We awoke after having the most refreshing night's sleep for a long time - our oversupply of blankets really helped here!
We said goodbye to our homestay family, but not before our parting group photo (we figured they probably do this every single morning, but they still managed to have such lovely smiles):
The weather on the second day of our trek got better and better as the day went on.
We got much better photos of the valley today:
However, because this is the middle of the dry season, the rice paddies were not quite as green and lush as you sometimes see them:
Here's Hazel at the top end of a waterfall looking like she's about to break into a Country & Western number...
By the time we'd got to the bottom of the waterfall, the Sun was well and truly out:
No matter where you are in the world, as soon as the Sun appears people start to wash their clothes:
...and their cars (or motorbikes, in this case!):
Our guide took us to meet the village chief of the Red Dao tribe as we passed through - here she is on her doorstep:
And this is her granddaughter in the kitchen - check the size of the pots!
Further on in the village we met these two characters:
The likeness is uncanny! ;-)
While stopping for lunch, we met some more ladies from the Black Hmong - another opportunity to buy wares!
Cooooo-eeeeee!
In the afternoon we got back to Sapa town
We were grateful at this point for a hot shower and change of clothes.
We went out to explore the town, checking out the sights, sounds, shops, and of course the colourful people.
Some of the wall hangings in a shop (we bought the blue one, top-left):
And some of the clothing on offer:
Here's some of the men-folk trying to look busy (playing cards!) while being left holding the baby:
This was a funny moment. Hazel tried to escape the woman's sales pitch by running across the square. As you can see, this was little deterrent, as the lady took up the chase:
The following day was market day, and we loved spending our time there, before getting the night train back to Hanoi.
We love how this shot mixes traditional, tribal identity with the 21st Century... But we did wonder whether the helmet would fit over her headdress!
Haze bought a little hat from this lady below, and then modelled it - to the amusement of all and sundry!
We didn't often see men getting involved in family activities (in Vietnam, at least), so it was nice to see this family just passing the time together on the steps of the church:
All in all, Sapa was a wonderful experience: great scenery, and a journey into a completely different way of life.
Namaste!
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