From Hanoi we left on the train to Lao Cai. This was a 10 hour trip. From there we were picked up by a transferbus to Sa Pa. This is a really adorable city. The people here are so friendly, and there are a lot of people selling there wares on the street. The area is foggy, but this is caracteristic for Sa Pa. We bought a lot of souvenirs here, all is very cheap. Say 20.000 dong for a bag, wich is 1 euro. You realy want to help the people so we bought so much! My bag is not getting any lighter on it, but it is all realy nice. It is all handmade.

The first day we spent on a trip to a waterfall in Cat Cat. The walk is nice, about one hour to it. Then an hour at the waterfall were some of us went for a swim, and a shower in the waterfall. Then an hour walk back, we walked thru the fields! In the evening a nice dinner(cheap, 100.000 dong for 4 people = 5 euro). Later in the hotel we chatted with two guys from Canada, who were here to film ethical travel or something.

The second day Carolien and me spent on the market, and Rob and Mark went for an trip in the jungle. I bought a lot here, for about 500.000 dong (=25 euro). We ate pizza as lunch (it was good!) and we had dinner with the Canadian guys.

Third day we left on a three day trekking trip thru the Sa Pa surroundings to meet the poeple here. First day a light trip of 2 hours, and we spent the night at the house lovely family of the Mhuong tribe, in an small village in the rice fields.

The second day of the trip was hard! Wake up at 6, have breakfast (pancakes with banana and chocolate sauce) the 20 km thru the rice fields and the jungle. After a few stops (it was hot, and going up and down, thru water etc.) we arrived aroound 17.00 in a village to stay for the night. This time the house was bigger, and more nice. Had dinner, drank some beer and played a few card games, and chatted with the guide. 21.30 was bed time again, and we all slept like roses!

8 in the morning wake up again, and we cut the trip a little short, rested some more and went back to Sa Pa were we had a great long awaited shower. Now i’m in an internet cafe in Sa Pa, we gonna have dinner and the leave to the train station again for an other 10 hour trip back to Hanoi, and the leave from there directly to Halong Bay. That should be great. Ok, c u later, the internet connections are not that quick, so i only uploaded a few photo’s hope to write in more detail later too.

Greetings from Sa Pa, Frank