SKETCH OF NORTH INDOCHINA- Day 8: 100330:Hanoi

Today train is late arrival about 1 hour. Sam is waiting for us when we arrived at Hanoi. With simple Phor for breakfast and simple washing on the hotel room, we rushing to Hanoi Airport.

The departure gate of Hanoi International Airport is still very traditional, all products sell here is price in USD. The duty free even is expensive than Malaysia Airport.

After so many days together with Sam, it is not easy to good bye to him. Wish can see him again this year end in Penang. I miss you Sam.

Once reach LCCT, whole group is rush to the Air Asia ticket counter for flight change request due to the original flight on 5pm is retime to 10pm. However, the poor service by LCCT is really make us tiring as we need to runt o the standby counter to get the boarding pass, then rush to check in counter to check in luggage. Thanks ken for the hard work that allow all of us can reach Penang by 5pm…. Woo HOOOOO.

Now let me introduce all my dearest travelmate:

Ken, my big brother- he is a passion and straight forward guy. He is caring to all his travel mate. Our journey si so smooth because of his hard work to do research and planning. Then get a good tour agent to organize the trip without shopping in those ‘luxury’ place or force shopping.

Doreen, my big sister-She si sometime serious but is so caring. Thanks for the salonpas. Hehehhe

Kim Lean, the best and natural model. When she is posting, it is so natural. Should invite her for portrait shooting one day.

Bee sister, my usual travel mate. We together travel to many place since we met each other on Yunnan trip on 2006. Really wonderful to travel with both of you.

Step and SP, my director, my model and also photographer. Thanks for the medicine when I not feeling well during long drive to Ba Chan and Sapa.

CP, always smile and make everyone happy. Sorry for calling u “Glor**”but u really so cute from the personality to make all happy. Thanks for the kiamsuiti.

Lee Lin, cute person, she is the only one took video. Sometime u can see all funny clips on her video cam. Hahahhaha

Myself, I’m a Panda, a happy Panda because i travel with u all. You all are funny, sporting, caring and enjoying. Can said that this is not the best trip I have but is the best travel-mate and most enjoyable trip for me. Thanks all guys and gals that make this trip so wonderful for each other.

SKETCH OF NORTH INDOCHINA- Day 7: 100329: Sapa, Lao Cai

This is the first time I stay in hotel without hot air in such cold area. Due to not sleep well during the train from Hanoi, it was very sweet dream during last night.

Today breakfast is the best among all. I like the porridge and friend noodles(seems like instant noodle). After I full up my stomach, Lee Lin took some French toast for us again. Yummy, it is so delicious.

From the hotel, we walk through Sapa town towards the Cultural Village or Cat Cat Village. The minority groups will come to near you while you walking, their purpose is very simple, be tour guide for you or wish to sell some craft to you. The local tribe here is most by black Hmong tribe. Their costume is more in black or dark color.

The teres padi field is not clearly seen due to heavy mist is fill up surrounding. However, while we near to Cat Cat village, few Hmong children is running here and there, some of them is begging for money. I really don’t like this situation as the adult is teach their child to do this type of work when they small. Compare to Hmong people in Ba Chan, I really respect Ba Chan Hmong people. They are poor but they never please anything from us. This is the most important behavior for others to respect them.

After the village, we need to trek up and down the hill. It was 1pm when we reach our lunch destination. Most of us like today lunch as they serve us with beacon, cheese, French toast and salad.

After the trekking, we back to Sapa Town for shopping. This is first time I dint buy anything during traveling. It might be due to most of the craft is same as minority tribe in Yunnan. The limitation in luggage weight for Air Asia is another important issue that stop me from shopping.

We took the night train back to Hanoi. This train was big different from the deck we took yesterday. It is so small and even can’t allow 2 people to walk side by side inside the cabin.

Since all so tired, it is better go to rest early.

SKETCH OF NORTH INDOCHINA- Day 6: 100328-Lao Cai, Bac Ha, Sapa

Sleeping in train is only slightly better than flight. However, I automatically wake up about 4.30am due to the air is become very cold. We met Tan(pronounce as Deng) at Lao Cai Train station.

The Lao Cai meant old street. The train railway stop here and is gate to Sapa. After the breakfast, we met with 2 French and direct drive to BacHa. Bac Ha Sunday market is only weekly market that available for minority tribes for business and also met their love one. We are very lucky as we have the chance to see it during this trip.

Due to the transport at mountain area is not convenient, some of them even walking few hours to get to the market. Bac Ha area is nominate by Hmong(in China call Miao tribe). The Hmong here is flower Hmong as their costume is more colorful. Bac Ha market is offer variety of things from craft to food, wine. The most interesting is most of the local people is wearing their traditional costume and it is the killing point for our memory card.

After Bac Ha market, we stop over at local Hmong village. My tears drop when I saw the condition of their home, the discolor TV is still using, no any proper chair and table at home, the only dish for their lunch is 1 pack of instant noodle. By comparing minority tribe at Vietnam and China, we conclude that China is take care to minority group. However, form the eye of the children, their life is more happy and simple. Sometime is very difficult to measure the meaning of happy.

After Bac ha market, we transfer to Sapa town. Sapa is a small town like Brinchang in Cameron Highland. The mist is usually cover up the whole area. Franch built a churt at the center of town. The colorful window decoration is the attraction of this old church.

Opposite the church have many stalls selling backpack, wind breaker and craft form minority tribe. The left hand side of church is fruit stall. I like their local plum and peach. However, if you don’t like sour fruits, then better don’t try the plum. Hahahaha

By waling, we reach the wet market of Sapa. The vegetable available here is mostly same as Cameron Highland. But the food is mainly Phor, kerabu(mixture of pig skin, onions, peanuts and chilly), BBQ. The most interesting thing is we saw they have many variety of dry Phor is selling there.

Shopping in Sapa is not a good suggestion. Due to the cold wind blow from Mongolia during our visit, the stall selling sweater and wind breaker don’t want to reduce the price for us. 2 layer North Face wind breaker is sell on USD50, so expensive….

Due to the cold weather, we have steamboat on the night at Sapa. This is the best steamboat that we have. Cold air with hot sour soup. The nice combination.

SKETCH OF NORTH INDOCHINA- Day 5: 100327- Halong Bay, Hanoi, Lao Cai

Night at Junk is nice. It is not what we think earlier that will shake here and there. All of us sleep so sweet that day. After nice French toast breakfast, we carry by a small sampan to visit the a nice and peaceful lagoon. The lagoon exit is a cave that only can go through by sampan during low tide. Due to the conservation of the natural, only small sampan without motor is allow to enter.

After past through the Luon Cave, the inner side is small lagoon with monkeys habitats on it. The water is greenish blue. The stone around the lagoon is clearly seen the sea level during high tide. It is 4 foot height from what we see now. After round the lagoon, we back to Huong Hai Junk and continue our gila group photo session. The GuiLin on the Sea is only part of the scene because mostly all concentrate into group and portrait photo.

The enjoyment on the sea end after the lunch. Hence we continue our journey to Hanoi for shopping while waiting for the Sapa train departure on 9.10pm. During the shopping time, me, KK and Sam is separate from the group for drinking in local style. The “pub” in Hanoi is fully open air, no decoration but they enjoy so much the good time in drinking with friends. Each of us drink 2 big bottle of Tiger Beer and 2 big glass of the draft beer(no indicate the beer manufacture on the container). The local draft is a bit bitter but is nice to eat with local tidbits like local ham, pork minch meat and seed cracker.

Dinner is nice Hanoi ChaKa or fried fish. I like the nice fragrance vege laminate under the pan. After nice food, we depart from haoi for LaoCai on sleep deck train. The deck we book is very big, due to 8 girls occupied 2 room, 2 guys is sharing with s Aussie womans. This deck of train is occupied by foreigners, hence we don’t need to face the bad habits of the local people on the train.(sorry for Vietnamese who read this travelogue).

SKETCH OF NORTH INDOCHINA- Day 4: 100326- Cao Bang, Halong Bay

Today is the earliest day we start our journey, just 4am we start drive from Cao Bang.

After long drive, we finally reached HaLong city about 1pm. We took speed boad transfer to HuongHai Junk.

After nice seafood lunch, everyone nonstop to press their camera on sundeck for personal portrait nor nice scenery along Halong Bay.

I like this Junk so much due to the good condition of the room and bed, nice food and also cleanliness of the environment.

After the lunch, we proceed foir visit the Sung Sot Cave, situated in the centre of the UNESCO-declared World Heritage area, the Sung Sôt or Surprise Grotto is on Bo Hòn Island, and is one of the finest and widest grottoes of Ha Long Bay.

From the wharf, you climb 50 steep stone stairs to the mouth of the grotto, which lies 25 m above the sea level. Going down some 10 stone stairs, you reach the mouth of a grotto. The grotto covers some 10,000 m2. Inside the grotto there have thousands of stalactites and stalagmites along the 500-meter paved passage. Light posts line the passage and serve as signposts and ornaments. The lighting system with elegant styles adds more charm to the beauty of the grotto.

The entrance and exit of this cave is nice for photography for Halong Bay. The chocolate color ship, green color island and blue color sky paint the nice harmony view of Halong Bay.

After the cave, we proceed to Titov island. The beach is full of the fine and cold sand, and a viewing deck on the top of the hill on Titov island.

Night on the ship is not boring, sharing the time with friend or you can fishing alone on the sundeck will make u enjoy the stress less life.

SKETCH OF NORTH INDOCHINA- Day 3: 100325- BaBe Lake, Ban Gioc Falls, Cao Bang

The morning of BaBe Lake is very cold and little misty. After a cold shower and nice home made pancake with natural honey breakfast, we have to said good bye to our ‘family member’. The morning view of the padi file is so green and fresh which is keep hunting our memory card…. Hahahhaha

After walk about 1km, we reach the jetty. We took small boat to opposite side to get back into bus and proceed to Cao Bang.

We reach Cao Bang city about 1pm to had lunch. Then proceed to Ban Gioc Falls.

The geography along the way to Ban Gioc Falls is same like GuangXi Province of China. The hills, padi field provide different scene than BaBe Lake.

After 3 hours drive up and down the hills, we reached. Ban Gioc Falls (China border side is call Detian Fall德天瀑布 ) is waterfall on the Quy Xuan River straddling the China- Vietnam border, located in in the Karst hills of Daxing County in the Chongzuo prefecture of Guangxi Province, on the Chinese side, and in the district of Trung Khanh, Cao Bằng province on the Vietnamese side, 272 km north of Hanoi.

The waterfall falls thirty meters. It is separated into three falls by rocks and trees. It is currently the 4th largest waterfall along a national border after Iguazu Falls, Victoria Falls, and Niagara Falls.

Although dry season hit this area, the water still flowing on the fall. Clear water and cold air keep us fresh after long journey from BaBe Lake. It is worth to traveling so long hours after see the nice scenery on the falls and along the journey.

Most exciting incidents is the whole city is black out on that night while we going for sleep. It is happen twice and left only lights from cars and motorbike.

SKETCH OF NORTH INDOCHINA- Day 2: 100324-Hanoi, BaBe Lake

After a simple breakfast in Hotel, we start today journey to the north side of Vietnam. The most exciting events is having local French Toast with local dish like meat and egg with parsley leaf. If you see the appearance, this French toast is just like ordinary bread, but if you put in your mouth, the crunchy surface, soft texture of the inner toast and the fragrance form the parsley and the taste from the minched pork meat meet up to be a super delicious bread.

After 7 hours driving, we reach the Nang River jetty about 3pm. The scenery along the river cruise to the Tay Village beside the Ba Be Lake is amazing. Padi field, bamboo stalks, buffalo, famer, fisherman, natural hills, lake water add up to be a nice scenery. It is beautiful than Gui Lin of China.

Ba Bể National Park is located in Bac Kan Province, about 240 kilometers north of Hanoi. Ba Bể Lake (Vietnamese: Ho Ba Bê, Ba Bê meaning "Three Lakes" in the local Tay language) is the largest natural fresh water lake, stretching about 8 kilometers in the north-south direction.

After 30 minutes cruising, we flow into a cave. The cave is up to 50 meters high and about 300 meters long. It is inhabited by a population of 5 to 10 000 bats belonging to 18 species. The cold wind start to blow when we trekking inside the cave. And Nice sunset view is start to catch our eye when we past the limestone cave.

Now Babe Lake is a part of the Ba Bể National Park was established in 1992, it covers an area of 100.48 km².

The Tay village is built on the cliff. The delta of the lake is use for plantation for padi and vegetable. Most of the resident here is work as famer and fisherman. However, many houses are convert into homestay. Their condition is good as mosquito net, hot shower is well equip. The family members are very friendly, although they not very rich but they are happier than city people. It makes me think again, should I work until sacrifice my family? This question is always rising on my mind when I enjoy the simple but comfortable life without internet and television.

After dinner, we have chat between each other include Sam. He told me that I look like his friend… hahahhaa I never notice that Panda is so common in appearance.

The night in BaBe Lake is very cold. Natural air conditional flow from five direction into your body. The gap on the wooden floor is good for ventilation. I thought I couldn’t sleep in such place without air cond but the fact is I slept so well that night with flows of fresh air.

SKETCH OF NORTH INDOCHINA- Day 1: 100323-Hanoi

After a long journey of waiting cause by delay of Air Asia, 10pax of panda group arrived at NoiBai(Hanoi) International Airport about 8.30am. Noi Bai is 28km away from Hanoi town. The airport equal size to Penang airport where separated to 2 side, right side for domestic and left side for international. The ludgage transfer is extremely slow where we wait there nearly 45minutes to clear custom and collect all ludgage.

Sam- Hanoi tour guide is waiting for us on arrival hall. He is a smart and fluent in English. This is my first impression for Sam.

OMG, I just notice my backpack is tearing when reach the bus, so no choice to get new one later. Hahaha may be it just excuse to buy new backpack.

Hanoi city is not yet fully develop, the buildings mostly are tall but slim. The door, window, arch is influence by French colonial style. Government building is paint with yellow(influence by French) but house is decorate with very contrast color. The downtown of Hanoi is same as what we seen in movie during Vietnam war. Narrow street, high rise(3 floor)building… The electricity wire is mess on the pillar and floor full of dirt and water.

The first meal on Hanoi is Phor(pronounce as Pher, Vietnam noodle like Koay Teow). But me, SP, KK and CP dint take because it is beef soup noodle. Finally Sam able to found 1 stall opposite the restaurant selling chicken soup phor. It is a bit same like our old hawker stall, we have to sit on the small chair at the road side for the breakfast. It is special experience as we eat like locals. Hahaha

After breakfast, we went to Ho Tay(Westlake)’s Chua Tran Quoc(Temple to Protect the Nation). This temple is not so big but the inner of the main hall is full of the Buddhism status. The Buddhism in Vietnam is same as Chinese and all the wording use in the old temple is Chinese Han writing. It is because before the French reach Vietnam, they following the writing, cultural, imperial palace as China. Chua Tran Quoc founded in the early sixth century during the Ly Dynasty, it was moved from next to the Red River to its current location in the early 17th century. In the front gardens stands a bodhi tree, taken from a cutting of the original tree, under which Buddha sat and achieved enlightenment.

Then we proceed to the Presidential Palace of Vietnam, was built between 1900 and 1906 to house the French Governor-General of Indochina. Like most French Colonial architecture, the palace is pointedly European- the only visual cues that it is located in Vietnam at all are mango trees growing on the grounds. The building is paint in striking yellow stands behind wrought iron gates flanked by sentry boxes. This building is not open for public, even stand nearby will be chase away by the guard.

Next to the President palace is Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum in front of the Ba Dinh Square. However, we only took photo in front because it is close after noon. Surrounded the Ba Dinh Square is Vietnam Government buildings which all in Yellow color, the old French style building.

Next to the HCM Mausoleum is the Chua Mot Cot(One Pillar Temple). This temple is build on top of 1 pillar on a lotus pond. Chua Mot Cot has become the symbol of Vietnamese rich culture and history. The pagoda was built in the reign of king Ly Thai Tong (1028-1054). According to legend, in his dream, in 1049, the king saw a vision of Phat Ba Quan Am(Kwan Yin, Goddess of Mercy). She led him to a shrine in the middle of a lotus pond. When he woke up, he consulted with his court and decided to replicate the shrine in his dream to dedicate it to Kwan Yin.

The most enjoy time is lunch at the old city center, a French style old building with traditional Vietnamese food. I prefer their spring roll so much, The fresh vege, pineapple, fried fish wrap with rice paper and eat with the sauce (with fish paste and vinegar).

After lunch, the next spot is Temple of Literature (Vietnamese: Văn Miếu (文廟)) or temple of Confucius in Vietnam. Although several Văn Miếu can be found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that situated in the city of Hanoi, which also functioned as Vietnam's first university.

Then follow by the Hanoi Hilton/ Hao Lao or should said the jail for the American during the Vietnam War built by French to hostage the Viet politician prison.

The most exciting time coming by watching the Water Puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Although I can’t understand Vietnamese language but it is good to appreciate their cultural. The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers, who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them. Thus the puppets appear to be moving over the water. When the rice fields would flood, the villagers would entertain each other using this form of puppet play. It is amazing the performance can stand on the water for so long time for the show. So touch that they build this theatre to preserve their cultural.

The shopping place in Hanoi is just around the Water Puppet Theatre. Backpack, shoes is the hot item for shopping in Hanoi. However, it is not an easy place to bargain due to the language problem. For your info, NorthFace big backpack is 385k dong, Deuter small backpack is 220k dong.

The first dinner is at Viet Kitchen spring, an French style Vietnamese Cuisine. The environment is nice but food just so so.