Chilling in Sapa

Sleep most of way in our four berth compartment (sharing with 2 others) trains very clean but full of tourists (loads of French in Vietnam unsurprisingly) Arrive an hour late at 07.50 at Lao Cai on the Vietnamese/China border and get minibus 50k to Sapa. Fortunately on this bus they have western seating arrangements. Drive through the fog and terraced hill scenery whilst having another surreal moment - singing along to Ra-ra-rasputin by Boney M playing on the bus stereo!

1 - The lovely street views of SaPa!

Arrival at the Royal Hotel which is nice and have Vietnamese style scrambled egg (with veg in - v nice though) and baguette and then up to our nice room allegedly with a view of the hills. Unfortunately we can't see a thing as the clouds are so low! Are meant to go trekking today but decide to go Monday instead as weather may be nicer and gives my knee more of a chance to rest (is nearly back to normal now thanks to chinese medicine and tiger balm). Decide to go for a wander round town and to the market which is biggest today and local tribespeople come to buy and sell. See a few different types of minority people which is fascinating and feel a bit like we are in some sort of scene from a documentary. Some are wearing lots of silver earrings (looks painful) and necklaces with embroidered clothes, others red headdresses and some with combs in their hair. Try to take some photos without upsetting anyone. They are mainly women and some are selling blankets, jewellery, bags and feel guilty for not buying anything but don't really need any of it. Am sure my nephew (and my sister and brother-in-law) will be relieved that I don't buy some little vietnamese suits for him! We then wander around the little town and go to a great cafe 'Baguette et Chocolat' which also has branches in Hanoi. Is a charitable project run by disadvantaged young people. Is just like a lovely French cafe with lovely cakes and coffee, obviously we had to indulge as it was only one fifty for us both (no we are never going to lose weight.) Not much else to do here which is great as you don't feel guilty just relaxing then. (great recommendation Arnoud). We then buy some supplies to have a picnic lunch on our balcony with cloud view (pate, laughing cow spread, baguette and dodgy vietnamese red wine) followed by an afternoon nap. Finally feels like we are on holiday.

2 - H'mong woman

However, tomorrow are up early to go to weekly Bac Ha market a couple of hours away which is massive and lots of different ethnic minorities there plus few tourists.

Have now spent the last couple of hours on internet updating this all (is dirt cheap here and fast) so apologies if its a bit dull in parts but am flagging.

Before I go some news from home:

My sister is pregnant again with her second due at end of July. Great news although she is currently refusing to come to South America to give birth which is a bit cruel of her.

My gran has just sent me her first email (see earlier blog entry from Wales) am v impressed although I have to tell you that my Uncle Bill did beat her by a couple of weeks!

3 - Maybe not quite sunglasses weather

Might not update for a few days now as we leave here Monday night and then arrive back Hanoi on Tues am to then go off to Halong Bay for a night back St David's Day afternoon.