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This weekend I took an extra two days off, in return for working extra last week. This was actually excellent timing as tuesday was a national holiday so i got five days off!! So, I went away to Sapa, north west vietnam, near the Laos border, with Emily.
We took the sleeper train on Thursday night, getting into Lao Cai early Friday morning. We took a tour for the whole time, so as not to waste any of time there, so we were put straight onto a but to take us to our hotel in Sapa town. We got some breakfast there (actually awesome as they had a buffet with and infinite supply of vietnamese coffee!) and then went straight off to start trekking. The first 2 days we spent climbing mount fansipan- indochina's biggest mountain. But boy did we underestimate it. Emily has also been cycling to work each day and we both thought we were relatively fit. In retrospect we think quite differently.
The first morning was nice walking through lots of forests and it there was some flatter bits amongst the uphill. But after lunch we just went up and up and up, and it was steep as. We were scrambling up most of it, and there were even a number of ladders for where it got too steep. Our porter left us far behind and our guide would often stop and seemed to be wandering what was taking us so long.
When we got to the camp we were absolutely exhausted, and disappointed to see that the 'camping' we would be doing for the night would be in a tin hut with around 20 vietnamese people. We slept on wooden floors and our sleeping bags were extremely thin. I wore all of my clothes and was still cold! The vietnamese group were very loud for quite a while, even though we were trying to sleep. The whole situation was so bizarre and almost felt like we were those kids at school that have no friends and are left out of all the fun!!
The next day we got up at 6am to summit the 3,143m. Unfortunately the weather was lame, and we could see about 10m away from us as the wall of cloud was so thick. Apparently on a clear day you can see as far as China and Laos. We spent the rest of the day getting back down. Today both Emily and I realised how much we'd climbed the previous day and were both pretty impressed with our efforts!!!
Very glad to get back to the hotel eventually, but in a considerable amount of pain, and not looking forward to the following days of trekking. The hotel was exactly what we needed- if a little too luxurious compared to what we are used to. The beds were super somfy and i had an electric blanket on mine! We had a good shower and some really good food there as well. Wandered (extremely slowly) into the town to look around later in the evening.
The following days trek was to be 12km, but we woke up in pain and struggled to walk even to breakfast, so we decided to take a xe om for the first 9km of the trek. We met our group for lunch and then walked with them to the village where we would stay for the evening.
Food in Sapa was really good as there is quite a strong influence from China, and i guess helped by how hungry i was there, and helped down with some rice wine.
The last day we had some better weather so could see out over all the rice terraces and to a number of other villages. It would have been a nice walk if we hadn't seized up even more over night.
It may seem like I'm complaining a lot about how much pain i was in, but fansipan was really one of the toughest things iv done in a long time.
Did some shopping in the market in town before going to get the train back home. We arrived back in Hanoi at 4.30am, so took it easy on tuesday.
A whole load of the girls who started volunteering at the same time as me have left today, so yesterday we stayed in the old quarter drinki8ng bia hoi and got an array of good street food.
The house is down to just 10 volunteers now, so tonight may be on the quiet side.......
- comments
Mum I'm proud of your efforts..very well done. A pity that you couldn't see so much, but the trekking was a great challenge. Enjoy a more relaxing week!
Dad Well done Alice, good job you have been riding your bicycle so much or you would never have survived the weekend! Not sure about the hotel with comfy bed & electric blanket, sounds a bit civilised! xxxx
Nanny & Eddie Every time I read your blog I am amazed at what you have been doing ,and eating.You said you thought you were fit but you really did put it to the test.lots of love Nanny xxxxx Well at least that's another experience to notch up. You will be able to write abook when you get back home. Just think you've got the rest of the world to go to yet!!! Take care and lots of love, Eddie