So last night we week took the overnight train to Lao Cai (right on the Chinese border). It was a very interesting trip on the train. The sleeping quarters were tight and musty… I took motion sickness medicine, so I slept better than Chaunta.
We arrived around 6:30 this morning. We met our guide at the train station, took an hour bus ride up on winding road up the mountain to Sapa. We weren’t sure if the trip was going to be good based on the train ride…but we were amazed at the beauty of this place. The pictures don’t even capture it.
This area is primarily inhabited by ethnic minority groups that migrated here from Thailand, China, Cambodia and Laos several hundred years ago. They means of living are very meager and they rely heavily on tourism to survive. We toured one of their homes. It was approximately 400 square feet and 12 people lived there. You could see right through the gaps in the boards that made up the walls. They only recently received a tin roof that was funded by UNISEF. Of the 400 square feet in the home, approximately 150 square feet were filled with rice and corn. Since they only have one crop per year they must ration it and make it last.
The weather is much cooler here. We are enjoying a break from tropical heat of the other areas we have visited. And we are dressing Liam in layers to ensure he doesn’t get cold, since he isn’t used to the cool weather. But it should be good practice since it will be cool when we get home.
Speaking of home, we are getting very close to leaving. Only 5 more nights here. We can’t wait to rejoin Aiden and begin life as a family of 4. But we are doing well here. I think we have both resigned ourselves to the fact that we just have to stay. This weekend away has been a great distraction to the homesickness.
Liam is improving everyday. Today he got his last does of antibiotics. I am sure he will be completely well by the time we leave.
Tomorrow we will visit 2 more villages here, visit the Chinese border, and catch a night train back to Hanoi.
Okay, now for the explanation of the title…
While on the bus coming to Sapa our tour guide was explaining about the local people and the different foods they eat. Many people here eat dog, cat, snakes and rats. WOW! He went on to say that dog meat is very good. Of course we asked him, “What does it taste like?” He thought for a moment and then said, “Monkey. It is very similar to Monkey meat.” Although that didn’t help describe the taste to us…it made for a very memorable story. By the way, monkeys live here on the mountain and they are also a choice meal to the locals.
No comments:
Post a Comment