We arrived bleary eyed at 5.30am in Lao Cai after catching the over night train. Great to have a sleeping compartment to ourselves so we were able to have a comfortable (and short!) night. Clanky and noisy though. When we saw the cleaners refolding the bedding, rather than changing it, as we got off the train, we were extra pleased that we had bought our own sleeping sheets and pillow cases! Not sure if the bedding is ever washed!
A guide picked us up and drove us (great drive with plenty to see) to Bac Ha Market - a market for local minority hill tribes. Very colourful. We felt like giants amongst them. Here we were offered all sort of food including dog...... We gawped at this huge rat a man had bought and was taking home to cook - looked like a small dog! (the guide reckoned he was a beauty - an got quite excited by some of the dogs!) The animal trading was quite different and while it seemed cruel to us it was just their way of life. Carrying a cat around strung up and hanging down like a hand bag! Don't tell the cats at home!We have eaten mostly local food so far and have found it much more enjoyable than China but we won't look to hard at the meat after finding out the variety they eat - dog, cat, donkey etc. Ella will only eat things she can recognise like rice, fruit and bread! (oh lollies too!)
After the market we travelled to Sapa, at 1600m height, in the hills. Apparently it is rare to have clear days where you can see the mountains and w
e have been lucky enought to have two days with clear blue skies. The town is home for another of the minority tribes, this time dressed mainly in black but also very small. We couldn't resist buying from some of them, they are so 'gentle' as they hassle you to buy.
The French influence is very evident in the buildings and many of the homes are tall and narrow which look a bit funny when standing on their own. Land can be bought by the 100 sqm in the towns and the road frontage is important as you can run a business from it French loaves are easy to get - and of course French Fries... :-) (much to the delight of Ella)
We are enjoying the cool, clear air, the last we will experience for quite some time. We head of today for a short trek to some hill villages. Tonight another overnight train trip back to Ha Noi and then driving to Halong Bay for our cruise.
Fresh dog anyone?
4 comments:
Hi Guys,
Dog looks really appetizing - reminds me of some of the BBQ's we've had recently. All the philistines here didn't cook the meat properly - it was still barking. I needed more support from the cook-it-til-you-can-use-it-as-shoeleather brigade.
Saw Eddie at the School Gala - he said this has been one of best years for windsurfing.
Lucky you left China when you did - they have been having some pretty extreme temperatures and conditions over the last few days.
Take care,
The Browns
Hey Big fella and fellesses. Missed you at Hahei this year. Very quiet, no Youngs or Parsons present. Spent most of the time psychoanalysing Paul's relationship problems! Nice change to be leaving mine alone! The water was as cold as the pic of the man swimming in China. As usual I was the battleships and netball shooting champ! Saw Eddie at Cooks beach fair and he said to tell you was the best year for wind yet and I am not talking bodily, although that was also up to it's normal standard. The long drop missed you. I gazed into it one day and was sure I saw a reflction of your face (Dave).
Ali
Brown is right - at least about the shoe leather thing. He managed as usual to burn the crap out of everything. Finally this year I managed to avoid carbon poisoning!!
Ali
Next year - Gretal on toast? Hmm maybe not! Chaz and Ella managed to throw up aound the place without eating dog nor pigs organ soup!
Plenty of wind here but not that sort of wind (food wind!)
Did Ali get a wedgie ok?
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