Photos from 8D7N Hanoi Halong Bay & Sapa Valley Photography Trek

[limwhow]

T R A V E L O G U E ~ Day 7 - Sapa: Cat Cat Village to Sin Chai Village

It was going to be another day with quite a long walk. 12km trekking, according to what we saw on the hotel lobby information.
Well, after the past few days, what was another 12km trek? It was organised by the SgTrekker after all. Haha...
The morning's weather was nice and cool as we started walking from our hotel.
It was however, still misty in the distance.

Our walk took us through Sapa's morning market.
I would like to show some record shots with no artistic value what-so-ever.
Just for all of us to remember by.

limwhow #192

Here, the unmistakable rain-protection attire of Jim, SereneXMM and stevepow as they made their way through the lane.

limwhow #193

Looked just like the usual wet market, this one did, selling vegetables and fruits.

Hmmm... it was still a little dark inside the lanes. So please pardon the noise from the high ISO.


limwhow #194

Surprisingly we came upon a pile of flesh that, on first sight, we couldn't make out what it was.
It was until we drew nearer that we finally recognised the sharp snout of the deceased animal with the canine fangs...
... Hmmm... man's best friend for dinner, anyone?

Please accept my sincere apologies for the very blunt way I present this, as I felt that, since this was reality in this part of the world,
I just wanted to show exactly what the local residents slaughter and eat. There is no point in hiding the truth.
If they eat dogs, I just wanted to show it as a record photographer for the team.

 

[SereneXMM]

Welcome aboard, Jim!

 

[limwhow]

Welcome aboard, Jim!

Yah, so happy Jim is on and has posted his photos.
So now, where is that Chubby Blue Hmong and her pictures huh?

 

[divinemoment]

Welcome on board Jim. Wow, your pics also got canvas (border).

Where's your comrade, George?

 

[divinemoment]

Ooohhhh.... very good differential focussing. :thumbsup:
I snapped quite a fair number of shots of these two ladies.
But they didn't come out like this. I like this very much, divinemoment.

Comments appreciated. I took almost 20 shots and she must be wondering what the hell I'm doing. She kept looking, I kept shooting. Maybe too overboard.

 

[stevepow]

Hi,

(4)

Double dates at Lovers' Market.

Love your this shot as you had captured their spontaneous mood for that particular instant

Maybe if we have the opportunity, you, me and George and CAN try our luck ...:bsmilie::bsmilie::bsmilie:

KEEP YOU PIX COMING, PLEASE

p.s. keep the wifey of of this thread

 

[stevepow]

Oh yes !! by the time the travelogue reaches the waterfall we should be able to cross to 20k mark.

Also need the supports from all of us , especially with Jim coming on board now and waiting for the others ( balanced ) as well

A milestone siao...me:bigeyes: but I believe it will be a record in CS's landscape thread

Keep them (photos) coming you trekkers !!!

 

[acpical]

Day 6 - Bac Ha Market:

Dolls in native attire

I wonder what playing the suo na is for?

Communal Dining

Selling herbs

 

[acpical]

Traditional Hmong jewellery

Proud mother and her baby wishing us 恭喜,恭喜. I was wondering how come the baby was so co-operative, allowing me the time to tune my focus point. Turned out Adrian was behind making monkey faces to amuse him.

Hot dog tonight. As Limwhow wrote earlier, this is their way of life. It is not up to us to judge, just because we have different ideas of what dogs are.

 

[sinned79]

:cry:

 

[limwhow]

Oh yes !! by the time the travelogue reaches the waterfall we should be able to cross to 20k mark.

Also need the supports from all of us , especially with Jim coming on board now and waiting for the others ( balanced ) as well

A milestone siao...me:bigeyes: but I believe it will be a record in CS's landscape thread

Keep them (photos) coming you trekkers !!!

Hahaha... somehow I have a feeling that your CS-sitis has deteriorated to Stage 4 liao! Hahaha.....
Wah lau, you even went to count and compare view counts on all the old historical thread?
My goodness... Hats off to you, stevepow!

 

[limwhow]

....
I wonder what playing the suo na is for?

Good question, acpical. I stood there and observe the SuoNa players for a while.
They happy happy will play a few notes. Then happy happy stop for a while.
I myself also cannot understand....

Acpical, I really like this angle.
It was a buzzling Bac Ha market that nice morning when we all were there.
Both SereneXMM and I were thronging the small isle trying to capture the scene.
But you have so aptly shot this view encompassing not only the seller, but the U-shape bench in a whole to give viewers an idea of what every stall was like.
Kudos, brother! :thumbsup:

...
Proud mother and her baby wishing us 恭喜,恭喜. I was wondering how come the baby was so co-operative, allowing me the time to tune my focus point. Turned out Adrian was behind making monkey faces to amuse him.

Yah! Acpical - your award winning shot!
Not easy to take. Not easy to take at all!

Hot dog tonight. As Limwhow wrote earlier, this is their way of life. It is not up to us to judge, just because we have different ideas of what dogs are.

How come you all so lucky, get to see such a cute dog on sale for makan?
My eyes must have been looking elsewhere.
Miss out such a cutie cutie doggy.

 

[limwhow]

Hi,

(4)

Double dates at Lovers' Market.

Love your this shot as you had captured their spontaneous mood for that particular instant

Maybe if we have the opportunity, you, me and George and CAN try our luck ...:bsmilie::bsmilie::bsmilie:

KEEP YOU PIX COMING, PLEASE

p.s. keep the wifey of of this thread

You know something, Jim, stevepow?
We ALL know that Bac Ha market started off as a Lover's Market for the minority young members to come together on a Sunday morning, have a good flirt, find their partners and run off for 'a drink or two' after that.
Something must be wrong with me that day.
I kept reminding myself to find scene such as what Jim has shot.
But either I was too busy shooting buffalos and dead dogs, or I was just simple not lucky enough to come across such a scene.

Jim, great shot, great shot!

 

[acpical]

How come you all so lucky, get to see such a cute dog on sale for makan?
My eyes must have been looking elsewhere.
Miss out such a cutie cutie doggy.

This is the same doggy shot earlier. The man had just bought it. The dog was leashed and literally dragged away. Its hind legs were on the ground and only its forepaws could move to stabilise itself.

It was obvious it was unwilling to go. I figured it already knew its fate.

I couldn't shoot the scene - could only watch.

 

[acpical]

Lady Hmong tends the fire brewing alcohol in Ban Pho Village

Little ducklings out of way out of the village

I was relaxing in the van when it suddenly stopped. It could only mean one thing - a photo opp! This time, it was a group of natives. They were pretty shy and apprehensive, and who could blame them? You would be too, if one van suddenly pulled up in front of you, and a whole bunch of strange people rushes down, aiming big, black tubes at you?

 

[limwhow]

.... They were pretty shy and apprehensive, and who could blame them? You would be too, if one van suddenly pulled up in front of you, and a whole bunch of strange people rushes down, aiming big, black tubes at you?

Wei.. you must be diplomatic...
... and big white tubes too! :bsmilie::bsmilie:

This is the same doggy shot earlier. The man had just bought it. The dog was leashed and literally dragged away. Its hind legs were on the ground and only its forepaws could move to stabilise itself.

It was obviously it was unwilling to go. I figured it already knew its fate.

I couldn't shoot the scene - could only watch.

This is a good shot.
In fact, I will even say it's a shot filled with meaning and everyone looking at the doggy can see the emotion in its eyes.
You have aptly narrated it - its awaiting its fate.
My, acpical! You are a dog lover like Adrian and stevepow also yah!

 

[acpical]

Wei.. you must be diplomatic...
... and big white tubes too! :bsmilie::bsmilie:



This is a good shot.
In fact, I will even say it's a shot filled with meaning and everyone looking at the doggy can see the emotion in its eyes.
You have aptly narrated it - its awaiting its fate.
My, acpical! You are a dog lover like Adrian and stevepow also yah!

I am a cow, pig and lamb lover too!! They taste very good. :bsmilie:

 

[limwhow]

I am a cow, pig and lamb lover too!! They taste very good. :bsmilie:

In that case, let's get Adrian to indent a cow, a pig and a lamb for JZG in October for both of us!

 

[acpical]

Second night at Sapa, I took my camera out. The heavy mist makes for good diffuse lighting.

The couple goes window shopping - except the shops have no windows.

The sweet corn lady

Cowboy ponders outside the church

 

[Jim CPA]

Hi,
Thanks for the warm welcome by Wee Hao, Serene and David and also not forgetting for all
the compliments too.

Just to add on to what Wee Hao shared about the Lovers' market, our guide, Ms Pang told Steve and me at the hotel lobby on how some of the Black Hmongs go about settling down.
The man will simply approach the girl he would like to marry and if she agrees, will follow him home to stay for 3 days. No need for parental permission. On the last day both must decide whether to tie the knot.:bigeyes:
Didn’t know why Steve chipped in on whether can extend to one week and she said, "NO WAY.":nono:
Sorry ah, Steve for mentioning you. Not to worry, conversion not recorded.
It is usually practised on their New Year Day when girls look their best and parents will not bother if their daughters are not back. Alamak, what if 'kena' kidnapped.
Wah, like that, die die, better for parents there, to own hand phone or hire one.
So must ask Adrian to help donate over there, our old phones .

:bsmilie::bsmilie::bsmilie: