Up nice and early to get packed and have breakfast before heading off to Bac Ha. But there's a problem - the washing isn't dry. Fortunately, there's plenty of room in the back of the bus to spread it out - a Ford Transit van, just the four of us again with our guide Anh (Ang) and driver (Mr Long). Booked this trip through Green Bamboo too, but unfortunately, Trung wasn't available to go with us again as he was taking a group of Australian students on a tour somewhere.
Set off around 7:30 and arrived in Bac Ha a bit after 5:00 p.m. An interesting trip
- Walking chickens - free range wandering around eating popcorn, rice, etc., that can be on your plate in five minutes at your eating place of choice.
- Lots of corn growing and lots of bright orange cobs drying outside houses.
- Many rugs (looked like floor rugs) on the roadside. Discovered later that they were quilts made from polar fleece.
- Chickens on the back of bikes in woven cages being sprayed - for bird flu Anh said.
- We didn't have to order "walking chicken" for lunch. There were plenty of other dishes - a choice of about six dishes plus rice.
- Had a yummy ice cream (in a sealed tub) at one of our stops. Din Duong brand - vanilla with chocolate and sultanas. 10,000 VND for the three.
- Lots of buffaloes working in the rice paddies or walking along or tethered by the road.
- Passed several weddings. Saturday is a lucky day for weddings, but they can be any day other than the 3rd, 5th or 7th, which are bad luck days.
- The last 20 or so kilometres were pretty hairy - very steep, and the road was quite narrow at times. It still didn't stop us from passing/overtaking other vehicles going around bends. Our lives were in Mr Long's hands.
We don't think tonight's hotel would get many stars. The bathroom sink just runs onto the floor and down the floor drain. The lights went out while we were having our "room party" - schnapps, peanuts and fruit crisps. The crisps are actually quite nice - dried banana, dragon fruit and jackfruit. Fortunately, Ang was "on the ball" with the "lights out", providing us with candles.
Interesting that at 6pm there was an announcement over loudspeakers in the street. Of course, it was not in English, so no idea what that was about.
