Monday, March 27, 2006

Up, up into the Mountains

It seems incredible to think that I have been in Vietnam for over a year and a half and this weekend was my first trip to Sapa.

It's not always easy to get away and when I can the beach so often calls.

I loved it. And I'll be back. Once the stresses of KOTO Graduation are over with I itend to return for a long weekend. What I'd really love is an isolated cabin. Does anyone know of such things in Sapa? I know that cabin, huts and bungalows are rare in Vietnam - it's a shame. The concept of "roughing it" hasn't really caught on.

Anyway, the pics didn't come out too well because most of the time we were surrounded by clouds. But Sapa is beautiful. Not just the mountains which I had already seen on a million postcards, but also the town and it's people.

Photoset here if you want to see some more shots.

19 Comments:

At 4:11 PM, Anonymous Caitlin said...

Hey Steve,
isn't Sapa the best?! There is such a thing as an isolated bungalow- well, relatively isolated anyway. Tapas 'eco'lodge is a new place. I haven't been there, but gather it's a bunch of bungalows. It's down in the valley somewhat and is apparently very nice-although might be a bit beyond a VSO allowance.
Maeve at Handspan can fill you in- she's a regular.

 
At 6:06 PM, Blogger OTT said...

I did not make it to Sapa when I was in Viet Nam (a few weeks prior to Christmas 2005) and more's the pity.

Your photos are excellent.

I had such difficulty trying to create an itinerary for Viet Nam - one part of me wanted to see all there was to see, and another just wanted to experience it as it must appear to my parents: Viet Nam is only the tiny village from which we hail.

I am enjoying your blog - I would like to work in Viet Nam one day, some how - and your blog is giving me good ideas!

 
At 6:58 PM, Blogger overlain said...

Fog or no fog, you took some great pictures -- thanks for posting them.
-- Mel

 
At 10:34 PM, Blogger Jo said...

These are great pix. Don't sell yourself short!

Jo

 
At 10:55 PM, Blogger OMIH said...

Yup Caitlin, it's awesome. For some reason I had anticipated something a little more fake - locals dressing in costumes to please the tourists but that's just not what it's like when you get there.

Checked out the eco lodge on the net. Look fabulous but, you're right, way out of my budget. I'm getting a yearning though to dissapear for a few days of reading books, mooching and gazing at sunsets. Far more fun in a hut than a hotel. Maybe Phu Quoc?

ott, it's never easy sorting an itinerary for Vietnam. When I came here as a backpacker I didn't go to Sapa and even living here it's taken me a year and a half. I always advise people though not to try and see everything in Vietnam.

Vietnam should be soaked up slowly not seen in passing.

Overlain and Jo thanks for the kind words. There are a couple in the set I really like. The ones above and below and the cattle dissappearing into the mist on the photoset. It works well in black and white.

But there were so many shots that looked awesome on my viewfinder only to look blurry when I downloaded them. No light means no sharp edges I guess.

One of these days I am going to learn how to use a proper grown-up camera and maybe even do a course.

 
At 4:00 AM, Blogger Buddhist with an attitude said...

Yes, great pictures, especially the B&W ones.

 
At 2:29 PM, Anonymous Mugwum said...

I remember the wellington boots(sometimes called galloshes or gumboots) and also remember them being purple. How is it possible to make these things look, not only cool, but desirable. Watch out Paris, here comes Sapa.

 
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