astroboy888
New Member
RWC you are a legend bro! That is so you to drink the whole night through.
Anyone interested to go this coming winter? I might be keen.
Anyone interested to go this coming winter? I might be keen.
Vietnam 2011 - An 8-day journey through Hanoi, Sapa, and Halong Bay
- Thread starter sequitur
- Start date
Its not that expensive.. a bottle of tiger is US$1 then
Heh... tell that to RWC not me...
Beautiful photographs especially the back-street explorations and interesting write-up! Thanks for sharing
Thanks!
You're really the drunken master.... haha!
Royale With Cheese
Senior Member
Tempting man Jon, I love the winter, berms, t-shirt, warm sake in thermos flask but I can only afford one weekend there, not much annual leave left!
Yea, thats why I take horrible pics..
What about the other pics from Sapa & Halong Bay?
Still scanning... sorry ah damn slow scanner. Plustek scanner must manually feed film. Sometimes scan one frame liao forgot that I'm scanning, then leave the negs in the scanner for a few hours then remember I need to advance the frame..... Haha
That's why ppl there called you "điên điên" lol hahaha
arriving in lao cai, north vietnam. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Vietnam 2011 - Day 2 - Sapa - Cat Cat Village, Silver Waterfall, and the Tram Ton Pass
IT WAS ABOUT 5:15AM when a few sharp knocks on the carriage door woke me up. The train was pulling into Lao Cai, some nine hours since we left Hanoi. Thanks to a purposeful sleep deprivation the night before, as well as being able to share a carriage with two young Vietnamese men who were courteous enough to take their late night chat outside the room while we slept, I was only awoken 2-3 times that night on the swirling train ride.
We were greeted by a swarm of tourists from the Western countries when we alighted - never could I have imagined that so many people could fit into a train... but I guess that's because I haven't actually been to India. Maybe that would change some perspectives. Within a few moments, we would be approached by numerous touts selling bus services to Sapa, but their efforts would be futile for we had already arranged transportation with our guesthouse.
The business of ferrying people was ran in the most efficient way - what seemed like a 16-seater bus somehow became a 24-seater bus when the armrests unfolded themselves to become mini-chairs, and as we would soon find out on our subsequent bus rides, the Vietnamese are really good at filling buses to the brim.
***
I had expected it, but I never thought it would be so overwhelming - the bus stopped outside one of the hotels in Sapa to a massive crowd of extremely excited Black Hmong and Red Dzao women in their indigo getups and woven baskets clattering and pointing at us in the bus. They were picking their targets!
sapa town - the main street where all the activities are. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
sapa town - the main street where all the activities are. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
However, as we were soon to find out, L and I were amazingly not top of their list.
I guess we were blessed, in a way, that we were Asians in an Asian country, and perhaps more importantly, we simply looked like a couple of 20-year-old jobless travelers on a summer break. Sometimes I wonder if that is the reason why most of our travels have been pretty smooth sailing - we look as if we had broken the bank to get out of our country! Let's hope it remains as so.
***
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Fulfilling our growling stomachs was primary, and booking a day tour for our first day in Sapa was next on the list. Unfortunately there were no takers for the group trek to Ta Van village, so we had to go on our own trek instead.
sapa market. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
sapa market. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
On any day, Sapa is, literally, breathtaking.
sapa - steps, hills, you'll never grow fat. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
L would eventually remark upon our return to Hanoi that it would be really difficult to find a plump person in Sapa - given the mandatory exercise that they have to do daily, it wasn't tough to see why.
On a clear day, Sapa, however, will take your breath away.
sapa valley - the makings of mother nature. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
padi fields at cat cat village. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Sometimes one can't help but marvel at how man can conquer nature and the elements to carve out a landscape which harmonizes the beauty of the Earth. It was the rainy season and the padi fields were in harvest - even in the harsh afternoon light, the rays of the sun penetrated the fluffy clouds and cast their beauty over the lush greenery of Sapa valley.
It wasn't the best light for photography, but how could one ever resist such a sight?
sapa market. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
sapa market. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
On any day, Sapa is, literally, breathtaking.
sapa - steps, hills, you'll never grow fat. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
L would eventually remark upon our return to Hanoi that it would be really difficult to find a plump person in Sapa - given the mandatory exercise that they have to do daily, it wasn't tough to see why.
On a clear day, Sapa, however, will take your breath away.
sapa valley - the makings of mother nature. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
padi fields at cat cat village. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Sometimes one can't help but marvel at how man can conquer nature and the elements to carve out a landscape which harmonizes the beauty of the Earth. It was the rainy season and the padi fields were in harvest - even in the harsh afternoon light, the rays of the sun penetrated the fluffy clouds and cast their beauty over the lush greenery of Sapa valley.
It wasn't the best light for photography, but how could one ever resist such a sight?
cat cat village. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
padi fields at cat cat village. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
one of the many souvenir shops at cat cat village. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
a local guide bringing tourists down cat cat village. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
***
The journey down Cat Cat village was an easy 150-meter descent, but the journey up was a tough 150-meter ascent. On hindsight we should have taken the offers of numerous US$1 xe oms that could have brought us back to Sapa... but oh well.
indigo-dyed hmong clothing out to dry. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
padi fields at cat cat village. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
some activity going down in that river there. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
cat cat village. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Lunch was at Nature View restaurant - which we found out later that night was the #1 ranked restaurant in Sapa on TripAdvisor. No doubt about it, the food was pretty good. And I thought it was just because we were too tired!
lunch at nature view restaurant. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
***
indigo-dyed hmong clothing out to dry. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
padi fields at cat cat village. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
some activity going down in that river there. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
cat cat village. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Lunch was at Nature View restaurant - which we found out later that night was the #1 ranked restaurant in Sapa on TripAdvisor. No doubt about it, the food was pretty good. And I thought it was just because we were too tired!
lunch at nature view restaurant. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
***
We parted with US$15 for two (overpriced) xe oms to bring us to the Silver Waterfall and the top of the Tram Ton Pass. It was L's first time riding a motorcycle in a foreign country; it was my first time riding a motorcycle in a foreign country with a helmet on.
xe om ride. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Thanks to the glorious clear skies, we were able to get some amazing shots of the Fanxipan mountain range.
views of the fanxipan mountain range. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
views of the fanxipan mountain range. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
But as they always say, the weather at Tram Ton always runs contrary to Sapa's. Situated at a unique geographical location where the wind changes its direction, Sapa on a misty day would mean an amazingly clear view at the pass.
Unfortunately, we were greeted with a drizzle, some 10 degree Celsius drop in temperature, howling cold winds, and the misty clouds rushing straight at our faces.
at the tram ton pass. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
misty tram ton pass. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Still beautiful, but as we were to find out later that night, where we were brought to wasn't the top of the pass!
Ah, crap.
***
xe om ride. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Thanks to the glorious clear skies, we were able to get some amazing shots of the Fanxipan mountain range.
views of the fanxipan mountain range. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
views of the fanxipan mountain range. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
But as they always say, the weather at Tram Ton always runs contrary to Sapa's. Situated at a unique geographical location where the wind changes its direction, Sapa on a misty day would mean an amazingly clear view at the pass.
Unfortunately, we were greeted with a drizzle, some 10 degree Celsius drop in temperature, howling cold winds, and the misty clouds rushing straight at our faces.
at the tram ton pass. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
misty tram ton pass. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Still beautiful, but as we were to find out later that night, where we were brought to wasn't the top of the pass!
Ah, crap.
***
The Silver Waterfall was next - another massive staircase exercise that would make climbing Mount Faber feel like a piece of cake.
silver waterfall. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
silver waterfall. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Nice place, great scenery, and that's back to Sapa town for us.
***
silver waterfall. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
silver waterfall. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Nice place, great scenery, and that's back to Sapa town for us.
***
Upon our return, it seemed as if it was going to rain - but it did not. Unpredictability seems to be the word of the day here.
unpredictable sapa weather. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
on the way to sapa lake. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
sapa lake. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
flowers at sapa lake. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
With time on our hands, Sapa lake was our final tourist destination before our dinner at Baguettes et Chocalat off Cau May Street ran by the Hoa Sua group, a non-governmental organization aimed at providing culinary skills to local youths, raising their employability for restaurants in the major Vietnamese cities.
unpredictable sapa weather. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
on the way to sapa lake. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
sapa lake. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
flowers at sapa lake. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
With time on our hands, Sapa lake was our final tourist destination before our dinner at Baguettes et Chocalat off Cau May Street ran by the Hoa Sua group, a non-governmental organization aimed at providing culinary skills to local youths, raising their employability for restaurants in the major Vietnamese cities.
at baguettes et chocolat. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
at baguettes et chocolat. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
at baguettes et chocolat. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
Food presentation was definitely restaurant-like, but unfortunately taste and pricing proved to be displaying a huge disparity. Oh well, maybe we were just unlucky to have caught one of their off days.
***
Night soon fell, we roamed around the town for a while, shot a few photos, and back to the hotel we went.
nightfall in sapa town. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
nightfall in sapa town. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
nightfall in sapa town. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
sapa catholic church. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
nightfall in sapa town. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
In twelve hours' time, we would be conquering a muddy 18-kilometer trek down the hills and valleys of Sapa through numerous fields of padi - in slippers.
(Gasp.)
***
End of Day 2 - Thank you all so much for reading and all the kind comments!
nightfall in sapa town. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
nightfall in sapa town. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
nightfall in sapa town. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
sapa catholic church. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
nightfall in sapa town. by dawn till dusk., on Flickr
In twelve hours' time, we would be conquering a muddy 18-kilometer trek down the hills and valleys of Sapa through numerous fields of padi - in slippers.
(Gasp.)
***
End of Day 2 - Thank you all so much for reading and all the kind comments!
Keep it coming!
Ha.. thanks for the encouragement.
Afraid that the next series might take a week or so because it's another 2-3 rolls to scan...
Royale With Cheese
Senior Member
This one is amazing!!!
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