We arrived in Sapa in the pouring rain and low cloud, unsure if it was worth booking a two day trek as we couldn’t see any of the surrounding mountains and scenery. The following morning, decked out with jackets, ponchos and umbrellas we arrived at our meeting place to meet our guide. Although no one turned up (the agency had forgotten about us!), we met a bubbly chick from Holland who was also on our trek, so refreshing meeting a down to earth and fun fellow traveller -thanks Nicky!! Our guide turned up a of couple hours late but we headed out into the pouring rain (Nicky bought gumboots) accompanied by five local women from nearby villages, dressed in their tribal costumes and gumboots, ready to help us down the slippery mud paths at a moments notice! It was so much fun wading over flooded bridges and roads (the walking tracks were too flooded and slippery) soaking our shoes and dodging the spray from passing motorbikes. We passed through small villages with multiple free range pigs and piglets, chicks and chickens, ducks and ducklings, and of course ox’s. It was obviously cloudy with the rain but occasionally the cloud cleared to display valley’s of terraced rice paddies and towering mountains high above us – it was beautiful and I’d love to come back in their winter season to do some more walking.
We had lunch at a busy restaurant on the roadside where our helpful ladies convinced us to buy their handicrafts (two embroided purses and two complimentary bracelets) before leaving to catch the next lot of tourist to come through. We saw a lady soaking hand-made cloth in natural indigo to dye it, which is always accompanied by a young boy’s urine!!
After a couple more hours of easy walking, we arrived at our home stay which sat at the bottom of a large waterfall – surprisingly we weren’t too wet! The house was large but simple, with mattresses and blankets upstairs on the mezzanine for us. We explored the surrounding bridges, with some old guy trying to charge Nicky for crossing ‘his’ bridge, although it was on the main path! The neighbours visited to sell us their local-ware, of which Scott requested some long baggy ‘Vietnamese’ pants and they returned with some pre-worn dirty pants for us to buy…So we requested some new pants which of course raised the price!!!

That evening we watched our host cook dinner over a simple wood fire with a pig face hanging directly above, -smoked ham anyone? We made some yummy spring rolls then had a delicious meal with the family (2 young boys and parents), accompanied by a copious number of rice wine shots (which they store in water bottles, so it looks like water!).

A quick shower with the company of a large orange frog, and we were ready for bed, listening to the sound of the huge waterfall while falling asleep inside our mosquito nets.

Up early the next day, we enjoyed yummy pancakes next to the river – no complaints!
Today’s trekking took us up and down creeks, muddy tracks and large rock tracks, with fabulous views of the valley below – it wasn’t rainy as heavily compared to the day before. The rice terraces were amazing – bright green fields everywhere. We often encountered large ox’s coming in the opposite direction, being driven by children who looked as young as 6 or 7! It was a great not to see any other tourists on our route, and to experience some traditional village life. After a few hours we arrived at our lunch destination and the end of our walk, a local cafe over looking a small valley below.