Sapa, Vietnam
Sapa is a beautiful area up in north Vietnam. Here we found tripes with different costumes and mountains covered in rice fields. Furthermore, there where fantastic food and the people were so welcoming. After a beautiful bus ride into the hills, we arrived at Sapa. It should also be told. I don’t know if it’s all of Vietnam, but here in the north, if you had kids, your name now had mama and papa as part of it.
The road ahead
Jumping into a cab, we drove into a more miniature village; the ride there was mostly a dirt road through the rainy area with big holes in it and Buffaloes minding their own business. It felt magical. Our cab driver called ahead to our homestay to confirm our arrival. So, after being set off in the middle of the streets with nothing to guide us, we were met by two older women in beautiful tribal clothes. They smiled and knew the house we sought. We were led up a steep hill with chickens, dogs, and cats running around us. The women lead us through a labyrinth of streets with a beautiful view down into the valley. Our host met us when we were close to our house. When we arrived, they quickly took off the basket on their back and started to pull up a whole shop of things, from jewelry to big and small bags and pouches. I learned that it was common among all the women to be salespeople that helped tourists, befriended them, and then got them to buy their handmaid goods. I felt a bit cheated by their kindness but couldn’t refuse, and their interests were beautifully made.
Lodging
During our stay, we decided to rest for the first day. Our House felt more like a Hostel than a Homestay. However, it had a beautiful view over the valley where the rain was still pouring, but you could see the rice field peeking through now and again. In the evening, our host asked if we wanted to join the cooking school. Of course, I couldn’t refuse. We made Spring rolls with rice paper and noodles, pumpkin stew, fried fish, and a salad with green papaya, carrot, and chili—a wonderful evening and fun to meet and greet all the others who lived in the house. However, we had talked with our Dutch friends about meeting up with them at a homestay, so the next day we were off.
Another crazy ride
After packing up, we managed to find our way down again. They were picking us up on two scooters! It was crazy with the muddy roads and narrow sideway sitting on the back up and down the steep mountain hills. I was sure I would fall, but it was fun, and I knew to trust our driver. I kid you not. Some of the roads we drove up on were only 1 meter wide, and with my backpack and all, it felt waive. We made it both safe. Our friends had already arrived, so we were ready for our hikes. After giving us rubber boots, we set off into the misty rain; no boots fitted David; he wore his sandals. Our walk was terrific into a bamboo forest, climbing muddy paths; David even got two leeches on his feet. Mama Chao told us all about the different herbs we found. For lunch, she took us to a small village restaurant with a view of a waterfall we later went by. They served us fried rice and Pho. After 6 hour’s walk, we were well done and back at the homestay.
Mama Chaos Homestay
This was a homestay! Mama Chao and Papa dim lived upstairs with their three children and then downstairs were the kitchen and bedrooms for guests. We were mainly outside enjoying the view from her house, which had a valley view. One of the boys was also catching their ducklings and their mother to bring them home for the night, so just before dinner, we got to sit with some of them. So cute! The dinner was Amazing, I liked yesterday evening too, but papa dims cooking was perfect. It consisted of; so many different flavors. After we had filled ourselves, mama Chao, with an extensive smile, brought a suspicious water bottle. It looked harmless. But this was Happy Water, a rice wine her mother made. After tasting it, it had an alcohol percentage of 40%, we gathered. she poured it into a bowl in the middle, and we were handed small shot glasses, which we dipped in the bucket to fill our cups. Papa dim even took out his bamboo bon, which he filled with robust tobacco, ten times stronger than the western one.
I played some songs on my ukulele for most to sing along with. Even some of their cousins came over to join our party. It indeed became a very Happy evening. The next day we climbed a mountain with mama Chao as our guide. She had cured her hangover, making cupping marks on her forehead, which was common among the people. On our walk, she found small paths through the rice field, meeting so many buffaloes; after dinner, we were all still hungover from the day before, so no happy water, too much “Happy” the day before. Papa dim drove us to our last Homestay, and we parted with our friends, our wonderful host family.
Next Homestay
Well, again, this was a hostel. But even though it wasn’t Mama Chaos, it was a lovely wooden house with a waterfall in the garden and a very soft bed. The time here we spent relaxing our legs after our hikes. We found a herb bath in the tribe on the other side of the river. This was a traditional Red Hmong bath. It was so lovely felt like getting soaked in a tub of tea, followed by a needed massage.
Next, we are off to Cat Ba in Ha Long Bay, one of Unesco’s sites. With mountains peering out of the ocean, making an Avatar (movie reference) like a place on earth.
Click on the button below for more pictures.