Rice terraces in Sapa
I woke up and the coach was swaying violently from left to right as it sped around the winding roads. I looked outside and saw the beginning of a different type of landscape. It looked almost but not quite tropical. Lots of rugged palm plants that all of a sudden were starting to remind me of the images I had in my head of Vietnam. I was excited about visiting a new country but realised that it will be strange having to learn new phrases in a different language and adjust to a whole new currency. After 7 weeks in China I was quite comfortable and accustomed to their environment. I am curious as to how different Vietnam will be. I suppose I was starting to loose enthusiasm having traveled in the same country for so long. I have met many people who say that they love China so much that they could spend months there because there is so much to see. There is lots to see, but I definitely feel like I'm ready for a change of environment. We met an Israeli family at the unfriendly border crossing in He Kou. They too are traveling for one year. I asked the mother how the kids were dealing with the traveling and she said that it has been the most amazing experience for them. The two boys are 4 and 6 years old. I thought the parents were crazy at first but now I admire them. There is not many families who can say that they have spent 24/7 with there children for this long of a period. They have bonded so well as a result.
We all took a small bus together through the mountains to Sapa which is a small town just south of the border. The feeling of adventure was starting fill up inside me again. I hadn't felt like this for a while. When we had arrived at our destination my first observation was how friendly and polite everyone was. The people looked so happy and there were big smiling faces everywhere I looked. After playing with the Israeli kids on the balcony in our hotel, I left in search of food. Ali didn't participate as she wasn't feeling too good so I found a restaurant and ordered breakfast alone. The Israeli family walked by and saw me sitting by myself. They asked if it was okay to join me. The kids looked happy to see me and proceeded to show me their toys. I occasionally looked out to watch the people pass by on the street. There are many minority groups here in Sapa but the most predominant is the H'mong. They are everywhere trying to sell hand crafted cushion covers and bracelets. They wear indigo-dyed linen skirts and aprons with wrap-on leggings and a cylindrical hat. They also wear lots of silver jewelry including large earrings and clusters of bracelets. A couple of them came up to the front of the restaurant to try and sell us stuff. We all politely shook our heads and carried on eating.
I was surprised at how many people speak English here but then I guess it's no surprise when you think about the Americans presence during the war. I have finally finished reading the history of Vietnam but think I may need to read it again. There is so much information to take in and understand that it's difficult to retain. Vietnamese money is quite interesting. I just watched a kid hold up a 100,000 dong note in the air towards the sky. The bills are printed onto transparent paper and has see-through parts in it. They don't rip or tear either. Me and my newly inherited Israeli family walked around the market near by. The kids stopped to look at crabs in a bowl. I loved playing with the kids. They also seemed to enjoy my company and it was difficult dividing my attention between the two of them. The eldest was the more dominant and the little one often felt left out and had to work harder to maintain my attention. They're sweet kids and so well behaved.
Later on in the afternoon I discovered a small cafe that was attracting quite a few locals. It was a simple coffee shop as was the process of making it. The girl kept disappearing behind the counter to prepare each order. There was nothing on the counter. No espresso machines. No Coffee making machines or anything of the likes. I wondered what she was doing behind that mysterious counter. Whatever she did, the coffee tasted amazing. It quite possibly was the best cup of coffee I have ever had. It was very thick and strong, mixed with sweet condensed milk. There was no need for sugar. I asked where I could buy the coffee and a man told me that I could find it easily in Hanoi and he gave me the name of it. I finished my coffee and continued to wander. I met a nice little old lady who tried to sell me silver bracelets and some opium. I said "not today, thank you" and walked away.
