Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Day 18 Trekking Sa Pa

Sapa is where Ha Noi-ites go to get out of the heat.  Sorta like Pinecrest Lake.  So, lots of Vietnamese families here, as well as Australians.  Our guide, Tang, says that Australians are their “favorites”. 

The main outdoor market is where the Hmongs, and all the mountain tribes sell their wares.  They are everywhere, not only the marketplace, but up and down the streets as well.  They work in groups, a bit overwhelming.  Always smiling, but very persistent.

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Nice hotel, killer view of the mountains surrounding Sa Pa.

Our trek today is down to a little village below Sa Pa, about 4 kilometers.  Tang took us into a house where four generations live.  They make indigo for dying clothes.  Quite a process; something for everyone to do.

P1030579 This is their storeroom.  Stocking up corn for the dry season.

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This is grandma polishing some of the fabric, she would be great on a skateboard

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300 people live in the village, many of them are kids.

After the trek, Tang convinced us for $20 to have he and his friend take us to the highest part of the mountains on their motorbikes.  So, off we went for the afternoon.  Great fun dodging all the cars and trucks, and they us.  We ended up at a Buddhist temple, where we were allowed to ring their bell.  P1030615

      Gloria and I may now be Buddhists!