Sa Pa, the coldest city in Vietnam. In winter it becomes a great attraction for lots of Asian tourists because from time to time one can see snow here. Luckely we had no snow, just some dense rain... There are a lot of (annoying) construction sites...
Sa Pa is very touristy and known for its great outdoor programm: hiking, renting a motorbike, homestay with locals, markets, massages, international food etc. Everybody wants to sell you something... Mama Chu is the one who lulls us. A very funny and friendly indigenous lady. We agree on a whole day hike for the next day. Just the three of us - and it really works out this way! No bad suprises :-)
It starts with a walk through the city... The market halls...
We take a small alley that ends in a dirt track. The ascent begins...
A tea plantation...
Unfortunately it is pretty misty in the mountains and the view isn't too good...
The hike is just great. It ends in Hau Thau, Mama Chu's home.
We also visit her house and meet one of her sons (she has five children). She lives a simple life in a wooden hut, the floor is soil. They have lots of animals: dogs, ducks and gooses, chickens and cocks, pigs. They all live together. The daytrip ends with an adventurous motorbike ride back to Sa Pa - what a woderful nature day.
At night we have great dinner at this place.
Again, locals have great pleasure clinking glasses with Alfredo and take photos with us. We would love to talk together and for sure we all would have a lot to tell us, but it stays with body language and
laughing together :-)
(Man, Vietnamese is so hard to learn. Even just basic words!!! But we give everything!)
