Off to the mountainous north to SaPa

Yesterday, I set off from Hanoi in the morning toward the mountainous north to SaPa. The farewell was not difficult as it was raining and uncomfortable, which I first observed while being crammed at my bus company while standing and waiting for 45 minutes (the bus was again 30 minutes late). When booking trips, it is always a surprise box what you can expect. I had booked a VIP bus with sleeping options because it fit best into my schedule. And this time, it truly was a very pleasant way of traveling while lying down. In my sleeping compartment, I managed well with the bumpy 6-hour journey, writing a bit and reading, as well as observing the rapidly passing landscapes. By late afternoon, I was at my destination, strolled about a kilometer to my accommodation, and there was the key at the reception along with a nice handwritten note that I could check in without hassle. Great, everything went fast, so I still had about 1.5 to 2 hours of daylight to get a first impression of the city. The city is over 1600 m high and is pleasantly surrounded by mountainous terrain. Here live the ethnic minorities of the mountain tribes: Hmong, Dao, and Tay, who have naturally also discovered tourism opportunities, so one is constantly offered something locally made by hand or guided tours by younger and older women. This always begins with the question of where you come from and what your name is. I wandered around the streets and alleys a bit, visited the Catholic 'Sapa Church', observed the local hustle and bustle, and eventually, I satisfied my hunger and thirst at a local establishment. Often mist clouds drift through the city from the mountains, and the temperatures were such that I pulled out my long jacket from the backpack. On my way back in the dark, I was able to gaze at the many colorful lights of the city...

The next morning, I wanted to set off early. Sa Pa is known for its beautiful hiking landscapes through the mountainous rice fields. I aimed to be at breakfast shortly after 7:00 AM, then start my hike, and I had picked a hiking route via Komoot. However, I was not woken up early by the alarm clock, but by the rain pounding against my accommodation window. I checked the rain radar briefly. It had rained half the night, but around 9:00 AM, the rain clouds were expected to clear. Great, so I pulled the blanket around me and slept a bit more. However, at 8:15 AM, I went to breakfast and indeed, the rain had eased during that time, so it was time to go on my tour...

I set off following the chosen Komoot route. Local female guides constantly try to sell their tours. An older lady followed me, giving me tips on where to go for about half an hour, despite my several thanks and stating that I wanted to walk alone. Eventually, I kindly but firmly told her that I would definitely not buy anything and would not spend any money with her or for guide services. She finally understood, and I could continue on my way. However, my selected Komoot tour ended relatively early at a point where there was no way through, so I had to navigate my own way using rough direction; I would find a way somehow. Sometimes I had to turn back because there was no further passage, or I ended up on private farms; sometimes it was just too muddy and slippery due to the night rain, and the puddles were too large, but somehow I kept moving forward, and the journey was indeed the goal in this dreamy area. It went up and down, through jungle paths, past small streams, all kinds of smaller and larger animals with plenty of free-range farms, surrounded by the rice fields and with a view of the occasionally misty mountains... And it stayed dry the whole time, although I almost landed on my backside several times due to the slippery muddy ground - especially steep downhill - but I managed to avert that, albeit narrowly, every time. My shoes and a few smudges on my hiking clothes were evidence of my hiking trip, even if it was only 10.7 km, but with plenty of altitude differences... By early afternoon, I arrived back in the city, first dropped off my hiking clothes and those from previous days at the local laundry, chilled a bit, and wandered through the city again. By 10:00 PM, I could pick up my clothing, fresh and clean...