Sapa, Vietnam

Sapa was amazing and we almost didn't go. It is very North of the capital and I wasn't sure we would have enough time. But because we were in Hanoi during Tet, and because we were already in North Vietnam, I decided we'd better do it because who knows if we ever would again?

WHAT WE DID:

Arrived at 4 am and waited in a cold restaurant for our room. So fun.

First order of business: Nap. The train was not my friend. Cockroaches = disgusting. Ew ew ew. Right beside my head on the wall when I turned on the light. So I leapt out of bed and waited in the hallway for our train to get in. We still had several hours to go at that point. I didn`t care. 

First view from our balcony.Mist frequently shroads the rice paddie fields, and
I was worried it wouldn't lift while we were visiting.

Luckily, it did :) View from our room!

We Went on a Hike:

So on the advice of a few friends, Zac and I took a tour of some traditional villages. It went something like this:

We met up with three ladies who arrived at our hostel. They were all dressed in traditional clothing. We had all sorts of interesting conversations about how tourism had altered their villages and way of living. They all thought tourism was a good thing. One of them made me this:

Then we saw things like this:

Then we arrived here, where we were to eat lunch in the buildings across the way:

Right about now is where two of the ladies say they are going home and pull out their items to force - uh, ask - me to buy from them. I feel stupid. Duped. Silly. This was so well planned! I can`t deny buying something now! Well, I can. But I`ll feel like a jerk. And who wants to feel like a jerk. I`ve laughed with these women, learned from them, and...who am I kidding, it was all a sham. I meant nothing to them. Le sigh. Then a bunch of other women came over and wanted me to buy stuff from them too. It was an interesting experience.

Cool little shack.

While waiting for lunch, I took action shots. So fun!

They look so innocent until they mob you

Having learned from the Cambodian children I met in the fields,
I bonded with these children through my camera lens again.

Super cute :)

Back on the road again. Pigs were everywhere. 

Playing with rocks

Zac insisted on a picture

After school

I love the rice fields. Love love love. 

This little boy was playing quite happily with his tire. 

More rice fields!

Are they not so cool. 

Our real guide.

Drove a Scooter!

This was a first for me and Zac and I were both concerned for our safety. However we survived and it was tons of fun! We got lost and got cold but it was all good. It wasn`t the first time I terrified myself on the trip and it wouldn`t be the last ;)