It was a cool afternoon when Alvin and Robyn went photo shooting at Pasir Ris Park.
18-28 Dec 2006 - Adventures in Northern Vietnam
For this year end trip, we headed to Northern Vietnam to soak in the fast-developing city of Hanoi, trek in the Sapa highland and immerse ourselves in the serenity of Halong Bay over Christmas.
Travel Plan
18 Dec - S'pore to Hanoi
20 Dec - Trekking in Sapa Highland
23 Dec - Hanoi
24 Dec - Christmas at Halong Bay
27 Dec - Hanoi
28 Dec - Hanoi to S'pore
18, 19, 23, 26-28 Dec 2006 - Hanoi City
The very first thing that hit us was the haphazard traffic! Cars, motorbikes, bicycles, tricycles, pedestrian and occasion buses all come and go in all directions, and endlessly. It's a fine display of orderliness within seemingly chaos.
Taking in the morning calmness of Ho Hoan Kiem or Lake of the Returned Sword, which is situated right in the middle of the city. It was a stark contrast - thousands of motorbikes and vehicles dashing in all directions around the entire circumference of the lake but the calmness within remained unmoved.
The unique sight and sounds of Hanoi are everywhere. We watched as bystanders a very different type of livelihood in the Vietnamese. More significantly, we experienced a quiet resolve amongst the people there, each working purposefully and patiently towards some collective progress.
Hawkers seem to set up shop anywhere along the street - they sell baguettes, vegetables, meat, etc.
We were elated to meet with Nhung, whom we haven't met for 3 years. She took us to experience one of the best Hanoi dish - Cha Ca. The restaurant, Cha Ca La Vong, has a 5-generation history of serving only this single dish. Oh, it must be one of the best food we've ever tasted!
We were happy to have met Hanh and Giao from Sapa Trading and they were really nice to show us around the Hanoi city - the French Quarter and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (in pic).
Riding in the exposed motorbikes and getting head-on into the haphazard traffic was more exciting than any Disneyland rides, especially when these two riders took onboard all our heavy luggage. They said, "Can. No problem. Come!"
We enjoyed trying out the interesting variety of food by the roadside. Most of the time we didn't know what they were... Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do! Eating out from a tiny stool, we got additional spices from the passing motorbikes' exhaust...
Enjoying mid-afternoon coffee from the Highland Coffee, a local Starbuck-lookalike. Robyn did some sketches of the surrounding old buildings.
Next: overnight train to Lao Cai which is just 2 km from the Chinese border, then bus to Sapa Highland.
"I can't wait to experience the overnight train ride to Lao Cai, and the 3-day trekking in Sapa!"
19 - 23 Dec 2006 - Sapa Highland
Sapa is a beautiful, mountainous town in northern Vietnam along the border with China. The highest peak in Vietnam, Fansipan, is located here. It's also rich in cultural diversity with numerous hill tribe people and villages.
We arrived in an overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai Train Station. From there, we caught a bus and wound our way up the highland to Sapa town.
Sapa town gave us the feel of a ski resort - cool, relaxing and alpine-like. It reminded Alvin of Kathmanthu in Nepal.
The Sapa market was an interesting place - colorful and buzzling with life.
We took a short 3-hour 3-km hike from Sapa to Cat Cat Village on the first afternoon just to warm up to walking. The air was cool and refreshing, the scenery of rolling hills and the vast expanse of nature and mountains before us was just breathtaking.
Then we went on a 2-day 15-kim trek to TaVan Village to really soak in the mountainous environment of the hills, paddies and the hill tribes.
The stepped terrain, painstakingly created by the locals here for farming, was picturesque.
We kidnapped a local farmboy for photo!
Picturesque farmscape!
Black H'mong
The hill tribes: the Red Dzao, the black H'mong, and the Dzay people.
Little black H'mong
Little Vietnamese boy
The trek was moderate except for some steep stretches of terrain to negoitate. Robyn covered the 15km like an adventurer.
Red Dzao hilltribe
This terrain is the best place to teach navigation - the contours are unmistakeable.
Enroute to TaVan Village
Trekking through stunning landscape
Thanks to our competent guide, Dung, we learnt a great deal about the history and culture of this wonderful place. He's also a great chef so our tummies were also very happy.
Robyn with 2 black H'mong ladies. They went all out to help Robyn cross the paddies safely. Robyn also learnt how to descend with speed from them. We reciprocated by buying some crafts from them.
We stay for a night at a farmstay with a Dzay family. They were very nice people. It was freezing cold that night so we all cuddled around the kitchen fire to chit chat after a wonderful dinner.
A picturesque sight of two local ladies carrying firewood and holding hands to cross the river.
Alvin and Jin were very pleased with their little angel's trekking performance - this was the longest distance - 18km - that Robyn has ever trekked in 3 continuous days to date.
Daddy and mummy knew in their hearts that Robyn will grow into an even more capable and daring adventurer than they have ever been.
24 - 26 Dec 2006 - Halong Bay
On 24 Dec, Christmas Eve, we travelled by bus from Hanoi to Halong Bay and boarded a junk to sail out into a magical wonderland.
The scenery at Halong Bay seems surreal. There are thousands of limestone mountains dotting the seascape. The multiple layering and shades of the islets gave a feeling that we were living within a PHOTOSHOP creation. It's simply heavenly!
Halong Bay has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is often touted by proud Vietnamese as the world's Eighth wonder. And we agree!
Ha Long literally means descending dragon(s) and according to local myth, the story goes: Long ago when their forefathers were fighting foreign invaders from the north, the gods from heaven sent a family of dragons to help defend their land. This family of dragons descended upon what is now Ha Long bay and began spitting out jewels and jade. Upon hitting the sea, these jewels turned into the various islands and islets dotting the seascape and formed a formidable fortress against the invaders. The locals were able to keep their land safe and formed what is now Vietnam.
The Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace) Grotto was our first stop. This is one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay.
According to legend, a beautiful young lady named May (cloud) caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her. They were betrothed and got married in the very center of the grotto. All of the scenes of their wedding, which lasted for seven days and seven nights, have been seemingly fossilized in the grotto.
It's been a mighty great choice to spend Christmas on a junk afloat in the middle of nowhere in Halong Bay!
This was our sleeping cabin onboard the junk. A little cramp but comfortable.
The water in the bay was so calm that we didn't feel that we were floating in the sea nor did we hear any wave slapping on our junk.
Silent night on Christmas Eve...
Peace and tranquility on Christmas Day...
25 Dec - It's Christmas Day so Merry Christmas!
We stopped by a floating fish farm, akin to our "kelong". They offered us seafood and our chef onboard would cook for us. But no one was game enough to purchase any.
These Vietnamese boatgirls were not only highly skilled at handling their boats, they were also highly enthusiastic little entrepreneurs.
We met many wonderful fellow travellers, heard many fascinating tales and learnt many new things. Travelling and sharing add depth, width and colors to our life!
Clockwise:
(1) Robyn with Ryan & Dee, newly grads from Sydney, Australia.
(2) Jin, Robyn with Christine Fabre, a professor and artist from France.
(3) Jin sharing bread fruits with Korean sisters Yoon-Seon & Hyo-Seon.
Cat Ba Island
Climbing up the highest point in Cat Ba National Park
After hiking 18km in Sapa, trekking in the Cat Ba National Park was chicken feed for Robyn. But the ascent up the limestone cliff to the peak was a good test of Robyn's rock climbing skills. Some stretches were rather exposed and perilous, and a fall would mean a long way down over sharp edges of limestone rocks.
The photo top-right photo provides a good perspective of the expanse and distance - the guide is that tiny figure sitting on the faraway lower rock at top centre of the picture.
Down-climbing was even more treacherous but we handled it just the same. Robyn did sustain a fall that bruised her knees though but it was at a most unsuspecting gradual sloping stretch near the foothill.
We are pleased with Robyn's maturing sense of courage, confidence and sure-footedness on the rock.
Robyn with Alvin and Jin near the summit of the highest peak in Cat Ba Island.
Sunset @ Halong Bay
It was a most romantic sunset as we watched the glowing ball descended in silence, punctuated only by the clicking sounds of the cameras...
Robyn's First Canoeing Experience
It was on Christmas Day that Robyn had her first go at canoeing, and it's in the calm water amidst a stunting seascape in Halong Bay!
There's so much to reflect and treasure in this 11-day Northern Vietnam Travel. Robyn started learning to keep a travel journal. She has recorded some scenes in the form of drawing, and captured some thoughts in words.
As we sailed back to Halong City on Boxing Day, we knew in our heart that we shall return here again some days in the future. And Daddy has an inspiration to create some climbing havens out there amongst the limestone islets...
Happy New Year from Robyn, Jin & Alvin...
We look forward to yet another adventurous and splendid New Year in 2007.
We shall continue to learn, reflect and gain deeper insights into our being, our consciousness and the world around us.
We shall aim high to accomplish so as to do good while doing well.
