UP ON HIGH + SLEEPING AROUND

Today (15th Feb) we learn that the whole of Beck Head is on a generator after the storms damaged the pole in our paddock and cut the electric (along with much of South Cumbria) to BH.  Sterling work by Phil and Joan and the electric company and then various neighbours removing fallen trees by the bridge have kept the community with light and heat – well done to you all!  (Back on after a day or so)


We arrived at Sa Pa in the northern mountains of Vietnam, approaching the Chinese border, in typical Scottish/Lakes weather – mist right down and very cold.  We took the overnight train from Hanoi and, hurray, it was an upgraded version of the previous ones – clean carriages, sheets, lamps and general harmony.  On the way back it was a bit more compact,  but free beer/drinks and nibbles.  However, it was pretty similar to the clackety-clack of those bone-shaker roller coaster rides – see below for sleeping around.



We wandered around the little town of Sapa with tourist restaurants, trekking clothing shops (all North Face, as in Nepal – oh yeah!), local brightly dressed women pestering for sales (don’t ask to look at anything – they will track you for hours afterwards as we discovered later on our trek – see these 3 – someone cracked eventually after 2 hrs and bought a pair of their badly made and fitting black trousers – she will regret it once back in the light of day in the UK!)

in the cold clammy afternoon gloom. 

Found an excellent local restaurant via TripAdvisor with a lovely fire and they filled a metal bowl with embers and placed it by our table – lovely.



Only saw mist for the first day there, but on our return from the 2 day trek (see later blog) the skies cleared, even though mist remained in valleys, and we had a great day walking up to the local peak and being the object of interest to all the weekending Vietnamese – they are big on tourism too!  Even the streets seemed to come to life with a bit of sunshine – so glad we managed to see the fantastic mountain scenery.



SLEEPING AROUND

A few of you have asked how we can sleep in trains/boats/communal rooms/planes/noisy city hotels/hard beds – have lost count now, but 28 nights, with very few 2 nighters.  I sleep pretty well anywhere as long as I am warm – a recent night in the homestay in remote village was testing!!  Really cold with very basic facilities ie toilet/shower down a ladder from the communal sleeping area in the roof, across a yard with a gulley,  but had a sleeping bag provided - so with my liner, fleece hat, 2 layers on legs and 3 layers of top + all important ear plugs (discovered disposable wax ones - excellent) I was OK.  Camping is a good training ground!


Toilet/shower – don’t touch the electrics hanging off the wall in line with the shower

Others with not so well attuned kit were not OK!!  Even Graham had little to drink, so that he did not need to attempt the ladder in the dark and lasted until 7am!! 

Boat was fine - luxurious and trains variable but noisy - again ear plugs can help.  Graham has more difficulty but catches up on the bus rides.  We both take time out every so often and just chill in a hotel bedroom instead of dashing around. 

But it will be nice to be back in our own bed -  zzzzzzz!