SOUTH-EAST ASIA 2009-10
NORTHERN VIETNAM. HA LONG BAY AND SAPA
Ha Long Bay (meaning
"Descending Dragon Bay") is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in
northeastern Vietnam
The bay features thousands
of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. This island
even has a beach
Modern junks in Ha Long
Bay
A community of around 1600
people live on Ha Long Bay in four fishing villages
Small boat, big rocks
We took a 2 day trip
including kayaking and sleeping on the junk
Inside Sung Sot Cave. If
it was left in natural state, it would be the most beautiful cave I
have seen
Unfortunately, it was full
of
tourists and illuminated by tacky, colorful lights
Weather wasn't good all
day, but at sunset the sky begun changing color
This was the most magical
moment of our Ha Long Bay trip
There are over 3,000
limestone
islands (although locals claim there are only 1,969 as this is the year
of Ho Chi Minh's death)
The second day was cold
and rainy, but Ha Long Bay is beautiful in any weather
After Ha Long we went by
train to Sapa, a French hill station built in 1922
Hill tribe people from
surrounding villages come to Sapa on Saturday (market day)
It was very cold and foggy
all day
They wear traditional
clothes, but use latest technology - mobile phones
Women in Sapa are very
aggressive sellers and we didn't like that
Buy, buy, buy!
Seriously scared child!
Traditional hats for sale
in the market
Market in Sapa. Scenery is
supposed to be great around Sapa, but we didn't see anything because of
fog
Market in Sapa
Mobile butcher in Sapa
Restaurant in Sapa's
market. The owner sold good food but she was eating plain rice herself