Trip - Vietnam D4 - Sapa Part One

Merry Christmas Blog,

On Day 4, we travelled to Sapa, which was the highlight of our trip. I was so excited about it! And, thank goodness, I was able to output at night and overcome my constipation before travelling to a distant location.

Wearing my sleeping bag (sleeping suit) helps me stay warm in a hotel room. I am simply a weirdo... Anyway, we needed to get up early the next day.

I will do my best to post pictures first on this blog post, and then I will gradually add text. I should not rush things because it will make me feel stressed.

I was ready early because my mother could not sleep and awoke early to prepare her luggage because we were told to bring separate luggage up to Sapa and leave our larger luggage at the current hotel when we arrived back on the sixth day.

I wore my thermals and hoodie, and I also brought my fleece jacket.

Getting ready for the day. Thank you, Babylon Grand Hotel; I had a wonderful stay, though I wish the hotel had more amenities; however, I am a poor man, so this is adequate.

It was six o'clock in the morning and their day had begun early. Anyway, it is time to leave the hazy place for somewhere less hazy.

I wanted to sleep, but I was also inspired to write my first blog post. Never mind, I should not worry about it; just sleep until our first toilet break and decide what to do next.

From urban to rural areas, it demonstrated how some people live their lives, away from unnecessary distractions but are still cut off from social interaction.

One strange occurrence: I noticed a plane hanging motionless in the sky; I should have watched it for a while before taking out my phone to photograph it. I should have taken a video instead of pictures.

We were now moving towards the greener side of Vietnam, where pollution was lower than in the city.

Imagine living in this area; what would I do daily? According to the tour guide, some farmers bring their vegetables to the designated central market to conduct business, primarily to interact with others and chat for an extended period before returning home.

The high mountain ahead of us was waving to us.

We rarely see such stunning mountain scenery in Singapore; there is nothing like it.

I can focus on writing my blog now that the beautiful landscapes have recharged me.

We had lunch here, but what piqued my interest was the Vietnamese's creativity in transforming a red plastic pail into a lantern.

Here began our twisted road, which almost made me vomit. 🤮

I was fortunate enough to see the beautiful mountain on my side of the bus, which is breathtaking.

But I could not stand looking out for too long or even write my blog posts... I had to close my eyes to rest my mind...Thank you to the skilled driver for safely transporting us to Sapa.

After more than an hour of riding, we arrived in Sapa! 🎉

Similarly to Hanoi, the building layout appears complex, with narrow roads that have no fixed direction and fewer people, a good mix of locals and visitors.

Fortunately, the bright sun helped to warm Sapa, making it less cold than we anticipated. Thank you, Mr Sun.

Sapa's electric bus, is yellow in colour, because the larger bus cannot transport us to the hotel directly.

As usual, I took the front seat to see what Sapa looked like.

The driver wondered what I was doing; was I taking a picture of him? It is not uncommon for someone attractive to be wary of having their picture taken. Anyway, I was not taking photos of you.

I discovered a new way to photograph myself with my surroundings.

A parade square with some lovely displays.

Sapa station has a lovely Roman or European-style exterior.

Oooo! On the electric bus, I noticed these displays. Oh, they are adorable.

Here is the hotel where we will be staying for two nights.

But... where to know the hotel name?

I discovered that the hotel is called Hotedesapa. It's quite a nice hotel and full of surprises for my imagination.

The entire lobby was crowded, and everyone was filling up the space.

The strange thing is, no one ever sits in the chill corner here.

They have a lovely wine bar that is perfect for any wine enthusiast.

I like some of the hotels I have visited, but this one doesn't have carpeted floors.

What a clean room here.

A typical toilet layout includes a visible window blind, causing awkwardness...

It can feel awkward to take a bath in the bathtub when facing the window.

It was a great view, but my mother was tied down to the tour program schedule, leaving me with little chance to enjoy it.

Time to go.

Since the Sapa road is narrow, we had to squeeze into a smaller bus, which can be torturous for taller people.

We were heading down to Lao Chải village (I found a useful post on how to get there. You can read it here) when the tour guide shared some information about the villagers' lives there. Since the village is located in the mountains, most of the men work in Sapa to earn money, while the women stay in the village to take care of the children. Many of the women carry hand-made goods to sell to tourists for extra income. They often follow you around, trying to persuade you to buy their products. As I looked at them from inside the bus, I could see their hopeful expressions, eager to earn something through their hard work. I wished I could help, but I wasn't in a position to buy anything and could only reject their offers. This left me feeling mixed emotions and somewhat depressed...

There are also wiring cables here, and they are quite neatly arranged.

And take a look at the view (exclude my stupid face of course); it was incredible!

Let's have a group shot here.

Not polluted sky, right?

Their living condition.

The late afternoon sky was clear and cloudless, making it look almost washed out.

From their houses, I can't imagine when it started becoming snowy and freezing during winter nights.

Do electrical towers really help improve the lives of villagers in some way?

Their cows are roaming freely here, and the amazing thing is they actually know where to return to their byre.

I found a cow approaching me, and it paused. I touched its head and sent my prayer to it. If there is a next life, I hope we will meet again.

This is their byre.

Here are some of the unique goods they sell, but I have to be rational about the space I have at home.

The villagers will dry the maize for their own food supply.

I entered the house to take a selfie, while others entered to see and visit a 109-year-old elder.

And said hello to their domestic pig.

When you see smoke coming from a house, it indicates that someone lives there; in other words, it is a life sign.

Hmm, where was everybody? They came to check on the elderly just now... 🤔 Oops! They had already left the house.

I tried to catch up with them and enjoyed my alone time because the tour guide trusted me to catch up. While I was behind, one question came to mind: how or what it looks like along the "curve"... You know where they used to farm their crops. A closer look revealed that it was mud. Really muddy!

To be honest, this is the first time I have seen a natural filter that makes the scenery appear peaceful and frozen in time.

Looking at this scene, I completely understand how insignificant we are. Are you able to feel how I do?

I must say that I have to respect the people here. Usually, people pollute rivers. Mother Nature took too much of our garbage... 

Credit the villagers for making an effort to be respectful of Mother Nature.

Thank you, Mr Sun, for accompanying me to this lovely location.

Looking up, you can see Sapa up in the mountain we had walked so far.

According to the tour guide, the villagers here are Miao, and I want to dress like them.

But I was relatively poor in some ways, and I realised something I wanted... And I have to walk away...

To be honest, their products are unique and imbued with rich cultural and spiritual values. My wallet is refusing to give in... Perhaps it is a matter of priority for me... In the future, I will need to do some in-depth self-reflection.

I just stood here for a while, looking up at the sky. Deep thought, but a vacant mind...

I am not sure if it is because this place is muddy that the overall image has an earthy tone. Somehow something happened...

My camera fell to a hard, uneven surface while I was attempting to photograph myself. Fortunately, it was my camera filter lens that took the impact.

Fortunately, it did not fall into the mud, which made cleaning more difficult.

Looking here, one of the villagers was about to leave, and this image tells many stories.

Why do I prefer to use photos as my blog style? Because a picture can convey a thousand words. Can you see any stories in this image?

A city boy in a rural area appears to be off... Honestly, I was feeling a little heavy.

This rural toilet is a no-no for me; I confirm that I am unable to output.

One advantage of living here is that you will be living close to animals.

Mr Sun appeared to understand me; it appeared that Mr Sun sees everything every day and was attempting to give everyone hope through his ray of light.

(Credit tour guide) It is not Switzerland's beautiful mountain; it is a village mountain and has its own beauty.

As we were about to finish our walk, we stopped by a school where many young students were just leaving for the day. Throughout our stroll through the village, I observed how the villagers lived their lives. This experience made me feel appreciative and grateful for our own lifestyle—reminding me to complain less and embrace more gratitude.

Thank you, Mr. Sun, for giving me a lesson today.

(Credit tour guide) Thanks, Sapa and good weather.

Come! Mom, let's take a picture together!

I had a great time today!

...and had to carry a heavy mood.

The landscape is stunning and awe-inspiring, with its natural beauty captivating every visitor. Yet, beneath its picturesque exterior lies a wealth of hidden tales and untold stories, waiting to be discovered by those curious enough to look deeper...

We returned to the hotel and had some free time before dinner. I took this moment to enjoy a relaxing bath in the bathtub.

...but I could not enjoy it because my mother returned to the room, and I didn't want to embarrass her...

The night began to blanket the sky...

The street in Sapa was lively and bustling, and it was very cold.

Interestingly, there are many shops selling winter wear, yet most tourists likely arrive fully prepared with their own clothing from their home countries. As a result, sales in these shops may be slow. However, I did notice something that caught my attention... I suppose I won't dwell on it...

From my vantage point on the bustling street, I watched as the Sapa locals navigated the chilly air, cradling their babies close against their backs. Their faces, marked by the harsh weather, reflected both resilience and determination as they offered an array of vibrant ethnic products for sale. Each basket was filled with intricately woven textiles and handcrafted goods, showcasing their rich culture. As I took in the scene, a deep sense of sorrow washed over me, leaving me feeling both heavy-hearted and utterly powerless to help...

I sincerely hope that the locals continue to nurture their pure hearts and souls. As they navigate through the challenges and lessons of this life, may they embrace the journey with grace and compassion. When the time comes for this earthly experience to conclude, I trust they will find themselves ready to seize the chance for true enlightenment and spiritual awakening. Here is my blessing to them.

My cousin found that the price of the massage was affordable and wanted to go for a massage.

I missed the full-body massage, so I chose one. But I don't have a great body to make the masseur happy about their effort...

But I felt embarrassed during the massage, especially since it was a woman giving it. Thank goodness she was trying to reassure me and did her best to relax my body.

Sapa is a quaint, picturesque village nestled in the mountains, and even though I only had a brief visit, it left a lasting impression on me. As I wandered through the village, I was struck by its rich culture and the stunning natural beauty of the surrounding area. My heart swelled with gratitude for my own circumstances, but I also felt a deep sense of empathy for the local residents and the challenges they face. I wish I could contribute more positively to their lives, but I know I have my own limitations. Ultimately, this journey was far more enriching than just indulging in shopping; it was a meaningful exploration that connected me to the essence of Sapa and its people.

Jeff