Getting out of Dodge

After several days in the bustling city, we took for the highlands, and caught the night train to Lao Cai.

The kids were so excited they fell asleep before the train even started moving.(maybe in part because it departed at 9 pm)

The ride up into the mountains was a total throwback to another era. We had our own sleeper cabin with very comfy beds, flowers on the table, and toothbrushes on everyone's pillows; hygiene is very strongly encouraged here!

When we arrived at the last stop, Lao Cai, it was 5:30 in the morning and we still had a long way to go. We were greeted by our guide and taken to a small restaurant to wake up, eat a little breakfast and slurp down very strong green tea.(it will put hair on your chest if you are not careful) Once it was finally a civilized time, 7:00, we headed off with our tour guide to a remote, regional market.

This was unlike anything we had ever seen, raw, efficient, and essential for all the people living within several miles in all directions. Most people ride scooters here, and it is amazing what they can haul home on their tiny seats. Some families get very dressed up in heavy, dark, hand-embroidered clothes, and walk for many hours just to see and be seen.

Animals are traded and sold. Typically water buffaloes, but there were also some song birds being sold for up to $3,000!

We watched people bargain for seed corn and fertilizer, choose custom cuts of "fast meat", and Freja played dress up and bargained for a new skirt. By 10:00 we were exhausted and climbed back into the van for several more hours up to our swanky digs in an Ecolodge outside of Sapa.

 

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