Hong Kong the Vertical City

We boarded our flight from Hanoi, Vietnam to Hong Kong where we will spend the next two days and nights before we head back home via Boston. On landing in Hong Kong we can sense that we are in a different yet similar world. The drive into the city from the airport was like being in a futuristic movie. The taxi whizzing by towering clusters of skyscrapers I was expecting to see flying cars up above. The price of the taxi ride is a far cry from what we experienced in Southeast Asia--$4 US compared to 50 US in Hong Kong for the same distance. Restaurants prices are comparable to those in America.  We have become tourists vs travelers in mere moments.

We stayed at the Butterfly on the Waterfront Boutique hotel in Seung Wan on Hong Kong Island. This puts us in the heart of the Chinese Herbal Medicine district.  The bright pink was a beacon when finding and returning to it.  At night an illuminated butterfly was on the sidewalk. Really helpful since there was lots of construction around us.

View from hotel room, 21st floor.

The city is built on a number of islands with all space being made use of, including skyscrapers on hills and mountainsides, wonderful parks and gardens.

The Aviary at the HongKong Park

Some of the more hilly sections have escalators on the streets to aid pedestrians.

3 means of travel by foot up and downhill: Stairs, paved path, or escalator.

There is also lots of boat traffic, another way of getting around the islands sections of the city, along with bridges and tunnels.

At ground level though, the similarities to the Southeast Asian countries are evident. Though HongKong is technologically advanced, cash is still the main method of payment. Taxis only take cash, as do lots of local business establishments. Meats and other perishable goods are sold in the open air market as in the other countries. There are the night markets and more than ever, there are copious amounts of dried food of all kinds (seafood, meats, roots, nuts, flowers and ????...).

Our adventure in Southeast Asia and HongKong has come to an eventful end.

Next up: Best and worst of our Adventure.

Back to Hanoi

With Doug in Hanoi

The Sapa area was another one of those places we did not want to leave. With its mountainous beauty and rural setting, we felt very much at home. But alas, the time has come for us to write another chapter in this wonderful adventure. We left Sapa in a nice and somewhat luxurious 9 passenger van and arrived in Hanoi about 6 hours later after a number of 15 minutes stops along the way.

We grabbed the first taxi after being dropped off in Hanoi, to take us to our Airbnb Lakeside Studio Apartment. 

It was night time and taxi prices go up then but we were charged quadruple the amount to the shock of the people of the hotel. And this was a metered taxi, (recommended by all the reputable publications). But from the start, I noticed how fast the meter was going and kept telling Sherry something was not right. And it was not. I doubt you can go for three months without getting scammed once.

We spent a good portion of the day after breakfast, at the Vietnamese Women Museum, which highlights and catalog very well, the contribution of women in Vietnamese society and its many tribes over the years.

We ended the evening hanging with my buddy and past soccer teammate (go International FC), Doug.  He took us to a great Vietnamese/Western hangout where we shared a good sampling of Vietnamese cuisines. From there, we went to the Mojito Bar and Lounge to try one of their signature Pho cocktails. 

We had a really great time Doug, thanks a lot! What a way to end the Southeast Asia trip.

Next up: Hong Kong

The Beauty that is a Farming Community

Trekking around the neighborhood for the past two days exposed us to the wonders of a farming community, very similar to what I imagine in Vermont's past and also St.Vincent.  Rural communities are really not all that different. People in the community hang out together passing time doing chores and getting through the day. Smaller areas are where we feel the most at home and really enjoy the people we meet. Farming is done primarily by hand, water buffaloes, or modern equipment where possible. Kids, mostly boys, are always out picking berries, collecting leaves (they eat a lot of different plants leaves here), catching crabs, eels, and snails from the paddies.

Preparing their rice paddy plots 

A kid looking for snails, crabs, and eels in the paddies.

 Lots of the hillsides are decorated with stonewalls like those that were once famous in Vermont.

We saw some beautiful wooden houses and places of business catering to the many hiking tourists.

In these parts, while the boys play in the fields looking for food, the girls follow their moms selling crafts to tourist. We encountered 3 wonderful young ladies who proceeded to follow us and engaged us in conversation. They all spoke good English being taught in primary and secondary schools. Their objective is to follow and talk and answer questions, in hopes that at the end of the journey, you will buy something. Of course, we were not able to resist buying from them. We learned a lot about the culture.

Lee, Su Su, and Lan

Prov getting a low high-five 

The mountain paths are narrow and sometimes very rough. But they are merely a small challenge to the fearless motorbikers navigating them frequently. Some bridges the cross will not even be considered functionally worthy for foot traffic.

Hauling lumber, a frequent site in the villages in Sapa

We are surely going to miss the Sapa area!

Next up: Back to Hanoi...

D&D Eco Sa Pa

After Day 2 of trekking, we arrived at our next spot. We are spending 4 nights in the countryside.  It was very fortunate that our guide Sue knew the spot we were staying and arranged for our luggage, which we left at the SaPa Sisters guide office in the city, to be dropped at our new spot.  Thanks to modern technology and video chatting we identified our bags and instead of riding back to town and paying a taxi to bring us back they were dropped off to this lovely spot.  The view is awesome, the pace slow and easy and the food unbelievable. The mushrooms here are so darn good, even Prov likes them and stole a few out of my mushroom beef dish. Our host, Ms. Bee was attentive and wonderful, always there when needed.

Deck views below.

Preparing the paddies for planting

Next up: The Beauty that is a Farming Community...

2nd Day of Trekking

It rained a lot overnight and continued throughout the morning. After breakfast, trekkers started departing the homestay with their individual guides. Today, everyone chose the easy path. Our path was often flooded and had some raging water to cross. Early on we cared about wet feet trying to finagle rock paths in the streams but by the end, it was a lost cause.  We had been wondering why we packed the ponchos but were really glad we did.  They were big enough to cover us and our backpacks. After walking a few hours we stopped for lunch and met up with many of our homestay group. Trekking in this area is a popular attraction.  The rain did not stop the sellers but we did not buy a thing.

Even bikers find ways to stay dry, using ponchos and umbrellas.

A rock with magical powers, folklore.

Hot ginger and lemongrass tea to warm the inside

Enjoying the local traffic moving up and down the narrow concrete path

Riding on narrow mountain paths is normal.

Next up: D&D Eco Sa Pa