After getting ourself cleaned up....we went out for some walking around before our bus pick up this evening at around 8pm. I actually thought we are going for Dinner, but Mr H decided to do his favorite activities (I believe he has done several different kind of massage in the Capital of Thailand-Including those kind as well..lol)
We finish our massage at around 7.30pm. It was later than I expected and we have yet to have dinner. Was feeling really hungry....and ask Mr H to quickly settle Dinner (which he doesn't seem interest as he is not hungry).
It turn out to be another disaster as we have to again....swallow our food without tasting it due to the time....(<10min)....the>
Journey to SAPA involves taking an overnight Train (8hrs) and another 3hr bus journey. It was raining heavily when we arrive at Lao Cai station. We manage to reach the Hotel around 8am. After Checking in and registering for this morning Trekking activities, We proceeded for our breakfast which was included in the Tour package we sign-up
Meals, including Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner have been provided for under the package tour we sign in Hanoi for USD $128. We could have pay a higher price ($155) for a better Train cabin, but we choose to save on this....There were numerous option to choose from for the meals, Total of more than 14 choices...I choose this as My First breakfast @ SAPA, Mr H choose the noodles. I am suppose to put the eggs (Scrambled) into the loaf....pretty average for this breakfast...but was damn hungry so it's still quite all right (For me).
We next proceed to our rooms to wash-up before our trekking at 9am. The Hotel is located on a slope (Kinda like a hill), that why I believe , they named it "Summit" hotel. FYI, SAPA is located some 1600m above sea-level. This is something I didn't expected, as I am dress in Tee shirt and short, thinking it will be a hot day...
The rooms are quite cool, partly due to the weather on the hills, Mr H, complain that there should be air-con, but I felt, it was quite ok,
A heater might be necessary consider as it already relative cold during summer month, Winter will be even worst. When it's cold, without a heater is very uncomfortable. Don really understand how come Mr H felt warm even in temperatures of 20C , when back in Singapore, he doesn't complain when there is no air-con at home (30C)?
This morning itinerary is to trek to Cat Cat Village to see the wheat/Padi Field as well as to see those tribes people living here in SAPA.
The trekking(Starting only at 10am after waiting for all the tourist to arrive) was not good to begin with, first of all, it's raining and is rather cold and we are not in the correct attire for trekking. I endure the cold, luckily the trekking make us feel warmer...
I was a little disappointed when our guide is not one of these tribes ladies...it would have make the trekking special and with a taste of the tribe culture....FYI, a local guy become our guide...bringing us, which include a HK couple, a Aussie/Malaysian couple and a French couple...to the local town center, Market place and the Cat Cat Village.
a 5 mins walk down slope, we came to SAPA main town center, which is basically a large field, here, they have lot of shops similar to the night-market in Hanoi, but at a smaller scale. It's raining quite heavily so that wasn't alot of people in the area.
There is only 1 Church in SAPA, and that the SAPA Church located beside the Town Center.
Next up is the Cat Cat Market just near the Town Center, It's to the right of the church.
Here u will see people selling all kind of meat. There is this strong scent of meat smell here..and the surrounding look quite dirty, I definitely won't be motivated to do my groceries here..lol
Provisional stuff, but is super messy...probably the way of life here in SAPA. Look bit dirty as well.
This is an area, which I suspect is for people to have "Steamboat", there are some raw food and meat around and when we walk pass(Though I did not see any steamboat around). After Further exploration, I realize, this could be store selling market stuff like those Wet Market in Singapore, When we walk-by, the people there kept asking us to come over...(probably to get us to seat down and try their delicacy), which I obviously reject...it so dirty here...
Lot of Green were also sold here....
Small crabs were also part of the menu.
A top view of how the market look like....it kinda like a make-shift market..being temporary setup. look alot like our wet-market, only it's more messy and dirty
Walking down this slope bring us into the direction of Cat Cat Village.
We pass by some shop house(I suppose) on the way to Cat Cat Village.
The Entrance to the Cat Cat Village. There is this sign-board telling us the rules and regulation in the village and one of the rules is not to give $$ to Children. Well this is something to note...why would we want to give them? Because they are poor and pitiful?
Our Tour guide in "Purple" getting us the tickets. It wasn't as crowded probably due to the fact that it's a weekday.
Cost us 20,000 VND(S$2) to get into the park which is already included in the Tour package
This is the Trek down to Cat Cat Village....
There are quite a number of good photos spot in the area. This area look so much like Cameron Highlights except that here u see wheat and padi fields instead of tea leave fields
Clouds floating along the hills of SAPA.
Suppose to take this photo with the background as scenery but ended up with the "hut" instead, too many people are at this photo-point...lol
The Wheat Fields...and there are vast vast of such field here in SAPA, Cat Cat Village
A photo with "mixed" result...I kinda look so "unnatural...
Mr H.....SAPA pose to be a "terrible" time for him as he kept complaint about the slope that he need to conquer (actually they aren't that steep IMO). This probably got something to do with lifestyle...(he has grown bigger since 5 years ago in Taiwan...)
While I have actually "Slim" down...(Serious)
We stop by a provision store before entering the village for a quick break...grab a drink and seat by the window to enjoy the scenery
Of course to also catch some photos...something Mr H does not like cos he doesn't take photos alot and probably find such Electronic Gadget troublesome...lol
Me, enjoying the scenery before our trek down the to village..
Typically what u would see...from the provisional shop
Wheat field....look at the colors....could become my Wallpaper.lol
Some "extract" photos , block of cut-wood
The Entrance to the Cat Cat Culture Village. This is the Destination , I was talking about....
It's near the hut where we rested..(<5min>
Upon entering the village..we could see kids (Less than 5yrs of age I think) running around, some half-naked, and all bared footed....They haven't ask for $$ yet...but Mr H told me, that we should have taken or brought with us some sweets to give to them...(Sweet is still better than $$ right...they are too young to handle cash..lol)
Wheat fields are a common sight here in SAPA. Honestly speaking..I have never seen such vast field in my entire life until now...it not that common in Europe and Australia. Likely is that I mostly travel to cities rather than rural areas, and Vietnam is my first Travel Experience into what I call "rural" or "Wulu" area. (Bangkok is not consider Rural or Wulu)
Our Tour guide brought us to the Culture Village of Cat Cat. Here we see a more commercialise area of the village where everything, including taking photos with "Special" object need some kind of payment....There was this "animal" like structure on display, but there are people guarding it preventing you from taking photos of it..unless you pay for it....(What a way to earn money), they should have make it in such a way they everyone has an option...the attitude the sale person turn people off....(and I didn't even bother to look as I found the object lame..)
There is an area, kinda like a make-shift shop with tons of handicraft, which I believe are made by the villager of Cat Cat on display for Sale...but I wasn't really keen...as I don wish to bring too many stuff around while trekking...lol
But they are not really cheap as this area is consider as a tourist attraction and thus prices are mark up a bit....(I don remember how much though...but I think it cheaper than Hanoi)
Somehow I think my friend have problem taking photos,..he does not know what he is actually taking....when the object of interest beside me include a piece of "wood" behind me...hiaz...(Like he mention....what can u expect)
Forces of Nature....water falling and working...
These water-filling action is actually part of a "machine" which help to grind wheat...the people standing inside the hut are actually "harvesting" the wheat..
There are quite a number of small childrens running around in the village...I think most of them are waiting for us, the visitors to give them something...(which most of them give them sweets)
Free sweets which probably is hard to come by for them in SAPA....something which we city-dwellers take it for granted...
but I must say these kids although mischievous, are still relatively cute..
Some might even wave good bye to people who has given them sweets...
Are these Watermelon or pumpkin...I think it's the latter...Although I thought Pumpkin are big fruits and grew on the ground...I didn't know they actually hang on trees...
A young Wild boar....searching for food in the bushes. You find a number of them in the village.
Me trying out a "Wide" pose....see what I meant when I say I was not in the correct attire for the SAPA trip. Day time temperature of 20C and I am in shorts and Tee....night time will definitely be colder.....(Lucky all the walking help keep ourselves warm though)
There are quite a number of huts around the village, but mostly are homes to the villages, manage to find one that is empty....(But I know the reason as this hut is falling apart, the area I am standing on ....is breaking off...there is no support actually...lol)
After Trekking for over an hour , we arrived at ending point of the Trek of Cat Cat Village, the Waterfall of Cat Cat Village..We need to cross over to the other side to be able to see it....but hearing the splashing of water..u know it's near.
At least, the 2-3hrs walk to here...is greeted with a good view and a nature works of art...
The water here is actually very rapid...with 3 channels of water gushing down into this basin....
There is a museum in the area, but was lazy to go in to see, couple that it's not in English and you need to pay an entrance fee...(Forgotten how much it was)
This is a good place for some nice photos....
Groups photos are hard to come by when there is only 2 of us...there..must learn the techniques of "self-photography", NORMAL ones I must Stress.
This took like ages to take..and the effect is still not what I wanted...after countless explanation with examples..hiaz...
There were a number of small shops around the water-fall area selling food stuffs and sourvenirs. We actually stop by one of them as we saw our fellow tour-mates having a delicious good time in one of them. The lady of the shop hardly understand English, but we just point to her what we wanted. Most of the stuff are done using the BBQ Station.
Vietnam ever famous spring roll with meat inside...but I find this version more refreshing than those I had in Hanoi or Halong bay, this version is more tasty and also healthy....(less the soot)
Rice come in package of tube...BBQ it to heat up
Even eggs was part of the menu
Our Tour guide actually help us a little in the ordering of food.
They even serve Medical Wine, I read that these are special wine harvest with insects and snake...(yek!!)..I did dare to take any....plus I not a strong drinker...
Mr H and I each have a stick of 4 "Grilled Meat pork" which is spring roll wrap with "pork" I suppose...It does taste like pork...lol...my friend blog actually have photos of dogs meat being processed as food.....something we might want to be careful....(I don know how dog meat taste like lol)
But looking at this sign board make us feel safer..., it's Pork (Aka pig's meat)
This was the set we have, a Tube of Rice and 4 Grilled Meat...PORK
Surprisingly, grilled Rice taste good. I thought it was much better than our normal Satay Rice...
We need to climb up the hill back to the town center while walking back up, I notice quite a number of us, Tourist feeding the kids....It's a pity that we didn't thought of bringing sweets along the way...with us....to do this activities...(good photos spot as well)
This is a typical home of the SAPA people...wooden-maded houses...it must be really cold during the night...
We went pass this Bamboo bridge...thought of this as a good photo spot...with rushing river water....
The journey is a long one...though our guide suggested us to take a motorbike back to hotel which Mr H gladly agreed.(solved the trekking uphill problem)
We actually negogiated our bike ride for 30,000VND. It was a fun ride uphill back to town and hotel, we were almost like racing as there are quite a number of bikes around going to the same hotel. Somehow I was the last bike to arrive and was Almost "con" into giving 50,000VND.
Thanks to Mr H for helping me our with the negogiation of the prices....settle everything for 40,000VND (10,000VND as tips)...Think I should have been more firm...when talking about prices with the bikers...(our Tour guide was actually bit angry with the extra tip the biker ask for)
Lunch happen @ 2.15pm, combination of Chicken meat, Sweet Fries and a bowl of Corn soup....This is the 2nd meal in SAPA, I choose this menu....mainly for the fries...It taste Sweet.
After resting in the hotel for a while, we decided to venture out ourselves into town to find out what other parts of SAPA we have yet to explore...also to find if there is any massage shop around...Mr H like massages....
A short-cut down these "Cement" stairs and we are in town already
We actually walk to this part of SAPA that show "Welcome to Vietnam Trade Union Hotel", I wonder does it mean all the hotels here belong to this trade Union, Are the hotel here better?
They do look Traditional and does not feel expensive....but I have no idea how to book these hotel. I believe these hotels are more for those people who come to SAPA without booking their accommodation. They can come over to this area. The Trade Union probably mean some form of guarantee
There are quite a number of stores here selling from counterfeit bags and apparels to traditional handicrafts, and they are quite near the hotels.
Temperature are still in the 20C around 4pm. The Walking and slopes around does help keep warm....(lucky for us...)
We Came across this luxurious restaurant while exploring town. It was located at a corner of the street, not prominent to be notice...
This was what there tagline say " Peaceful and unique", didn't want to try out as this place look expensive and since all meals are included in our package...there is really no motivation and unnecessary to spend extra money....
We walk into a very unique and special part of SAPA. This area look like olden days France...lots of coffee houses..This place seem to be designed with Tourist in mind...you can see people seating outside watching the street, enjoy their coffee and beer....reading a book...
Beside exploring town, another agenda on Mr H's mind as mentioned earlier was to try out the Famous "medicated oil" massage. It was different from the one we had in Hanoi, but cannot be compare since we did a body massage the other time and not foot massage.
Here, for USD$10, entitles us to a foot massage in herbal "dip" and a neck,leg, hand and head massage with what smell like "Tiger Balm". It an hour massage.
Quite an enjoyable experience, though I was a little disappointed with the usage of excessive Tiger Balm....on my head...(I drop alot of hair in the process). I like the Herbal Dip which is hot and feel comfortable (Especially in this Cold Weather)
Mr H thought that the "male" massager give him very hard massage. I think the guy uses more forces probably thinking that is massage is too soft...resulting in Mr H snoozing away....lol
These buildings seem to suggest that there should be a healthy night-life in SAPA...
The hotels here are colorful, some located at a corner and some even have special interest corners like motor-biking in SAPA. I saw a group of Caucasian being brief on motor skill and even rented a bike.
Walking further up lead to some construction site and lot of vegetations and the road ahead get lesser and lesser people around. Constructions are still going in SAPA, indicating that the region is still growing in size. I wonder how many S'porean are actually investing in these hotel here..Tourism & Hotelism is a very big market in Vietnam
It's Almost 6.30pm when we completed our walk-about after the 1hr massage. Spend a little time looking around at the market at the town center, but did not buy anything of fancy.
Life in SAPA goes by at a much slower pace than Singapore....Villagers gather to play sports...@ the town center
Not sure how to Pronounce this..but it does sound like "proud Hotel", "Hao Lian". But I know it was not meant to be read this way..lol
Dinner was served at 7pm. Actually there is really no offical timing...We just went to the dinning area and order our Dinner via the 14 options from the Menu. I order something very similar to the one I order in the afternoon...still have craving for the Fries..I order Stir-fried chicken with onions
With Corn Soup
and Sweet Fries....(No wonder I think I put on weight here)
Top is off with Vietnam Coffee...
Night Activities @ SAPA including some exploring of the Town at night and some drink session
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