I'm back... In Hanoi!

Tiring trip. I just arrive back from Sapa via the overnight sleep train at 5am. Some random person quoted me 30,000 to bring me back to my hostel here, so i decided to defy the norm and wander through the streets. Eventually i ended up at the other end of the town and had to take a motorbike taxi at 10,000 dong.

Alright, recap...

4th April
After i blogged i went on to explore the streets again. Chanced upon the Hanoi revolution museum and went in. Alittle if intercept between the Hanoi Prison that i went earlier but it took away a good 2 hours of my time due to the scale of the exhibits. Following, i went into the Hanoi Opera House and check out what's on the following week. Vietnam Symphony Orchestra is in town for three nights... Hmm, eventually i decided to spend my birthday with them and bought the tickets upfront on 8th April at 8pm.

Then i was on my way back to the hostel to waste some time away. Got on to the train station and met 3 others in my cabin, Satish an Indian from England, Birmingham, who goes "Old Quar-er, Bet-er" and calls me "Pe-er". Then there was Alice and Burna from Australia who are nurses. Chatted abit and off we go, to dreamland. Oh, i forgot to mention the dawn breaks at 5.40am and the sun sets at around 6pm.

5th April
Upon arrival the Lao Cai train station, met up with the guide and was transported to the Sapa town with a mini van FULL of people. A French couple agreed on a price, but refuse to pay after learning they have been ripped-off was threatened to be thrown off the van halfway though our journey. Of course, they gave in but not without repeating "I pay, but it's double. I pay, but it's double", almost like a broken record.

This happen all the time, getting ripped off. I'm also not spared. There are things that happened along the way but i decided not think about and share those because i choose to be happy, learn from them, rather than to keep bothering me. So off they go to the garbage bin.

Upon arrival in Sapa town, a quiet and somewhat "city above cloud". The feel is quite similar to Genting, cool and all. Had breakfast and got introduced to a Australian couple Colin and Chris by our guide Binh. Had some rest and casual chat with them in the so called "resting room" upstairs till we get to meet up with another two.

Melissa and Sarah are from States and what awaits me is the trip of my live. We had lots of fun, and I really mean ALOT. Having people speaking different accents from almost both ends of the world was somewhat manageable. We exchanged stories, experiences and some random stuffs. We could keep on talking without any serious thought and time will melt away...

So, after we met up we got on to the valleys and TREKKED for a freaking 14km the whole day. Up, down and across the field we went. Will upload the photos when I'm back for a picture paints a thousand...

Then we got on to a home stay, had some beer and rice wine. Played bluff or cheat with 51 cards, drew the losers' face with the underside of a frying pan. Hell, rice wine dont give you anything in the morning, it's cool.

6th April
Woke up, had pancakes with banana and some honey with a citrus touch. Then we trek, or walk alittle to a waterfall nearby. The water wa freaking cold at around 10 degrees. Swim a little, leap off a rock a couple of times and off we go. Trekked up hill for only 4km but it was thigh tearing.

Had bia hoi off the streets in Sapa town after we got back and splited ways.

Alright, gonna have breakfast and will share more later.