Bamboo Long Houses N Heavy Machinery

  Mai Chau, Vietnam
Sunday, January 2, 2000

 

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (7)

 

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (9)

 

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (8)

Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya

We left Hanoi behind for several days and headed south-west to the Hoa Binh province to meet the people from Mai Chau. The bus ride there was several hours but spectacular visually. When we arrived at Mai Chau we sat for an awesome colourful lunch and then spent the afternoon walking through beautiful countryside. The walking was pretty easy for most. Some of those whom were 'not so fit' ran out of steam. This was not seen as a bad thing on this occasion as it allowed us to sit and really take in the scenery around us. For most of us this was our first real journey into the hills in Asia. Each country I found later as I journeyed solo has its own charm and character.

Vietnams was bamboo.
It was everywhere and it was such a new visual experience for us.

The treks end brought us to a hill tribe village near Mai Chau. Here several villages prosper from having foreign guests stay at their homes. The people were so beautiful, the village was very quiet and the facilities were favorable to most of us. Even I was still picky with what 'facilities' I used. That type of choice was harshly ripped from me when I crossed the boarder into China! We spent the evening sharing conversation around a huge array of dishes prepared by the family we were staying with.

We all had our own little mosquito nets to sleep beneath but the problem was the noise.

I'm sure it was noisier at 2am that it was at 2pm. It was like heavy machinery had moved in. It's the same in dormitory type rooms all over the world when night falls. You are usually sleeping amongst several snorers whom whilst they are sleeping happily they keep you and several others wide away. They are like that one mosquito that hovers around you sucking your blood, but when in frustration you turn the light on to squish it against the wall you can never find it. You usually don't know the snorer enough to go over and push them on their side or squish them against the wall!

You then have no choice but to lay awake dreaming about it!

Beers N Cheers toya...shane

 

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe

 

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (1)

 

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (10)

 

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (2)

 

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (4)

 

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (5)

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (6)

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (8)

Mai Chau - Hill Tribe (3)