there was a 'river' on stage, as well as rain, an elephant and goats even walked on stage. The dancers were spectacular, Nina and I absolutely loved it. And then it was time to say goodbye to her too. My last day in Bangkok tomorrow. 

Day 207, Bangkok, Thailand

Scary statue in restaurant!

So much for a good night sleep on the train. Unfortunately we had a very upset 15 month old baby next to our cabin, so lots of crying. Can't be helped, just didn't make for a restful night. 

We rolled into Bangkok at 6.45 and had breakfast at a very un-Thai cafe; beautiful croissants and lattes, what more could you ask for?

The day was free for us to do with what we wanted, so 'the Americans', Denise and I took the skytrain to the weekend markets, a huge open air market. We got there early en, before it got busy and split up straight away as too hard to shop together. Denise and I had seen enough after a couple of hours; as the Thai say: 'Same, same, but different'. Same stuff to buy, just different location and prices, and we were pleased to leave when we did as when we walked back to the skytrain huge swarms of people were arriving.

Next Khao San rd for a massage, Denise had not tried a Thai massage yet, and I twisted my own arm and had an oil massage (again!).

Lunch and a beer afterwards and then walk back to the hotel for a swim.

Peter's flaming chicken!

Dinner out with everyone tonight for leaving dinner, always sad to farewell fellow travellers and the guide, although I'm catching up with Nina tomorrow night and we're going to a show together.

Day 206, Chaing Rai to Chiang Mai to Bangkok, Thailand

Chiang Mai gardens

We took the fancy pansy bus back to Chiang Mai this morning; it even has a toilet on it. I was in need of using this facility, oh dear, what a mistake! First of all the bus is beautifully air conditioned, the toilet in contrast was like opening an oven door! Then the driver wasn't particularly careful about the use of either brake or accelerator, and we were going through a particular windy part of the trip, so altogether it was the most uncomfortable 'comfort ' stop I have ever had, I almost peed my pants with distraught before I could get them off, haha! Very traumatic experience indeed.

Back in Chiang Mai it was time to say goodbye to both Tracey and Amy, always sad to say farewell to travel buddies.

Temple

Nina and Peter and Denise and I went to the Old City of Chiang Mai and had a look around there, including some impressive temples, although I think I have seen just about enough of them now. 

Tonight time for a quick beer before boarding the 6.00 o'clock night train back to Bangkok.

Peter, Denise, Nina, drinks
before catching the night train 

I'm looking forward to a great night sleep on the train, last night was a bit short due to a late night and my roomy coming back at 6.00 am (plenty of stamina at 21 years of age), so anticipating the beds being made and s t r e t c h I n g out.