A train ride to Sapa

We caught a taxi from our to the station in the rain, and in anticipation of an adventure up into the hills. The Orient Express carriage on the SP1 doesn't live up to it's sister in Europe, but then we didn't expect it too.

Our little cabin had room for two beds, our cases and a little table. They provided water, biscuits and bananas.  Dead on 21.40 the train pulled out of the station with a clatter and we were on our way to SaPa.

We settled down in bed as the cabin rock and rolled. The train window was often only three feet from the back of someone's room and you could see into their home. But soon it was the outskirts and then darkness.

I didn't really think that we would get any sleep as it was noisy and with lots of motion, but obviously it rocked me to sleep.  It was better for me cos I the bed was long enough for me, but for Rod his feet stuck out and I don't think it was that comfortable.

They were soon were banging on the door, we had arrived in Lo Cai.   It took us a little while to find our minivan, but soon we were on the road in the dark. As the dawn came up we were climbing through the mountain passes and as became lighter you could see the terrace landscape.

Well the web said that it was going to be cold and wet with a chance of snow. We must be in a different SaPa, because it is warm and the sun is shining. I just hope tomorrow is the same, it will be wonderful.

Unfortunately my knee started to hurt last night, I think it is all the stepping up and around in Hanoi. I woke this morning to a slightly swollen knee and pain. I'm on the drugs so hopefully the pain will go away. So much for doing a short hike tomorrow.

We are now in the Elegance Hotel in our lovely room with a view. Unfortunately we are on the third floor and lots of steps.  It's a bit faded, but we really like it. We had breakfast and then had a sleep for an hour.

It's really strange looking out from our balcony, one minute the sun is being and the view is clear, five minutes later the low cloud comes over and you can't see more than three feet.

Sapa is very hilly and everywhere you walk is up hill.  Luckily our hotel is only have way up the hill. There is also a steep ramp up to the entrance and then four flights of stairs it our room.  It's doing my bummuscles a power of good. So SaPa was originally a hill station for the French colonials to get away from the heat of Hanoi. Now it is a tourist town, set up for trips to the scenic parts and hiking.  It has that feel, quietish during the day and when people come back from their trips, it livens up.

You get hassled the whole time by Hmong women trying to sell you handicrafts, but about them later as I think there is a lot to say.

We wandered around the town a few times, had some lunch and retired to our room, and then did the same in the evening after dinner. The low cloud had come down by the time we went out for dinner, it was really spooky walking around in thick fog. At the bottom of our ramp there is a large man made amphitheatre where people congregate at night. They were playing badminton and football in thick fog.. Just wild.