Sa Pa

The final part of my journey in South East Asia.  After saying goodbye to the gang and waving them off to the lyrics from 'The Sound of Music' I was all on my own and ready for the overnight train to Lao Cai near the Chinese boarder and then an hour drive to Sa Pa. 

At first, Sa Pa reminded me of Snowdonia but as we travelled further into the mountains the true beauty of this region started to be revealed.  From the cloud covered peaks to the terraced rice paddies peppered with wooden homes, local villagers walking along the road, gushing waterfalls and recent landsides - there was so much to take in.

Day 1: Cat Cat, Y Linh Ho and Lao Chi villages (H'Mong tribes).

My guide, Chi, met me at the hotel and soon we were on our way walking for 14k through muddy, narrow paths alongs the side of gorges, walking over bridges as if they were from an Indiana Jones film, balancng on the ridge of rice paddies, avoiding water buffalo and all the time taking care not to slip from the recent rain.  I was aching, sweaty and sunburnt (even though it was raining) by the time we reached our homestay:

Day 2: 10k to Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai (Dzay tribes) and the waterfalls:

At the end of this trek I was picked up and taken to my 4 star hotel
(the 5 star was fully booked!) - an afternoon of pampering, an evening of relaxing, and, every so often, thinking how serreal it is to be lying on a king sized bed completely unwound and relaxed while taking a glimpe out of my window to survey the mountainous terrain.

Day 3: Sa Pa town, Ma Tra (H'Mong tribe) and Ta Phin (H'Mong and Dzao tribes).  Another 14k today but it was much more level and actual paths to walk.  A fine end to my time in Sa Pa.