Sa Pa

Our ten hour train trip to Lao Cai is an experience.  There's all manner of things going on, hard seaters sitting in soft seaters seats, non-stop eating, puking, hawkers you name it and the train is absolutely filthy - I am so glad we changed our minds to the day train and not the overnighter!

At Lao Cai the minibuses are lined up ready, we are armed with the knowledge that the fare is 28,000 VND, and fall off our perches when one asks for 500,000 VND. They really do see all westerners as wallking dollars and it is now starting to get wearing. We finally agree on 150,000 VND for both of us. Sa Pa, when we finally arrive is in darkness but it feels nice and there are dozens of ladies and young girls dressed in the garb of the various hill tribes around all selling and it's persistent, in fact it's the hardest sell we've come across!

The Auberge sees us for tonight with a balcony and hot water for US$8. Beer and food is needed as all we've had today is ritz crackers. Adrian falls for the pasta pangs but I stick with Vietnamese food, beef Lok Lak - good choice.

The weather is beautiful today much better than we had anticipated, it must be 28 degrees and sunny sunny sunny. We walk to Cat Cat Village, which is a hill tribe village, we get up close (but no personal) with lots of Vietnamese pot bellied pigs and see a lady weaving, their outfits are quite beautifully decorated.  There are about 10 hill tribes around here and they all wear different clothing.  The path continues beyond the village to a beautiful waterfall and then rejoins the road to Sa Pa.

Dinner tonight is a set menu, vegetable soup, spring rolls, chicken (Adrian) beef (me) with steamed rice, a pancake with banana chocolate sauce followed by Sa Pa tea. Delicious.

It's bloody freezing in Sa Pa!!! It's 4.45pm  and we're sat huddled round a fire in the hotel. It poured down at 4.30am and the mist hasn't lifted all day.  Everything is damp, and yes, I am moaning! I went for a pedicure this  morning, all that flip flop walking has really taken its toll on my feet so I thought I'd treat them.  US$5 for a full pedicure absolute VFM.