My final taste of Vietnam- a four day trek to Sapa

Right after a small bus disaster (nothing big, just a 45 minute walk with our big bags on our back to lunch because the bus was on "vietnam time")on the Ha Long Bay trip, it was time to  go to Sapa. We were collected at our hostel, luckily a bit late ("Vietnam time" again) so we could get an egg baguette from the lady selling them on the sidewalk nearby, and brought to the bus station. Although this guy was very late, he was in quite a hurry himself so he kept telling me "quick, quick, quick" with everything that I did. Being that I had just been on a big trip that just got back that day, I was a bit irritated, but did my best not to get worked up, as here I have been taught to calm down and that things are never the end of the world, as bad as they may seem at the time. 

So Mr "quick quick" shoved us in a taxi and sent us off to the bus station. Luckily, once there it was nice and smooth and no one was requesting money from us. We did find out that a group in a similar situation got stuck with the taxi bill so we were very lucky that our guide did not cheat us! 

The overnight bus was a fun experience. Thank goodness I was with Ema, my friend that I met on the night bus to Hanoi and have been traveling with ever since. The night bus was nothing like the night busses that I have encountered so far in Vietnam. This night bus was full of double beds where if you are traveling alone, you would have to sleep next to (and uncomfortably close to) a complete stranger. Luckily Ema and I were able to do this with out a bit of uncomfortableness and a lot of laughs! However, on the return trip I was not so luck, but all in all it was not as bad as I thought it would be. 

Once we made it to Sapa we were immediately greeted by a swarm of natives in their beautiful, colorful garb. I heard once that while you are here, you almost adopt your own native, as they attach themselves to you and follow you around. This proved to be more than true. By the time we even reached breakfast I was wearing two complementary cloth bracelets, branding me too return and buy from "my woman" all topped off with a pinky swear! 

After breakfast, we were on our way. All the sudden I was hit with the amazing views of endless rice terraces and magical tree topped mountains. We marched (new women from different tribes assigning themselves to each of us to help us along the way) through the small roads, balancing on the rice fields, and slipping on the muddy tracks through the forests. A woman with a baby on her back was not only doing better at not slipping than me, but was actually HELPING me along! Eight and ten year old girls were catching us as we fell...these women are truly amazing! 

After two treks with a little lunch in between, we arrived at our homestay. It was incredible! I was with a small group of only four others and we were blessed with a traditional homestay (so many of them have become so touristy that they are more like small hotels that resemble traditional housing). The family did not speak any english, but were very nice and made us feel very comfortable. The food was excellent and the company was great. Ema and I and an older couple from the Netherlands and an older gentleman from Sweden. It was lovely. We played cards and talked and admired the view. And, oh, the view! Our porch looked out upon rice fields that stretched for miles and miles. I felt as if I could stay there forever! 

That night we had the most amazing thunder and lightening storm. The thunder was louder than I have ever heard before. I laid on my small mattress, under my mosquito net just listening to nature and all of its might. Before I drifted asleep, I listened as the thunder moved from right above us, to further and further away until it was  just a rolling in the distance. 

The next morning I woke up early and sat on the porch taking in the amazing view once again. As the rest of the group woke, we filled our bellies with crapes filled with pineapple and set out on an even more difficult walk in the pouring rain, once again balancing on rice patties and trekking through bamboo forests. In the next days I continued my trekking, ending each night with a homestay filled with lovely Vietnamese families and wonderful  fellow travelers. When the fourth day came to an end I was almost  not ready to leave. I could not have asked for a better way to end my trip!

Now, as I  spend  my final day walking around the busy, crowded streets of Hanoi, I am filled with a complete sense of contentment with how my travels have  turned out. I am so happy with everything I have done. I have become a bit more mellow, become a  happy and confident solo traveler, and learned so much about who I am. Tomorrow, I hope to take all of the great qualities I have discovered about myself and everything that I have worked on to make myself better with me as I embark on my new journey of self discovery in San Diego. Life is beautiful and I can't wait to continue changing and growing with every adventure I have! See you soon sunny San Diego!!

Ah, Ha Long Bay

What a beautiful, relaxing wonder of nature! Ha Long Bay is an area of north Vietnam full of hundreds of limestone cliffs jutting out of the water. Right now it is 6 am and I have woken early to sit on the rooftop of the sleeper boat and take time to fully take in and experience where I am. In my travels, I have discovered  how much I love the morning time. The quietness, the beauty of watching everyone wake up and begin their morning routines...I just love it! 

My boat is sitting smack dab in a clearing of water with the limestone cliffs surrounding me entirely. There was a light rain last night so the mist is covering the tops and all the cliffs in the distance to give a mystical, magical feeling. Other than the sounds of the boat motors (we haven't been moving for about 12 hours now, I don't know why they don't turn them off) it is complete serenity. There is a small fishing village on the water to my right. Hearing their soft hum of of music, a man cleans his nets in the water after throwing them in already this morning. Another, in a small row boat, is fishing to my left. Everyone beginning to wake up and feel the morning air outside before beginning the days chores. 

Yesterday the sun was peaking through the clouds, so we were able to see Ha Long in all of its beauty, but today it is a bit rainy so the cliffs are covered in a thick layer of mist. I feel really lucky for this weather because it is really amazing to see it in both of these ways. So amazing to experience something that is so beautiful in the sun, yet is still so beautiful in the rain. 

The day  continued with a hike on Cat Ba island. This hike was led by a very cute, very old local woman. It is so incredible when women and men, so elderly, can hike great lengths and work so hard. It really shows what the body  is made of if you just let it. The hike was amazing and invigorating and verrrry muddy and slippery. At the top of the mountain was the most beautiful view  of the tops of mist covered trees. Sometimes I have to really stop and think about how blessed I am for  being able to see so many beautiful things  as  I am getting to see on this trip.