"same same but different"

I have made it to SAPA - The destination for the Northwestern Vietnam region.

But...

I'm a day behind on my blog because I had to get to the train station last night to get to Lao Cai in Northern Vietnam, so let me catch you up on my Day 2 in Hanoi first.

I met a nice Aussie named Patrick at breakfast in the hostel and he had just arrived the day before solo backpacking Vietnam for a month too so we headed out to the Ho Chi Minh Mausaleum together to explore. Patrick had dreads in his hair and it was so funny watching the locals look at his hair when we were out and about. He is a chef by trade so was also up for eating real local and trying everything we could-street style!

Anyway, Mausaleum was situated in a big square similar to Tiananemn Square in China. We saw a long line as we got closer to the complex but were fortunate to proceed through the line with ease. There appeared to be many locals, young and old, paying tribute to the great Uncle Ho. His embalmed body itself was definitely a sight to see as people proceed through the room he is kept in with a 'U' type line and guards all around his body. I imagine it would be an hour to guard him. The area also allowed you to see the house on stilts that he slept him, the cars he drove (very nice indeed including a sweet Ford Mustang!), his gardens, and much more.

I then headed to the water puppet show that I had a ticket for at 2:15pm. It was about a 45 minute show, packed house and there were no tickets left for every show the rest of the day. There is a show every hour from 2:15pm to 9:15pm to give you an idea. The show was so creative and I still wonder how the puppeteers have the puppets appear on top of water. Perhaps a snorkel? That's a big skill to have!

I will be honest and tell you that I have gotten lost in Hanoi city more than once. It seems that every street and shop looks the "same same but different" (a fun and popular phrase they use here and I want to bring back to the USA). So after the puppet show I seemed to overshoot my hotel once again but eventually found it. Before the puppet show, I literally was sprinting to the show as I got lost going to the show too..hahaha :)

I ended up getting back to the hotel around 6pm to shower up and meet up again with Patrick to go to dinner at a local joint around the corner to get Pho (noodle soup). Patrick went there 3 times yesterday so I assumed it was good...and it was!-Costing $1.50 for a big bowl. Yes I know...much more than my 35 cent meal but I'll still take it.

I headed to the train station for my overnight train to the Northwest. Waiting at the train station, I sat next to a young Chinese guy who was headed the same way. He was so sweet and wanted to practice English with me. He said his English name was ...wait for it....PEDRO!!!

Now what kind of an English teacher gave him that kind of an English name for real!

--------

I had a 2nd class sleeper (which locals took I was informed) and it was 2 x 2 bunk beds in a cabin. Fortunately, I shared the cabin with 3 fun backpacking young Germans and we had a fun night playing some dice game they showed me. Ben, reminded me so much of my friend Ben Wolfe, so much. Same height, humor and all. Ben was showing me all of his survival kits including his favorite, a pocket chain saw that came in a round container the size of shoe polish!(I took a photo) Hilarious!!! Ben said he was running around his hometown of Frankfurt trying to search for a miniature fishing kit without success..hahaha Anyway, I could see Wolfe and Ben running outside and testing that bad boy of a chainsaw if Wolfe were traveling with me, which I so wish was the case.

The train ride was OK...although I felt drugged when I woke up from drowsiness but did get some hours of sleep. I was so happy I had the 3 Germans in my cabin. The only thing was probably the toilet on the train, well let's just say that there was no flush system what so ever....I have a 1st class sleeper on the way back so it will be interesting how different it is.

We arrived to Lao Cai at around 8:30am and I headed on a van to Bac Ha markets about 90 minutes away. It is the major market for the mountain villages and I specifically wanted to arrive on Sunday to experience these village people (many H'mong folks) trade. The costumes that the women wore were so colorful and immaculate distinguishing the different tribes. Many tourists were buying the pattern in bags, hats, table cloths and more. The market was for produce, meat, water buffalo, field tools, dogs, chickens, shoes, you name it!

We had lunch there and then headed to walk and visit some of the H'mong villagers in the homes. The weather turned just beautiful with the sun coming out which made the elevation temperatures perfect. After the visit, we headed back to Lao Cai, but not without a stop to the border between Vietnam and China! Yup, I was on the border of China today....I couldn't believe it. There was just a river between. We dropped off folks in our van at the train station headed back to Hanoi tonight while only 3 of us headed to Sapa about 45 minutes further up in the mountains away.

With the sun shining down, the drive was absolutely spectacular and reminded me a lot of the Sacred Valley tour in Peru. Terrace after terrace, rice paddies, waterfalls...I can't wait for our trek tomorrow! My hotel that was booked for me through the tour is old but very big and my room has the biggest bed I have ever slept on with a lanai and TV and fridge filled with drinks. I was so impressed! We got in around 5pm so I headed out to walk the small town and the main square. The mist had already kicked in so views of the terraces were not there but hopefully tomorrow will be a different story especially in the morning when we head out.

Enjoy the pics!